Big Island kayaking: one bay, one coast, one rental shop
Big Island kayaking comes down to three plans on the Kona side: a guided kayak and snorkel trip in Kealakekua Bay, a four-hour ocean kayak and snorkel tour along the Kona coast, and a clear-bottom kayak rental in Kailua-Kona.
The three differ most in cost and in how much is arranged for you. The guided bay trip is the longest and the most expensive at $187 per person, the coast tour costs $99 and the rental starts at $27.50. Prices as of November 2026.
Our picks: Big Island kayak tours and rentals
The guided Kealakekua Bay trip is the longest and includes lunch. The clear-bottom rental is the cheapest way out and has no guide.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kealakekua Bay guided kayak and snorkel trip
- Kayak and snorkel gear
- Lunch included
- Certified guide
A certified guide leads four to five hours of kayaking and snorkeling in the bay, with all gear, lunch and water included.
Check availability →
Kona coast kayak and snorkel tour
- Professional guide
- Bottled water
Clear-bottom kayak rental in Kailua-Kona
- Kayak, life jackets and paddles
- Fees and taxes
Rent a clear-bottom kayak for one to five hours and take it to the public beach of your choice.
Check availability →Big Island kayak tours and rentals
A guided Kealakekua Bay trip, a Kona coast snorkel tour and clear-bottom rentals, with live prices and availability.
Kealakekua Bay: the guided kayak and snorkel trip
It runs four to five hours in total and includes snorkel gear, a certified guide and lunch.
Only permitted guided tours can land on the Kaʻawaloa side, and an ordinary transit permit does not allow it, so a tour is the practical way to see that shore. At $187 you pay about $88 more than the coast tour, and the extra buys a longer day, lunch and the bay itself.
Kona coast: the ocean kayak and snorkel tour
This tour runs about four hours with a professional guide and bottled water, and it costs $99 per person. Children from age 5 can join, up to a weight limit of 230 lb. The operator advises against it with knee, hip or back problems.
Clear-bottom kayak rental in Kailua-Kona
The rental shop is on Aliʻi Drive, across from Kona Pier and Kamakahonu Beach. Kayaks, life jackets and paddles are included, taxes and fees are in the price, and rental periods run from one to five hours. The kayak travels on light folding wheels to whichever public beach you pick, so you move it yourself.
No guide comes with it. The minimum age is 3, and the kayak holds up to 375 lb including gear. At $27.50 it is the cheapest way out. Bring a hat, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses and plenty of water, and keep anything electronic in a waterproof bag.
Surf, wildlife and permits
High surf and southern Kona storms can make Kealakekua Bay dangerous, and Nāpōʻopoʻo Beach has no lifeguards. Tour operators can change or cancel a trip because of sea or weather, and the sea caves and any dolphin sightings are never guaranteed. Park entry is free, and the only toilets are at the Nāpōʻopoʻo end.
Keep at least 50 yards from spinner dolphins and never swim with them. From a kayak you must also stay 100 yards from humpback whales, which are in Hawaiian waters in winter. Any private kayak in Kealakekua Bay needs a State Parks permit, and the reef is a marine conservation district where nothing may be fed, taken or moved.
Prefer to stay above the trees? Our Big Island zipline guide covers the waterfall and forest courses.
Big Island kayaking: practical questions
How much does kayaking on the Big Island cost?
A clear-bottom kayak rental starts at $27.50, the coast tour at $99 and the guided Kealakekua Bay trip at $187 per person. The bay trip is the longest at four to five hours and includes lunch, while the rental is the only one without a guide.
What is the age and weight limit?
The coast tour takes children from age 5 up to 230 lb. The rental allows ages 3 and up and 375 lb including your gear.