Nov 25, 2024
Ride in an outrigger canoe - On a recent visit to Hawaii we booked an outrigger canoe ride with Kona Boys in Kailua Kona located right by the Marriott King Kamehameha hotel. The price was reasonable and booking was easy.
The two of us joined three other guests and Kona Boys guides Ray and Tommy.
We had never been in a single hull outrigger canoe before and it was an amazing experience. Ray and Tommy were friendly and knowledgeable, and provided clear instructions. After hauling the canoe into the water, we were off!
Paddling together we glided quickly away from shore. At times we stopped while Tommy and Ray shared stories about ancient Hawaiian people and places.
Paddling was work but fun, and the boat was incredibly stable. We were out over an hour and it was a real joy.
Most other places we researched take out double hulled canoes with more people. But if you want the authentic experience of being in a single hulled boat, book with Kona Boys. We would definitely do this again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 12, 2024
Unforgettable adventure. - What an incredible ride! Tommy O took us out and was so informative about Hawaiian history and the land and water. We paddled out and saw tons of Nai'a (spinner dolphins) around us and under the outrigger. We saw the heiau right there and the special sacred land it's on. The bay was calm but we worked! pushing out from the shore and paddling. We loved Tommy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 9, 2023
Fabulous trip - My granddaughter and I spent an amazing hour out on the waters of the bay yesterday enjoying the sea and the fabulous views. James was an excellent steered and guide, giving us specific instructions on paddling and keeping us on our way. I wanted to share a time with my granddaughter that would be unique for us and introduce her to an activity she was not likely to experience elsewhere.
Can’t say enough about these good people!! Reception was pleasant, upbeat, and efficient. Way to go Kona Boys
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 17, 2023
Outrigger Canoe & the Surprised by Dolphins - Six of us had a fantastic time on an Outrigger Canoe led by our enthusiastic, capable & knowledgeable guide Tommy. He instructed us how to row in unison & guided the canoe from the rear. We rowed halfway across the bay when we were incredibly fortunate to see a pod of 10 dolphins only 25 feet away from us! They reappeared several times with one coming just a few feet in front of our outrigger. This was our second time going in an outrigger with Kona Boys & we will do it again when we return to Kona.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 27, 2019
Great water activity at a great price - We did the Outrigger canoe trip with Eden as our guide. Very doable by people who don’t canoe in general. Beautiful views of the bay. Eden is a super cool guide and knows a lot about the area. We also felt safe the entire time. And probably the excursion with the best value for the price we’ve done in Hawaii.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 1, 2019
Great fun on an outrigger canoe - Our family of five (two parents and three teenage boys) had an excellent time on this outrigger canoe experience. Eden, our guide, was great. She was fully of energy and information, both of which were very much appreciated. The one hour experience was perfect. A few minutes on the beach explaining how we should paddle and giving us the history of the location was a great start. Paddling the canoe was tons of fun, and not at all difficult. Once we got out of the bay, we were able to see through the 20-50 feet of crystal blue waters. Eden took us to several interesting spots and explained everything we saw. She also answered all of our questions with accurate and entertaining responses.
Take advantage of her offer to get off the canoe. If you have snorkling gear, bring it (or rent it from Kona Boys). Eden was able to locate a large school of bait fish for us, and we swam above them for a few minutes. It was a cool view and a refreshing break from the paddling.
This is a short excursion that is a great addition to any day in Kona. They pack a lot of fun into a 1 hour trip, and once you are done you are ready to grab a great lunch and go shopping in the town.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 26, 2019
Small Outrigger, Big Fun - Only the two of us were booked for a morning Outrigger Canoe ride, so Eden took us out in a small 3-4 person Outrigger. Before getting in the water, we got a short history of the Outrigger construction and history in Hawaiian culture. Then we headed out into the open sea to try our hand at paddling. An outrigger canoe is very stable, so no fear of trying to keep our balance. We canoed near some of the interesting pieces of coastline with ties to royal history, when Kailua-Kona was the home of the kings. I guess you could say we got the 'royal tour'. Eden was a friendly and informative guide, and we had a wonderful time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 22, 2019
Two hours after landing and we are on the water! - My husband and I travelled to Hawaii for our 5 year wedding anniversary. We had spent 3 days on Oahu and we then got a flight early morning on the Sunday to the Big Island. Two hours after landing we were down on the Kona coast outside the Kona Boys shack!
We don't waste our time and just wanted to experience all that Hawaii had to offer and this was a definite bonus! We didn't originally have this in our pre-holiday plans, it was a last minute addition we booked while on Oahu. I'm glad we found this amazing place and could experience the Wa'a Canoe Ride!
Our host, Eden, was fantastic and full of so much knowledge! It was an accidental private charter as no one else had booked on which was a bonus (although the husband freaked out when there was motion in the ocean as he's not the most confident in the water). He felt more comfortable after a little time passed though.
The parking in the hotel was fully paid for and it lasts all day. This meant we could explore more of the surrounding area and enjoy just swimming in the sea and soaking up some sun (although using factor 70!).
Would love to do this again and I wish we had more time to explore the coast in the canoe.
A tip for those who aren't used to rowing: sing in your head to keep a beat! (worked wonders for me, especially Moana songs!!)
Review provided by Tripadvisor