Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe: Cultural Kailua Bay Tour
5.0
20 Ratings
Kailua-Kona

Explore Hawaii’s history by paddling a traditional Wa’a canoe in Kailua Bay. Connect with culture and discover significant historical sites.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

  • Ahuena Heiau - This Hawaiian temple remains active today and holds significant cultural and historical importance for the Hawaiian people.

  • Hulihe’e Palace - Former residence of the Queen during the initial period of Western contact.

  • Mokuaikaua Church - The first established church in Hawaii.

  • Kailua Pier - The hub of ocean activities located in the center of Kailua-Kona.

What's Included
  • Canoe, lifejackets, and paddles provided
  • Curated tour included
Additional Information

Paddling a Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe or Wa’a from the site where King Kamehameha united the Hawaiian Islands and watched over his kingdom is a chance to connect with the Hawaii’s history and culture. We teach you the basics of paddling a Wa’a and provide a steersman/woman to guide you through a historical tour of Kailua Bay, sharing some of the…

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Location
Kona Boys Beach Shack
Kaahumanu Place
We are next to the Kailua Pier on Kamakahonu Beach, behind the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(20 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Ron
Jan 25, 2026
A fun adventure - Our outrigger canoe trip was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly and fun. He was able to identify various sea life, talk at length about the island and its history, and regale us with funny stories and even a few dad jokes thrown in. All in all, a great experience we will always remember.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daphnes635
Dec 3, 2025
Great Intro to Hawaiian History and Culture - Although at home I’m a kayaker and enjoy solo trips, I wanted the experience on the water the way the early Hawaiians did. Locals recommended Kona Boys and I’m so glad I booked with them. The staff was friendly, experienced, and knowledgeable. There were 5 of us plus our trip leader, Tommy, who gave us verbal instructions, took us out on the water, and told us about the Kailua-Kona history. We saw a school of dolphins, yellow tangs, and a manta. The weather couldn’t have been better. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the Hawaiian culture. I highly recommend this trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X4964kcbarbaras
Nov 3, 2025
A fantastic cultural experience - Our cultural outrigger canoe ride was fantastic!!! Ray was an amazing guide and he made this excursion truly worthwhile. We loved the history he provided about this region and when I asked for a ghost story (we were there around Halloween) he provided a terrifying story about his personal encounter with the Night Marchers. I would definitely recommend this tour - especially if Ray is your guide. He went above and beyond
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Naniepoppie123
Oct 4, 2025
If you’re lucky you’ll get Tommy O as your guide - We were lucky enough to get Tommy O as our guide. Just 3 of us but we were joined by Tommy’s brother and his 97 year old mother who were visiting from California. We were out for almost 90 minutes. Great instructions and fascinating history of the island. By the end of the adventure we felt like family. Even Momma had her picture taken with us and gave us a farewell huge. Here are some tips that we learned - 1. The rental hut is just to the left of the pier if disembarking from a cruise 2 it’s operated by “da boys” who rent other aquatic equipment and tours. They will hold your bags in their hut and even have a safe where their held are valuables. 3 Nice quiet public beach right there in front of the hotel with showers etc This was our favorite excursion on our 15 day cruise and the cheapest. Ask for Tommy - you’ll love the experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tanya_r
Sep 4, 2025
A fun and educational... - A fun and educational activity. We had Tommy guiding us. He made sure we had a safe and enjoyable experience while learning about the local history. We highly recommend this activity! Watch for the schools of bright yellow/orange fish near the pier area
Review provided by Viator
Bigcj102
Aug 24, 2025
Amazing private tour of the harbor - Tommy is an excellent guide. He is super-friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and great host. It was just my wife, Tommy, and me on the big 6-person outrigger. He was a little worried at first, but we started paddling and we showed that we had canoeing experience, it was game on and we got the complete experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Relaxing3
Aug 22, 2025
Chill, Fun Tour - This Outrigger Canoe tour was one of our favorite activities in Hawaii! Uncle Leahi was an excellent tour guide, telling us so much about the area and its history. We got enough paddling in to feel like we really experienced it, but not so much we were exhausted. It's a chill, fun experience. Would do it again next time we visit. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maria_c
Aug 13, 2025
Don’t miss this canoe tour! - The guide was extremely professional, and very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and culture. Grant was an amazing guide!
Review provided by Viator
Melanie_n
Jul 10, 2025
Paddle with the locals - Uncle Tommy was the BEST! Loved listening him talk story about the history of the Islands. This is a must do activity!
Review provided by Viator
Jolyn_b
Nov 25, 2025
Rowing and history - Not what I expected. You just row to the middle of the bay- around and back. We did hear some nice history.
Review provided by Viator
Check Availability
From $69
From $69
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).
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