Kona Coast Cruise: Hawaiian Heritage & Marine Life

Embark on a small-group snorkel experience from Kailua-Kona to Kealakekua Bay. Discover Hawaiian history, encounter spinner dolphins, and explore the Captain James Cook monument.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kealakekua Bay - Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, the site of the Captain Cook Monument on The Big Island of Hawaii, in a small-group experience.
    Kealakekua Bay is a protected marine sanctuary, boasting arguably the best snorkeling in the entire state of Hawaii. Due to the state’s environmental protections, Kealakekua Bay boasts an…
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Nonalcoholic refreshments
What's Not Included
  • Bring your own towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, and waterproof camera
Additional Information

We embark on a journey from Keauhou Harbor into the pristine azure seas. As we set sail, our crew highlights captivating sights along the historically rich Kona coastline. South Kona is home to an array of significant Hawaiian Heritage landmarks, brimming with mana (spiritual power). We remain in proximity to the Kona coast as we navigate southwards…

Location
78-7138 Kaleiopapa St
Kaleiopapa Street
Meet us near the boat ramp at Keauhou Harbor.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(367 Ratings)
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Martha_h
Oct 26, 2025
Fabulous day snorkeling - Great snorkeling experience. We saw many different types of fish. Some in our group saw eels, octopus and rays as well. The small group experience is so much nicer than the big boats.
Review provided by Viator
D2295wacarolef
Oct 25, 2025
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling - My partner and I went on a snorkeling tour with Hawaii Oceanic and we liked it so much we went back the next day with my partner's son. Each crew includes a skipper and a guide. On our first day, Justin and Carmelle took us out bright and early to Kealakekua Bay. The boats are suited for small groups of 12 or fewer. Carmelle is a marine biologist so very knowledgeable about the tropical fish. Justin shared historical information about the bay and the history there (you have to go to hear about it!). On our second trip Kayleigh and Sean were our crew. All of them made us feel welcome and like we were in good hands. You will have plenty of time to snorkel and see a reef teeming with tropical fish. There is also chance you'll see dolphins. If you like to snorkel and want a great experience you should do this tour Remember no touching the coral, get reef safe sunscreen. You can bring you own mask, snorkel and fins? but you don't have to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
615carrolls
Oct 24, 2025
Mellow snorkel trip with lovely guides - My husband and I had a lovely time with our guides Carmelle and Justin. They were professional and very friendly. We saw lots of wildlife at the snorkel spot and enjoyed our boat ride back checking out sea caves and lava tubes.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carole_f
Oct 23, 2025
Amazing snorkeling - This was a great experience! The tour included beautiful reef snorkeling in a small group. The crew, Justin and Carmelle were knowledgeable and pointed out several caves and lava tubes on the way back. Kealakekua is a beautiful reef teeming with tropical fish and a gorgeous reef full of life. This is a must do for snorkelers.
Review provided by Viator
Melissa
Oct 19, 2025
Best snorkeling - Great area to snorkel with lots of fish. Enjoyed the staff and the quick ride to the area on the boat. Early start allowed us first access to the abundance of fish.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martha_g
Oct 16, 2025
Awesome experience!! - What an amazing experience! Justin and Erika were terrific as boat captain and guide, respectively. The snorkeling in the bay is awesome, the best we had on the island - fish, eels, eagle ray. Some folks saw a manta ray too. Justin stopped along the return to share lava tubes, parrot cove, and a bonus of spinner dolphins! He knew just where to look. Erika filled in some cultural and natural history. We liked the experience so much, we booked it again!
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_c
Oct 16, 2025
Fun time - Good experience, extremely pleasant tour guides (Carmelle and Justin), beautiful cruise, bonus little trip to caves/lava tubes, and ample time to enjoy the snorkel. The absolute highest for us was a gorgeous octopus we saw and followed around for a while. Book it!
Review provided by Viator
Jmkjnk
Oct 14, 2025
Great Trip with Smaller Group - Jason and Liza were great. We loved that there were fewer people on this snorkel trip than other boats we saw and we got to the site earlier so we had some time before the crowds. Jason also made a few stops on the way back to point out some sites of interest and give a little info on history and culture. Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Viator
V3629ayjimc
Oct 12, 2025
Wonderful snorkeling. Lots of fish. Up close. - This was the best snorkeling during our cruise. Better than Kauai's best. Lots of fish. Wide variety. Up close. Clear water in the bay. Not crowed during out outing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erin_c
Oct 11, 2025
Great experience - Alexis and Carmelle were incredibly friendly and inviting. They took the time to get to know a little about each person. Carmelle was knowledgeable about ocean life and instructed us in safety. Alexis shared her knowledge of cultural and geological history while traveling to and from the bay. We snorkeled with a manta ray and multiple varieties of fish. A spinner pod of dolphins swam around the boat. My teenage son said this was his favorite activity of the trip. We absolutely would book an excursion with them again!
Review provided by Viator
From $109
up to 11 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).