Boat tours on the Kona Coast
The drier west side of the island is where most Big Island boat tours start. Boats leave from the harbor north of Kailua-Kona, from the pier in town and, for a few cruises on the Kohala Coast, from the beach at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay. Trips last from about 1 hour to 4.5 hours.
The tour types differ more than the boats do. Whale watching depends on the season. Dolphin trips watch from the boat and add reef snorkeling. A submarine takes you below the surface without getting wet, and sunset sails and dinner cruises are about the coast, the light and a meal.
Our picks: boat tours from Kona
The whale watching cruise only makes sense in the winter months. The sunset sail with a bar works all year, and the submarine is the choice if you would rather stay dry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Submarine dive from Kona
- Shuttle to the dive site
- Naturalist narration
- Audio in several languages
A one-hour dive in a 48-passenger submarine with live narration from an underwater naturalist, reached by a shuttle to the dive site.
Check availability →Whale watching cruise from Kailua-Kona
- 2.5-hour cruise
- Snacks and drinks
- Hydrophone speaker
A 2.5-hour cruise with snacks, drinks and a hydrophone speaker so you can hear the whales. Humpbacks visit in the winter months, so plan it for that season.
Check availability →
Catamaran sunset sail from Honokohau Harbor
- Premium bar
- Light bites
- Shaded and open seating
A 90-minute sail with shaded and open-air seating, light bites and a premium bar with cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks.
Check availability →Boat tours from Kailua-Kona
Whale watching cruises, dolphin watch and snorkel trips, Captain Cook snorkel cruises and sunset sails, with live prices and availability.
Big Island boat tours compared
What each tour type includes in 2026.
| Tour type | Length | Usually included | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whale watching cruise | 1.5 to 3 hours | Guide, snacks and drinks; on some boats a hydrophone | Whale season |
| Dolphin watch and reef snorkel | 2 to 3 hours | Snorkel gear, snacks, drinks; a barbecue lunch on the longer trip | All year |
| Captain Cook snorkel cruise | 4 to 4.5 hours | Guide, snorkel gear depending on option, snacks and lunch | All year |
| Submarine dive | About 1 hour | Shuttle boat to the dive site, narration by a naturalist | All year |
| Sunset sail | About 1.5 hours | Bar with cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks, light bites | Evenings |
| Dinner cruise to Kealakekua Bay | About 3 hours | Dinner, drinks, live entertainment and commentary | Evenings |
| Manta ray night snorkel | 1 to 3.5 hours | Snorkel gear, flotation, often a wetsuit | After dark |
Hotel pickup is not included on almost all of these tours, so plan your own way to the harbor. For most visitors who want one trip with the most variety, a half-day Captain Cook snorkel cruise is a good fit; in whale season, add a short whale watching cruise.
Whale watching from Kailua-Kona
Humpback whales spend the winter in Hawaiian waters.
The season
Humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters from about November to April or May, with the busiest whale watching from late December to early May. That is no guaranteed sighting period, and whales do not arrive or leave on fixed dates.
Best time to visit →The boats
Whale watching cruises from the harbor north of Kailua-Kona last 2.5 to 3 hours. Faster raft trips run about 3 hours. On the Kohala Coast, a 2-hour cruise leaves from ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay. One cruise carries a hydrophone so you can hear the whales sing under water.
The distance rule
Boats must stay at least 100 yards (about 90 m) from humpback whales, and aircraft at least 1,000 feet (300 m). The rule applies all year, not only in the season. Some offers advertise guaranteed sightings; read what happens if no whales appear before you book.
If Maui is also on your route, see whale watching on Maui.
Submarine tours from Kailua-Kona
A dive without a mask.
A Big Island submarine tour is a different activity from a snorkel boat. You check in in Kailua-Kona about 30 minutes before departure, ride a shuttle boat out to the dive site and then board the submarine for the dive. The whole trip takes about an hour. A naturalist narrates live in English, and audio narration is offered in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean.
It suits travelers who do not swim or snorkel, families with small children and anyone who wants to see the reef without getting wet. Check the current schedule for your date before you plan around it.
Dolphin watching, not dolphin swimming
Dolphin tours on the Kona Coast look for spinner dolphins. Swimming with them, approaching them or staying within 50 yards (about 46 m) is prohibited under federal law. The dolphin tours are therefore dolphin watching from the boat combined with snorkeling on a reef, not swimming with dolphins.
The shorter afternoon trip lasts 2 hours with snorkel gear, snacks and a floating mat; the longer one runs 3 hours and adds a barbecue lunch on board. Wetsuit rental may cost extra. Sea turtles may appear at the reefs; keep at least 10 feet (3 m) away in the water and on land, and do not touch corals or animals.
Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription since 1 January 2021. A mineral sunscreen avoids the question on reef trips. More on bays and rules in our snorkeling guide.
Snorkel cruises, sunset sails and dinner cruises
Longer trips along the coast.
Captain Cook snorkel cruise
Catamarans run 4 to 4.5 hours south to the reef below the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay, with snacks and a lunch of sandwiches and fruit. Snorkel gear depends on the option you choose. The bay is a state historical park; boats do not simply land at the monument.
Kealakekua Bay guide →Sunset sail
A catamaran sunset sail of about 90 minutes leaves from the harbor north of town, with shaded and open seating, a bar with cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks, light bites and a restroom on board.
Historical dinner cruise
A 3-hour evening cruise from the Kailua pier sails to Kealakekua Bay with dinner, drinks, live entertainment and commentary on the history of the coast. Free parking is a block from the pier.
Big Island history →Manta ray night snorkel
A popular boat trip on the coast happens after dark, with snorkelers watching manta rays from the surface. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Manta ray night snorkel →What to check before you book
Small details decide whether the trip works for you.
Meeting point
Harbor, town pier or beach: each tour names its own. Allow time to park and check in, often 20 to 30 minutes before departure.
What costs extra
Hotel pickup, tips and on some boats wetsuit rental are not included. On the Captain Cook cruise, snorkel gear depends on the option.
Weather and season
The central Pacific hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. Sea conditions can cancel or shorten a trip at any time of year.
Your swimming ability
Practice with mask and snorkel beforehand and be honest about your swimming. A calm-looking bay says nothing about currents.
Plan the rest of your trip
More time on and near the water.
Boat tours from Kailua-Kona: frequently asked questions
When is whale watching season on the Big Island?
Roughly November to April or May, with the busiest weeks from late December to early May. Sightings are never guaranteed, even in the middle of the season.
Can I swim with dolphins in Kona?
No. Swimming with spinner dolphins or approaching within 50 yards (about 46 m) is prohibited under federal law. Dolphin tours watch from the boat and then snorkel on a reef.
Is there a submarine tour in Kona?
Yes. A submarine dive from Kailua-Kona takes about an hour, including a short shuttle boat to the dive site, with live narration by a naturalist. Check the schedule for your date.
Do boat tours include hotel pickup?
Almost never. Most tours meet at the harbor, the pier or a beach and do not include hotel pickup.
Which boat tour suits families?
The submarine suits non-swimmers and small children. For families who snorkel, a half-day Captain Cook cruise or the 2-hour dolphin watch and snorkel trip are shorter options with snacks on board.