Shaka Kayaks
Shaka Kayaks
5
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Full view
About
Paddle through Kawela Bay in an area that in ancient times was reserved for the Ali'i or hawaiian royalty. Help your guides to spot one of our many Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles for our citizen science ID project. Stop at a honu "cleaning station" and watch as some of our Honu line up to get cleaned. For adventure seekers you have the option to surf your kayaks on small 1' waves at the end of the trip or just relax and enjoy the calm protected waters of the bay. End the trip with a visit to the "Lost" Banyan Tree which is the site of many TV Shows and Movies including Lost, Jumanji 2, Pirates of the Caribbean IV and Hunger Games Catching Fire.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
643 reviews
Excellent
569
Very good
53
Average
9
Poor
8
Terrible
4
KNelson17
1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Family
From the moment they greeted us in the lobby to pick us up until the time they dropped us off after our tour, this was an amazing experience! We learned so much about the area and appreciated the plethora of information they shared throughout our time with them. One of our kayaks, which had two inexperienced riders, flipped right at the start and both guides handled it with patience and ease. Their instruction was key in keeping our large group of eight, ranging in age from 7 to 70, organized and safe. It was absolutely a highlight of our trip to the North Shore and even the fearful skeptics of our group were so glad we did it!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, at Shaka Kayaks our goal is to exceed your expectations so this review means we are doing our job. Alot of inexperienced riders think the double boat is easier when in reality it takes more skill, balance and teamwork which is why we recommend single kayaks over the "divorce boats". Mahalo nui loa for your review. Capt. Scott
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tresdudes
California25 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Our family had a great time on the tour and saw lots of turtles. Our guide, Michael (I hope I remembered that correctly), was very knowledgeable, patient, funny and the perfect guide. He was amazing - he used his kayak like a paddle board the whole time - taking pictures and pointing out turtles .
Also, Scott was very accommodating when we had a last minute change.
Also, Scott was very accommodating when we had a last minute change.
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, Mike your guide has great balance and does stand the whole trip because it is the best vantage for him to spot the honu for you from a distance and get great pictures from above. I'm glad I was able to accommodate your last minute change. Mahalo nui loa for your review. Capt. Scott
Written January 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jesslattin
1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Family
This is the second time, we've taken the Shaka Kayaks tour. After seeing pictures of our first time (2013), our 5-year-old insisted on doing it on our family vacation. I rode by myself, and she rode with her dad on a two-person kayak. She loved every second of it. From seeing the turtles to finding a message in a bottle and finding "buried treasure" at the banyan tree, it was the perfect activity. Even though recent storms had made the water murky, our guide was still able to find plenty of turtles to observe. The ocean wasn't super calm, but manageable, and a quick rain shower meant we even got pictures (the guide will take them of everyone — included in price) in front of a rainbow.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, mahalo nui loa for joining us again on a Shaka Kayaks tour. I'm glad you were able to bring along a new generation to enjoy seeing the honu. Several guests ask if we still go out in the rain and I always answer how else would we get your rainbow pictures if we didn't. Capt. Scott
Written January 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rae
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Went on the Turtle tour in the morning. It was fantastic, we were in a small bay, so definitely good terms for kayakers of any level. The swells provided a fun little ride. Mike and Tom were excellent guides, Tom circled the group like shepherd andkept an eye on anyone straggling and Mike provided the talk. Learned so much, like how to tell the difference between male and female turtles, a group of owls is called a parliament, and the ages of turtles we spotted. We circled the bay for turtle spotting and got to see a few pop up for air just a foot from the kayak. Mike sent us pics afterwards which was great since we left our phones in the room. Had a great timr and would recommend!
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, I'm so glad you enjoyed your awesome turtle tour. I will let the guides know they were excellent. Mahalo nui loa for your review and recommending Shaka Kayaks. Capt. Scott
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah
3 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
I can’t say enough good things about our experience! We booked online (weren’t guests of the resort) and the process was a breeze. Mike, our guide, was awesome and very knowledgeable, and fun! He made sure that everyone in the group was able to get good views of the turtles. We saw MANY turtles as well, too many to count. The water in Turtle Bay is much calmer than I expected. Being a novice kayaker I had no issues at all. My 7 year old sat in the front of a double kayak and had a blast observing all the turtles and just riding along. I never had any safety concerns whatsoever. I also appreciate that the lifejackets they have for everyone are higher quality, low profile, and very comfortable! That’s important to be able to move your arms while paddling.
Overall this is one of the best organized tourist activities that we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing on the island! Worth every penny in my opinion.
Overall this is one of the best organized tourist activities that we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing on the island! Worth every penny in my opinion.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, as a seasoned captain of 25 years I realize that the generic once size fits all cheap life jackets are more dangerous than not wearing one at all and I appreciate your review of our high quality, low profile and comfortable life jackets. Safety after all is our first concern. Mahalo nui loa for reviewing Shaka Kayaks as one of the best organized tourist activities on the island. Capt. Scott
Written March 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah H
New York City, NY17 contributions
Feb 2020
I bought this for my dad as his birthday present. We had an amazing time - words really can’t describe it. Gorgeous water, turtles and kayaks. The guides were Incredible- sharing the history of the lagoon as well as so much info about the turtles and SO patient with people who had difficulty steering the kayak. We really loved the guides. This was by far the best part of our vacation!! You do kayak back and forth from one side of the lagoon to the other so some arm strength is needed. Not recommended for kids under 14 or seniors over 70.
Written June 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha Sarah, must have missed this review when we were closed for a year but mahalo nui loa for your review of Shaka Kayaks and we were glad to be the best part of your vacation. Capt. Scott
Written May 14, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nomadeva
Indianapolis, IN148 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
Our family of four (2 adults, 2 teens) did a 7:30 kayak trip to see turtles in the bay. Mike and crew did a great job showing us the turtles, keeping them and us safe, and showing us other highlights around the quiet bay. The trip is educational and fun, and can be good exercise if you paddle around more and don’t just float. That is entirely up to you. The morning we went, there were a few decent waves for paddle surfing too. A light, local snack is served after the trip.
The guided tour was so much more interesting than if we were just paddling alone. This 70 minute or so paddle was a highlight of our trip to Oahu for sure. Thanks, Shaka Kayak!
The guided tour was so much more interesting than if we were just paddling alone. This 70 minute or so paddle was a highlight of our trip to Oahu for sure. Thanks, Shaka Kayak!
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, I'm so glad we could make Shaka Kayaks the highlight of your trip to Oahu. Mahalo nui loa for your review. Capt. Scott
Written March 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chelsea C
Cottonwood Heights, UT2 contributions
Feb 2020
The tour guides were very friendly and were a lot of fun to work with. However, the excursion was pretty expensive considering the limited amount of kayaking that we did during the tour. Watching the sea turtles was really cool, but I would have liked to kayak a little more.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mleighgolden
1 contribution
Feb 2020
What a great experience! I highly recommend to all, at any skill level. Even pregnant they made sure I was well taken care of, in a boat with extra back(core) support and able to participate fully. Our guide was very knowledgeable and really enhanced the experience as well. I recommend to everyone from young active individuals, families with kids (they did a great job of eliciting their participation), or those less active, all will surely enjoy. We saw at least 30 sea turtle in their natural environment, aTrip highlight for sure.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, mahalo nui loa for recommending Shaka Kayaks as a must do for all at any skill level. Capt. Scott
Written February 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bettina Thorn
Los Angeles, CA47 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Despite our tour taking place on a windy and somewhat rainy morning (we were visiting during January so to be expected) we had a great time. Spotted many turtles but my personal favorite aspect of the tour was how knowledgeable our guide was. We (including our 13 year old son) learned a lot of new info on not only sea turtles, but the ecology/history of O’ahu / Hawaii as well. Many of the questions we had on our mind during our week’s visit (that we never got around to looking up online) were answered in detail. A great experience all around, would recommend.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha, we can't guarantee the weather will be perfect but we can guarantee the turtles. We find we actually see more honu when it rains. Mahalo nui loa for reviewing Shaka Kayaks a great experience all around and for recommending us. Capt. Scott
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do you recommend booking before arrival?
Written January 29, 2015
If you are staying at Turtle Bay, doubt booking ahead is necessary, especially if you are staying a number of days, which gives you options. Best to go in the morning. Waves come up in the afternoon this time of year. Oh and don't miss whale watching with North Shore Catamaran.
Written January 31, 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.