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Kama'aina Kayak and Snorkel EcoVentures
Kama'aina Kayak and Snorkel EcoVentures
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About
Located at He'eia State Park on Kane'ohe Bay, we are a nonprofit eco-adventure program. The proceeds allow local nonprofit organization Kama'aina Kids to fund He'eia State Park. Kayak and snorkel rentals available right on the water's edge. Come check out the best kayaking and snorkeling on Oahu, healthy coral reef, abundant marine life including sea turtles and manta rays, and the one and only "Sunken Island" sandbar!
Kaneohe, Hawaii
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Kama'aina Kayak and Snorkel EcoVentures
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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.
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5.0
767 reviews
Excellent
663
Very good
78
Average
17
Poor
4
Terrible
5
Nigel B
Sydney, Australia12 contributions
Jan 2018
Enjoyed the hotel pickup and drop-off from our Waikiki hotel. This was convenient and hassle-free.
Both on-the water guides were very friendly, qualified and experienced, providing great tips and guidance to kayaking.
Snorkel was disappointing due to the poor visibility around Coconut Island reef, with not much sealife was seen on our snorkel except me spotting only one small turtle. A delicious lunch was provided on our return and was most welcome before we were transported back to our Waikiki hotel.
Both on-the water guides were very friendly, qualified and experienced, providing great tips and guidance to kayaking.
Snorkel was disappointing due to the poor visibility around Coconut Island reef, with not much sealife was seen on our snorkel except me spotting only one small turtle. A delicious lunch was provided on our return and was most welcome before we were transported back to our Waikiki hotel.
Written January 26, 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.
santacruzinkid
Santa Cruz, CA14 contributions
Apr 2014 • Business
Talk about an amazing trip! This was by far the highlight of my trip to Oahu. My friend and I were blessed to be paired with Parker for our first sailing trip. The wind was howling in the Kaneohe Bay an Parker let us know it would be "fun" He showed us such an amazing time. Took us to a private beach, and taught us how to operate the boat. He is so knowledgeable about sailing and is easy to get along with and an incredible sailor. I would recommend this tour to absilutely anyone who enjoys thrill, however he can also take it slow. It is hands on if you want it to be and is an amazing adventure. Take advantage of the amazing wind in the Kaneohe Bay and ask for Parker! Lunch was also yummy, you'll work up an appetitie.
Written May 27, 2014
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.
red4x4
washington27 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
This is a wonderful activity for couples and families. They only take 2-15 people out in beautiful Kane'ohe Bay from He'eia State Park and Learning Center. You kayak to Coconut Island and snorkel the coral reefs off the island. Since my husband and I were the only ones for the tour that day we were able to hop on their small flat bottomed boat after the island adventure and go to a "blue hole" in another reef out further in the bay. Traveling over the deep blue waters and shallow aqua pools that are fringed by coral reefs as you traverse the bay is an exhilirating and unique experience. Words cannot describe how beautiful the bay is. Standing in one of these shallow areas a mile or more out into the bay and looking across the expanse of water to the Ko'olau mountain range on the coastline is a surreal experience and you are sure you have come close to heaven.
The snorkling in these areas is amazing. These are the only true coral reefs in Oahu and that makes it much different than Hanauma or Sharks Cove. (Also amazing in their own right.) You cannot count the types of beautiful corals that are best seen when the sun is shining brightly into the water. Lots of sea life too including turtles! This is a very intimate experience. There are very few other tours on the bay and you have miles of water all to yourself and your small party. Our knowledgable, very handsome, and great guides said they change it up each trip depending on weather, how many people, if someone may have special needs, etc. They are so warm and helpful that you feel you are with friends sharing their special place with you. This is not a fancy and comfortable boat where you are served lunch etc. You are out in nature at it's best with people that obviously love it here. I really liked the idea that it is an eco-friendly tour and the profits go to the Learning Center at He'eia.
Important Tips and Info before you go: Get reservations directly from their website or call them. You talk to a real person! Do not go through an activity booth or site. This saves you ten to fifteen dollars per person. Wear appropriate clothing for snorkeling and being in open kayak and boat. Take underwater camera and plenty of sunscreen. This is a 3+ hour trip beginning at around 8AM so eat breakfast. They supply snorkel gear, life jackets if you ask, bottled water and small snack bars. No Lunch. You don't need food you are so fascinated with the bay, but you can pack your own lunch and snacks which they will take for you on the boat.
The snorkling in these areas is amazing. These are the only true coral reefs in Oahu and that makes it much different than Hanauma or Sharks Cove. (Also amazing in their own right.) You cannot count the types of beautiful corals that are best seen when the sun is shining brightly into the water. Lots of sea life too including turtles! This is a very intimate experience. There are very few other tours on the bay and you have miles of water all to yourself and your small party. Our knowledgable, very handsome, and great guides said they change it up each trip depending on weather, how many people, if someone may have special needs, etc. They are so warm and helpful that you feel you are with friends sharing their special place with you. This is not a fancy and comfortable boat where you are served lunch etc. You are out in nature at it's best with people that obviously love it here. I really liked the idea that it is an eco-friendly tour and the profits go to the Learning Center at He'eia.
Important Tips and Info before you go: Get reservations directly from their website or call them. You talk to a real person! Do not go through an activity booth or site. This saves you ten to fifteen dollars per person. Wear appropriate clothing for snorkeling and being in open kayak and boat. Take underwater camera and plenty of sunscreen. This is a 3+ hour trip beginning at around 8AM so eat breakfast. They supply snorkel gear, life jackets if you ask, bottled water and small snack bars. No Lunch. You don't need food you are so fascinated with the bay, but you can pack your own lunch and snacks which they will take for you on the boat.
Written September 15, 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.
AZwildcat49
1 contribution
Dec 2014
Our guide Parker was very helpful and informative, and made the most of what was a miserable weather day, kudos to him for having made lemonade out of lemons. Unfortunately it was cold, windy and rainy on the day of our tour. My husband tried cancelling the day of the tour but was unable to because of the 24 hour cancellation policy. We were told that the weather would clear up by our tour date, which is the reason we did not cancel 24 hours previous. We were offered a reschedule but the date offered was after our plane left. Obviously we went on the tour because we were denied a refund despite the promises of good weather, entrapment you could say. This was the only dim spot on our trip to Hawaii, literally. One would assume that an ecotourism company would pride themselves on providing a great experience, and not just a "service". Bottom line should be customer experience, not profit. The best part of tour, was the realization we were coming ashore for lunch and hot beverages. Happy to say, we ended renting kayaks from Kailua the next day, and the weather was decent. Matt from kailua sailboards explained various destinations and was very low pressure and non agressive. He made us feel comfortable and left the decision of going out on the water solely up to us. Thanks, Matt.
Written January 2, 2015
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.
Wag109
los angeles, ca26 contributions
Feb 2016 • Family
I had been wanting to kayak out to "the sandbar" for many years. The trip finally went off without a hitch - fairly low tide and no wind or surf to contend with despite the huge waves breaking on the North Shore.. I made the reservations with Holokai months in advance and the kayaks were ready on their launch beach when we arrived. They provided everything we needed including a waterproof map of the bay and an anchor. They gave us directions on how to get out to the sandbar and where to go to avoid the party boats. We ended up snorkeling off the far north end of the sandbar at a place called Barracuda Alley. Clear water, lots of fish, half a dozen turtles and swam next to the largest one we had ever seen.
Written March 7, 2016
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.
harrylaw
Nanaimo, Canada49 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Our guide for the day was Bailey - What a joy to have him for the day , very informative about our days adventure & the Island itself. Nice ocean going kayaks , best part was the snorkelling , nice clear water & lots of fish !! BBQ on return was awesome -Chicken , Ribs & all the fixings.
Would recommend in a heartbeat !
Would recommend in a heartbeat !
Written January 6, 2015
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.
Kaismommy
Los Angeles, CA509 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
My 7 yr old son and I went on their guided kayak & snorkeling tour with Parker & Boris. The weather was a little cloudy, windy, and sometimes rainy. After brief explanation, we were equipped with snorkels, fins and life vests. Once we get our kayak and paddles, they pull you out of the He'eia Kea state park bay area, almost half way to Coconut Island.
They do this so you can spend more quality time snorkeling, yet let you have the experience of kayaking. Eastern side of Oahu is very windy, so even on a nice, clear day, it's quite difficult to kayak out (but that wind will help you on the way back). Once the boat pulled us about half way, they let everyone kayak at your own pace towards Coconut Island.
While kayaking, you will go over some patches of reef, which was very beautiful to see. Unfortunately, right at that point, the wind and rain picked up and my kayak wasn't moving forward. Boris saw this right away and he offered to hook our kayak to his so he can pull us. He was in a double kayak with another tour guest, an older woman, so basically, he was kayaking for all four of us. I felt bad but he just kept paddling through the wind and rain. My hero!!
Once we arrived at Coconut Island, we started snorkeling immediately. Since my son was the only child in the group, Parker stayed close to us. This was extremely helpful because whenever I snorkel with my son, I'm usually too busy looking out for him that I can not really enjoy snorkeling myself. Parker showed us lots of different sea life in the area, including the infamous red sea cucumber (which looks like intestines), puffer fish and sea turtles. My son loves turtles (wants to become a marine biologist/turtle doctor). In fact, that was the whole purpose of our trip to Hawaii, so he can see and swim with the turtles. We saw so many turtles in their natural habitat. Coconut Island reef was by far, my best snorkeling experience. Parker made this experience even better because I knew my son was in good hands.
Snorkeling portion of the tour seemed a bit short when we were told it was time to go back. My son probably could have snorkeled another 30-40 mins, even an hour. (yes, the snorkeling was THAT good!!)
I guess they want to make sure everyone had enough time to kayak all the way back, because that's what you'll have to do. Again, the wind helps you so they said it's much easier going back. So we thought...that's what they said at least LOL.
On the way back, Parker offered to pull us back on his boat, 'Banana Boat' style, so my son was all over the idea. It's quite safe and getting pulled really fast on the kayak was quite fun. :)
Parker made sure other kayakers were okay, hooked up a couple of more tired kayakers and took us all back safely to the harbor.
Afterwards, we had their BBQ, and although I'm not a big fan of BBQ and a lot of meat, the food was quite delicious.
My son wanted to snorkel more, so Parker suggested their new sailing/snorkel tour. Since we had such a wonderful experience (and Parker can be a smooth sales person, in a good way, haha) we decided to sign up.
Two days later, we were back with HKSA!
This time, we had Garret as our guide. It was just my son and I in the group so we basically had a private sailing tour!! Garret was quite a character!! He was so pleasant and easy going. At first, my son got a bit scared when he got splashed by the waves (again, going out of the bay, there's a lot of wind)
Once we were in open water, Garret showed him how to sail. What kid won't like that??
We went to the sandbar, per my son's request. After that, we went to slightly deeper area with lots of reefs. At first, my son didn't want to go in the ocean because it was deep. I went ahead and jumped in, hoping he'll come in. Garret patiently hung out on the boat and talked with him. Then he managed to talk my son into going in. Within a few minutes, they were snorkeling together. We sailed all over Kaneohe Bay and snorkeled in different spots. This day, we didn't get to snorkel with the turtles but we saw lots and lots from the boat.
By the end, my son was loving the experience so much, he was hanging off the side of the boat (literally), having the time of his life. Garret was fun, caring, and easy going guide. 3-4 hours went by so quickly, we wanted more!
Since we were staying in Kailua, instead of getting picked up by their bus, we drove directly to He'eia Kea state park. They ask you to come by 8:30am, so you have enough time to sign waivers, however, both days, we ended up waiting for the bus to arrive (Garret was the driver for the other kayak tour) so we had to wait quite a bit. We didn't get going until almost 9:30am, so I do not think it's that crucial to show up right on time (don't hate me for saying this, HKSA peeps!) However, while we waited, we got to chat and get to know another member of HKSA group, Andy, who was awesome with my son.
All in all, we've had nothing but positive experience with HKSA. All of the people who we associated with were very helpful, friendly with kids/adults alike, and most importantly, they take safety seriously and love what they do.
I also like that the proceeds go to support Kama aina Kids. :)
I hope they will stay grounded and not turn into another tourist trap type tour companies. But as long as guys like Andy, Parker, Boris, Garret are there, I think they will continue to be one of the most awesome tour companies in Oahu!!
Mahalo HKSA, we'll be back!!
They do this so you can spend more quality time snorkeling, yet let you have the experience of kayaking. Eastern side of Oahu is very windy, so even on a nice, clear day, it's quite difficult to kayak out (but that wind will help you on the way back). Once the boat pulled us about half way, they let everyone kayak at your own pace towards Coconut Island.
While kayaking, you will go over some patches of reef, which was very beautiful to see. Unfortunately, right at that point, the wind and rain picked up and my kayak wasn't moving forward. Boris saw this right away and he offered to hook our kayak to his so he can pull us. He was in a double kayak with another tour guest, an older woman, so basically, he was kayaking for all four of us. I felt bad but he just kept paddling through the wind and rain. My hero!!
Once we arrived at Coconut Island, we started snorkeling immediately. Since my son was the only child in the group, Parker stayed close to us. This was extremely helpful because whenever I snorkel with my son, I'm usually too busy looking out for him that I can not really enjoy snorkeling myself. Parker showed us lots of different sea life in the area, including the infamous red sea cucumber (which looks like intestines), puffer fish and sea turtles. My son loves turtles (wants to become a marine biologist/turtle doctor). In fact, that was the whole purpose of our trip to Hawaii, so he can see and swim with the turtles. We saw so many turtles in their natural habitat. Coconut Island reef was by far, my best snorkeling experience. Parker made this experience even better because I knew my son was in good hands.
Snorkeling portion of the tour seemed a bit short when we were told it was time to go back. My son probably could have snorkeled another 30-40 mins, even an hour. (yes, the snorkeling was THAT good!!)
I guess they want to make sure everyone had enough time to kayak all the way back, because that's what you'll have to do. Again, the wind helps you so they said it's much easier going back. So we thought...that's what they said at least LOL.
On the way back, Parker offered to pull us back on his boat, 'Banana Boat' style, so my son was all over the idea. It's quite safe and getting pulled really fast on the kayak was quite fun. :)
Parker made sure other kayakers were okay, hooked up a couple of more tired kayakers and took us all back safely to the harbor.
Afterwards, we had their BBQ, and although I'm not a big fan of BBQ and a lot of meat, the food was quite delicious.
My son wanted to snorkel more, so Parker suggested their new sailing/snorkel tour. Since we had such a wonderful experience (and Parker can be a smooth sales person, in a good way, haha) we decided to sign up.
Two days later, we were back with HKSA!
This time, we had Garret as our guide. It was just my son and I in the group so we basically had a private sailing tour!! Garret was quite a character!! He was so pleasant and easy going. At first, my son got a bit scared when he got splashed by the waves (again, going out of the bay, there's a lot of wind)
Once we were in open water, Garret showed him how to sail. What kid won't like that??
We went to the sandbar, per my son's request. After that, we went to slightly deeper area with lots of reefs. At first, my son didn't want to go in the ocean because it was deep. I went ahead and jumped in, hoping he'll come in. Garret patiently hung out on the boat and talked with him. Then he managed to talk my son into going in. Within a few minutes, they were snorkeling together. We sailed all over Kaneohe Bay and snorkeled in different spots. This day, we didn't get to snorkel with the turtles but we saw lots and lots from the boat.
By the end, my son was loving the experience so much, he was hanging off the side of the boat (literally), having the time of his life. Garret was fun, caring, and easy going guide. 3-4 hours went by so quickly, we wanted more!
Since we were staying in Kailua, instead of getting picked up by their bus, we drove directly to He'eia Kea state park. They ask you to come by 8:30am, so you have enough time to sign waivers, however, both days, we ended up waiting for the bus to arrive (Garret was the driver for the other kayak tour) so we had to wait quite a bit. We didn't get going until almost 9:30am, so I do not think it's that crucial to show up right on time (don't hate me for saying this, HKSA peeps!) However, while we waited, we got to chat and get to know another member of HKSA group, Andy, who was awesome with my son.
All in all, we've had nothing but positive experience with HKSA. All of the people who we associated with were very helpful, friendly with kids/adults alike, and most importantly, they take safety seriously and love what they do.
I also like that the proceeds go to support Kama aina Kids. :)
I hope they will stay grounded and not turn into another tourist trap type tour companies. But as long as guys like Andy, Parker, Boris, Garret are there, I think they will continue to be one of the most awesome tour companies in Oahu!!
Mahalo HKSA, we'll be back!!
Written August 30, 2014
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.
Kenny L
2 contributions
Sep 2018
I purchased the kayak and snorkel tour to coconut island. The trip advisor page said "you’ll conveniently tie up to an escort boat that does the hard work for you, as it tows your kayaks out towards the bay" and additionally "Upon reaching the shores of Coconut Island." First, there was no escort boat, second, we never came close to the shores of coconut island which was roughly a quarter mile away from where we did our snorkeling.
The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable, kept a good eye on everyone, and let myself and my gf get a little more adventurous away from the group as they recognized we were being held up by the older crowd. We did get a chance to see 2 giant turtles, and I also saw 2 other smaller ones away from the group. The kayaks were in good shape, paddles and life vests were also in good shape.
The BBQ after the kayak/snorkeling trip was pretty tasty. It included ribs, grilled chicken, salad, corn on the cob and a few other items I am drawing a blank on.
The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable, kept a good eye on everyone, and let myself and my gf get a little more adventurous away from the group as they recognized we were being held up by the older crowd. We did get a chance to see 2 giant turtles, and I also saw 2 other smaller ones away from the group. The kayaks were in good shape, paddles and life vests were also in good shape.
The BBQ after the kayak/snorkeling trip was pretty tasty. It included ribs, grilled chicken, salad, corn on the cob and a few other items I am drawing a blank on.
Written September 29, 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.
Urs_13
Auckland, New Zealand67 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Rented kayaks from these guys to go out to Kaneohe sandbar. Staff was professional and helpful with advice on where to go and how to use the equipment. The paddle out to sandbar was about 30 minutes and well worth it. Beautiful spot to stand the the water and admire the island. The went to see some of the still beautiful Corel reefs in Kaneohe bay. Some bleaching and few big fish due to all the spear fishing but still beautiful. Got back and staff helped us land kayaks and cleanup. They even have showers - much nicer than dragging your kayak from Kailua beach back to the rental place!
Written August 18, 2017
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.
Sondra L
Honolulu1 contribution
Jul 2017 • Family
I have always wanted to kayak and snorkel in Kaneohe Bay. The staff at Holokai Adventure were very friendly and informative. Our self-guided group consisted of my husband, six year old son, and I in one kayak and another couple friend in another kayak. Before you set out the staff gives you a map and an overview of the bay and how to navigate. On the website it described being able to explore coconut island but because we were doing the self-guided tour we were told it was off limits. Also the website says that it is for all ages and experience levels however because we did the self-guided tour and it was a windy day we found it to be very challenging to Kayak within the bay. I don’t think I would have been able to kayak on my own and was happy my husband was doing most of the heavy paddling. It took us about 30 – 40 minutes to kayak to the sandbar from shore. Because it was high tide we just kind of waded in the water and swam around for a bit. Getting back into the kayak was a challenge and my husband managed to capsize it. Luckily everything was strapped down so we didn’t lose anything. It then took us about 30 minutes to kayak to the closest patch reef to start our snorkeling. It was very difficult for us to find a safe spot to anchor because we didn’t want to damage any coral. The snorkeling was amazing! My friend and I did get stung by Portuguese Man-of-War but it was worth it. After we explored we were too tired to kayak to another patch reef so we just started heading back to shore which took about 15-20 minutes. We got in about 12:30 which was the perfect time to head up for the BBQ lunch (delicious)! Despite the challenges we had a great experience and want to do it again next year. However next time we will skip the sandbar and just focus our energies on snorkeling around the patch reefs.
Written July 26, 2017
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.
My husband and I are coming to Oahu the 1st week of April. We are bringing our 3 grandchildren with us. Since there will be 5 of us.. Wouldn’t we need to rent three kayaks?
Thanks
P.Bolton
Written January 8, 2023
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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.