Kelii's Kayak Tours

Kelii's Kayak Tours

Kelii's Kayak Tours
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Kihei, Hawaii
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Tours and Tickets by Kelii's Kayak Tours
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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
5.0 of 5 bubbles525 reviews
Excellent
464
Very good
33
Average
11
Poor
9
Terrible
8

David H
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
The snorkeling, whale watching, and kayaking experience was awesome! The water was so calm, like glass. Our guide, Tyler, was outstanding. He knew the right places to go and check out the fish and sea turtles. Also, I lost count how many humpback whales we saw! We were able to get close but we very respectful in not getting too close. I wouldn’t hesitate to book with Kelli’s Kayak Tour again and would definitely request Tyler as my guide.
Written March 19, 2023
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.

Lucy
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
It is hard to describe just how awesome this kayak and snorkeling experience was. We saw many whales, and even saw a baby whale breaching! Snorkeling was amazing, too, and I can't praise our guide Tyler enough for his excellent care. Tyler helped to make our 50th wedding anniversary celebration adventure just perfect.
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.

Christine L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2018 • Friends
We went this morning on the longer kayak and snorkeling tour. Tyler was our guide and he was fabulous!! I have never taken the time to write a review before but my experience was so wonderful that I have to write. There were 4 of us, two 65+yo and two mid 30’s. We all had a fantastic time, even the one who was very nervous and almost backed out... she was soo thankful she didn’t. Tyler was great, very honest that the weather wasn’t great but we would do the best we could and we were all pleasantly surprised. Tyler was very passionate about the ocean and I loved hearing about his experiences. He was able to get us out snorkeling and it was just outstanding. We did shorten our tour because the water conditions weren’t great and Tyler was honest about that. I saw some other tour companies doing some activities despite the strong swell and high waves that seemed unsafe. I even saw the another companies tour guide push two people directly INTO a huge wave causing them both to fall out of the kayak! Not cool at all. Tyler was very SAFE and CONSIDERATE and I felt completely at ease the entire time. THANK YOU TYLER!!!
Written January 13, 2018
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.

luv2deal
Ludington, MI17 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2018 • Family
The kayak guide, Jeremiah, was gruff and liked to talk too much about himself. The hiking portion of the tour can be done yourself for free. Definately a waste of time and money.
Written January 15, 2018
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.

jshea1223
California44 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2011
We always take this kayak tour each time we visit Maui. The kayaks were clean and our guide, Derick was knowledgable. We requested Derrick because of TripAdvisor reviews. Our guide was not too interested in our particular group because we brought our own waterproof camera. He charged $60 for taking pictures with his camera. We bought photo packages in the past, just wasn't really impressed with them. We were mostly ignored. Derrick spent most of his time with groups interested in his photo package. Didn't get much service from him. We were caught off guard when he asked for $50 (20%+) . Very disappointing. We had better guides with kelii kayaks.
Written August 26, 2011
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.

jacqso
Pullman, WA50 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2011
I hesitate to write a harsh review, so I will make the disclaimer that the experience really boils down to an independent guide that each company contracts to represent them.
Our guide was not good.
This was the one thing I had looked forward to the most when planning our trip this year. I read a lot of reviews!! We have never kayaked, let alone out on the ocean in the sound where the whales will be. I was pretty excited and looking forward to the adventure.
My husband and I arrived at the launch site a few minutes early, great we are here! Several guides were launching from the site and no one had any business logo to indicate they were with Kelii's. We spoke to a couple and finally were pointed to the one I was sort of hoping we weren't going to end up talking to. A rather gruff kind of guy who didn't introduce himself, pushed a clipboard at us to fill out and a book of pictures we didn't know what to do with. Turns out later that he will take pictures for you and send them to you for a fee. Charming and personably presented.
The trip was ok. It was exhilerating paddling out into the sound, but one boat out of the four on the trip was a couple who should not have been out kayaking. He was in no physical condition to keep up and we were not paddling hard at all (I am positive, because I had been worried that I was going to have a hard time and never did.) So we didn't go far because they obviously annoyed the guide.
We signed on for the longer excursion, partially for the challenge, partially because I really wanted to spend time with someone who really knew the area and could help us get to know that area of the water better. Our guide had other ideas. I asked him if he was familiar with this area of the island: no, not really-but he pointed out Clint Eastwood's house-um, ok. Saw some guys fishing and asked what they would be fishing for: i don't know. asked him about snorkeling in the area: i don't snorkel here--aren't you guiding us to snorkel spots later???? ok, no questions. check.
It was a windy day, so he sat on his kayak while we all snorkeled. ? I do know he had lots of aches and pains. It was too cold to be out. His wife was on a trip. He was trying to buy a house.....
Kayaking was ok-hung out with a couple nice, big turtles but no whale sightings and not enough time out in the sound. Guide not ok. The other guides at the launch site spoke more to us about our trip than our own did. bummer
Thought about asking for a refund, but didn't want to waste trip time fussing over money. What was done, was done.
I read some great reviews for Kelii's, which is why we chose them. Too bad we can't report a better trip with them. I am not willing to say I will try again. Sadly, I won't.
Written February 8, 2011
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.

peppermintmocha72
Maple Ridge, Canada9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Family
Me and my 13 yr old son booked the 2 hour south shore Turtle Town tour and it was worth every penny. Seriously, I cannot overstate how fantastic Tyler (our guide) was. And also Curtis who was in training. Tyler was so very professional, friendly, easy going, knowledgeable, helpful, non judgemental, funny, patient......just an awesome, awesome guy! He had great stories for us, always had safety in mind, made the whole experience so comfortable! It was a gorgeous , clear, calm day. He gave us all the time we wanted with the turtles (and there were lots of them!!!) Never felt rushed at all. My son came out of it and said...”Mom, that was one of the best days of our vacation!” That says it all. Thanks Kellii’s, and Tyler, you rock dude!!!
Written June 4, 2018
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.

shirley61
Sunnyvale, CA27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Five of us met Miah on the beach for a few hours of kayaking. We saw numerous turtles, a reef shark, moray eel, and countless fish. Professional and friendly, Miah also takes photos to help remember the trip, highly recommend Kelii's for a great kayak trip.
Written March 25, 2012
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.

ebbie1081
Norwich, CT191 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2011 • Couples
My husband and I did the kayaking and snorkel tour. My interactions with the actual company and booking the tour were great. The people on the phone were always friendly. Finding the launch spot was confusing because the info we got said we would see a Keliis Kayak sign and we never did so we had to park and ask around. The tour guide we had, Chris, was not my favorite. He seemed a bit...pompous, for lack of a better word, and really not down to earth. A couple of people on our tour had never kayaked, and he seemed to rush through the directions on how to kayak like he didn't want to bother with it. Once we got in the water, he was okay, but he never seemed outwardly friendly which was disappointing. Other tour guides we encountered kayaking and at the launch spot were much friendlier and kinder and it made me wish we had someone else. The actual activity was great -- the kayaking was super fun and the snorkeling was beautiful. We saw several tours and the visibility of the water was great. Overall, I would probably do it again, but just hope for a more enthusiastic tour guide.
Written August 17, 2011
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.

BG H
Toronto, Canada6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2011
We've been to Maui three times over the years, first time late January 97, second time early February 08. Our latest trip was Feb 21st for six nights. I definitely noticed that the water was calmer this time on the west side of the island. Perfect for our first ocean kayaking experience from the beach at Olowalu!

Small group, nice people, and our guide Aaron was super cool. Went out into the channel about two miles, never felt any stress being on 'wide open water', saw a few whales about a hundred feet away and heard them blowing some air out which was really cool.

Snorkeling was good and visibility was better this time than our other trips. I don't usually go for the 'photo op' stuff people try to sell you on cruises or adventures but I'm actually glad we purchased Aaron's candid pictures of our adventure.

At first I thought $60 was a bit much for a photo CD mailed to your home...but when we got that CD in the mail one freaking cold night in the middle of March we had a great time 'reliving' our kayak adventure in warm and sunny Maui.

Aaron captured some really hilarious shots of us getting in and out of the kayak and we'll treasure those pictures, the other great shots of us snorkeling, and the humpbacks he caught on film too.

This operation is really good and the tour price is reasonable. Not that I'm an expert but the double kayak seemed in great shape and kept us comfortable. My wife is pretty active so she felt okay the whole time, my shoulders got a little sore so the shorter AM trip was the perfect amount of time for us.

Aaron had some water or sodas and cereal bars stashed away for the group too, we appreciated the snack near the end of the trip. We'd go again fer sure!!!
Written March 28, 2011
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.

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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.

Kelii's Kayak Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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