Yesterday took my honey for his 75th on the 5hr snorkel excursion and it was AMAZING !!! We have known Captain Cindy for 10 years and she is the BEST guide ever !! The group was nice and small and we all enjoyed each other snorkeling and seeing many varieties of fish and we saw many dolphin on our way !! The light breakfast was great and the lunch sandwiches were delicious !! I highly recommend going out with Cindy!! read more

Ali'i Ocean Tours was amazing!! Captain Mar and Lindsey couldn't have been better hosts! The Hoku 'Elima boat was perfect for our group - so easy to get on and off for snorkeling. We saw a couple of pods of dolphins, turtles, and so many beautiful fish! The food and drinks were spot on and delicious! Definitely the right company to choose!! read more

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Cindy and Erin were fantastic! Our family had so much fun snorkeling and learning about different areas on the coast! Highly recommend this tour! read more

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Had a great day snorkeling with Erin and McKenzie. We saw several dolphins and group of 3 whales very close by the boat. The snorkeling was amazing; so many fish, a turtle, and perfect weather. Lovely lunch and a lot of great information. read more

Alii Ocean Tours - Whale time! - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Everything was perfect. Cindy and Erin were great with making our morning fun. They were organized, helpful, fun and the food was delicious ! read more

We had an incredible whale watching tour today with Captain McKenzie & Ally! They were the best of hosts on the water and educated us all on marine life and Hawaiian culture. They were also wonderful with our 3 young children aboard. While we weren't sure if we would see whales, as it was the tail end of the whale season here in Hawaii, we hit the jackpot on our tour today! So much activity - humpbacks breaching, spinner dolphins, bottle nose dolphins, manta rays, and eagle rays. Both Ally and McKenzie had an incredible eye for marine life and everyone on the boat left grinning from ear to ear! Thanks for spending the afternoon with us! This tour does not disappoint!! (I should also mention that we had to reschedule, as our original booking had to be rescheduled due to rough seas. I was appreciative of the cancellation as I would not have enjoyed the experience while feeling sea sick. Ali'i was very accommodating to rebook at a time when conditions would be better) read more

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We had a great time! It was awesome to learn Hawaii history from the captain and the snorkeling place was a blast! read more

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Ryan and her boat have set my new standard for snorkeling experiences. She provided fun and historical information, showed us two different kinds of dolphins, and took us to see gorgeous and plentiful sea creatures. No more crawling across rocks with rough waves to see fish. read more

Alii Ocean Tours - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Fabulous day. Saw spinner dolphins then on to Capt Cook for snorkeling. Erin kept track of everyone in the water. We took so many underwater pictures. We had muffins and fruit to start of the day. After snorkeling a great lunch. Captain Trip told many stories of the island and its history. It was a perfect day. read more

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Cindy, our captain, and Torry, who does everything else, were awesome! Torry was very helpful, took good care of all 23 people on the boat. Cindy is an excellent driver with a great sense of humor. She entertained us with interesting, and often funny stories. The snorkeling was fantastic and I felt safe knowing they were watching out for us. It was my grandkids' first snorkel trip and they had a blast. I highly recommend this company and this crew. read more

Alii Ocean Tours is amazing! We had a wonderful time on the snorkeling tour to Captain Cook! Our crew was Captain McKenzie and Brayden, and they were both so kind and took great care of everyone on board. We saw spinner dolphins on the way to Captain Cook and the experience of snorkeling with so many tropical fish was amazing! The food on board was also delicious! Can't wait to come back again! :) read more

Alii Ocean Tours - view of Kona from the boat - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We had a great time on the whale watching tour (1:30 pm departure) with Captain Sharky and Erin. We saw a ton of humpback whales having a good ol' time. Definitely the best whale watching experience in terms of number of whales and how close we got. The group was around 20 people. The boat was comfortable, with seats out in front or under some shade. There is a small bathroom, which I don't think anyone used, so I can't comment. Would recommend taking seasick medicine if you are prone to seasickness. They provided water, sodas, snacks and sandwiches. Note: for check in, look for a van in the parking lot with the company name. read more

Easy going, friendly snorkeling outing for all ages and skill levels. Highly recommended! read more

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GREAT TRIP! McKenzie and Erin were an amazing crew. We were told about the history and the nature throughout the morning. We were able to see Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, Bottle Nose Dolphins and Pilot Whales. It was a great day! Thanks and highly recommend. read more

Alii Ocean Tours - Pilot Whale off Kona Coast - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Me and my family had a wonderful snorkeling experience with Alii Ocean Tour. The tour is 4 hours long but we didn't feel that long at all as we really enjoyed it. We have encountered with a pod of dolphins and lucky enough to witness the "spinning". A light breakfast was served on boat and a lunch with different choices of sandwiches, snacks and drinks after we are done with snorkeling. Our tour guides are super nice, introduced us to the history of Captain Cook and lots of places along the shoreline. It's really an awesome experience for the whole family, especially with kids. read more

Alii Ocean Tours - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Truly a 5 star experience. We went on the K-Bay excursion and it was us (a group of 7 including a 3.5 year old) and another couple. From the minute we got on board our guides Ryan and Sharky were making sure we were taken care of. They had coffee + a continental style breakfast when we started. We immediately saw two big green turtles + spinner dolphins that come into the harbor to rest. On our way down to K-Bay we stopped at the Kona Sheraton (now an outrigger) to see if we could find any mantas - our lucky day there was one getting cleaned and we jumped in the water. Once we got to K-Bay Sharky took us out away from the crowds and we had a wonderful snorkel experience. Even our 3.5 year old happily swam around! Lunch was lovely sandwiches (the veggie one was amazing) fruit + chips. We stayed close to the coast on the way back to see the various topography. Also on the way back in we were given cold lavender towels which was so nice after the salt + sun. Don't hesitate to join a trip! read more

Fantastic tour! These ladies think of everything! At many moments on the trip, someone would say "I wish I had brought...", and they would say "we have that"! Mackenzie, Erin and Ally were so great! They are knowledgeable of the island history and ecology, and just were nosey enough to make the trip interesting! The food/drinks were refreshing and perfect for the setting. They did a great job helping the novice snorkelers and got us to the best spot early, ahead of the crowds. If you're looking for a relaxing, small group tour, you cannot go wrong with Ali'i. read more

My family and two other families went on a 3 hour snorkeling tour with Alii Ocean Tours. Our group included 5 kids whose ages ranged from 4 to 9. They provided towels, drinks, snorkel gear, flippers, flotation gear (if needed), and some snacks so there was really nothing that we needed to bring. The crew was great. The ride to/from Cooks Cove was about 45-50 minutes. On our way there a pod of about 10-15 dolphins started following the boat and jumping out of the water which was awesome to experience. Once we got the cove we had ~1 hours to snorkel. I am not a very good swimmer so I initially was just going to stay on the boat but our tour guides got me some pool noodles and gave me some additional instructions (and encouragement) and eventually I was off swimming and exploring with everyone else. There were lots of fish and coral to see. Everyone had a wonderful experience and we would definitely do it again! read more

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We had a great tour run by two great people. With Captain Ryan telling us stories and legends about the area and events and Erin helping us in the water spotting dolphins and other sea life it's hard to imagine a better trip. We were able to swim with spinner dolphins cruising all around us. At one point I counted 13 in a group just a few feet below me. Then on to Cook Cove which was the best snorkeling we've had on any island. Nearly everyone's reaction when you first stick your head in the water was 'Oh wow!' Or 'Oh My god' So, a fun fast boat (2 Dramamine had me feeling fine the whole trip), a great knowledgeable, helpful crew, amazing sea adventure and food and snacks, what more could you ask for! Book your tour with these folks, they're the best. read more

This was one of the major highlights of our first trip to the big island! Captain Cindy & 1st mate Erin met everyone's needs and were very knowledgeable guides. We felt safe in the boat and all the gear was clean & in top notch condition. We saw some spinner dolphins on the way back and some very brave cliff divers at the end of world area. read more

We had a wonderful morning out on the water with Alii Ocean Tours. The captain was knowledgeable and respectful to the animals we visited. We saw dolphins and had an amazing encounter with a family of humpbacked whales. I'd definitely head out with Alii Ocean Tours for my next ocean adventure. read more

Do it, book it. We had an absolute blast on our Big 5 trip with Captain Ryan and Jeanette. We did a ton of snorkeling leading up to this, but nothing can compare. We saw things you can't see from the shore. Good people, good energy, great sightings, and food/ boat. We will be taking a tour with them each time we come back to the big island. read more

Alii Ocean Tours - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

They went out of their way to make us feel welcome on the boat. They had everything - gear, towels, food, coffee. They have a lot of knowledge about the history, geology, and fauna in the area and clearly care about their home and love sharing it with others. Thanks Ryan and Mary so much! Our family had a great time! read more

One of the best tours we've done in Kona. MacKenzie and Aly were spectacular. Above and beyond with knowledge, patience, service and anything else you can imagine. We saw spinner dolphins, humpback whales, an amazing array of fish in the cove, manta rays in another protected cove. Food was perfect. It was just a great day and WELL worth the cost. read more

Sharky and Erin were an amazing 5 star crew! They took special care of our kids and our mom who was snorkeling for the first time. They were very attentive to everyone's needs and made sure to follow all safety protocols. We will definitely use them on our next trip! read more

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Our family of six did the K-Bay Reef Snorkel and Dolphin Encounter and we had a blast! Cindy and Erin were amazing - they took care of every detail and were very knowledgeable about the area. The snorkeling was fantastic - such a beautiful spot! Would highly recommend!! read more

This excursion was by far the most enjoyable day of our vacation. This is also the second year in a row we have gone out with this to her company. Our guides Sharkey and Ryan were absolutely amazing. They have great knowledge of the area, we're very thoughtful, and considerate to each and every person on board. The boat was not overcrowded, although there were 16 people they were able to memorize everyone's name by the end of the day. Most importantly we felt safe, and had the time of our lives. We were able to swim with many dolphins, many fish, and we saw Several sperm whales. Quite an epic adventure for our group. read more

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Of all tours that we have ever done with snorkeling in Kona, this was the best for seeing fish. We understand that dolphins sleep during the day so swimming with them now would be rare but we did get an opportunity to video them. Hugh and Sharky were wonderful guides as well. Overall the experience was extremely enjoyable. read more

Alii Ocean Tours - Turtle in the harbor - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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We had the most amazing time on Ali'i Ocean Tours with Captain and Erin. They were ready to roll at 8AM and had a light breakfast and coffee already prepped for the trip. The ocean had been ROUGH for the few days before we sailed but the boat was as smooth as it could be. The boat was comfortable and very clean. We were so luck that we saw two pods of dolphins (so close that my daughter got sprayed in the face!!), at least two whale sightings including a singing male that we were able to hear on an underwater mic. Kealakekua Bay was teeming with fish and the coral was magnificent and we even saw an eel. Our trip also included seeing flying fish, a green sea turtle (Barnacle Bill), and even a Tiger Shark (Laverne). I can't recommend this company more! Mahalo Kris and the whole Ali'i Team!!! read more

Went as a family group and honestly, was one of the best excursions I have ever been on. On top of the dolphins and sea life, we got to see a hammerhead shark, which is apparently rare. The staff made it the best! Usually when food and drinks are included, it's the cheap stuff. This was not the case here. We had a little buffet of food as well different water options such as coconut and sparkling. I would highly recommend this company and shout out to Leooooo, Octave and Aaron. read more

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Wonderful time saw humpback whales and spinner dolphins The crew was very helpful Thanks read more

We had a terrific time and everything went according to plan. In fact, this is the best experience I have had with snorkle gear working well for everyone and no issues. Crew was super friendly and knowledgable. As a bonus on the way out to the cove to snorkle we saw a handful of dolphins swimming by our boat. read more

Another 5 star experience with Ali'I Ocean Tours! Mackenzie did an outstanding job piloting the boat and telling stories along our way! Erin was helpful and energetic as always! I've taken many tours with Ali'i, loving the smaller group size and personal attention, and I won't book with any other company. 3 pods of spinner dolphins, incredible fish viewing, delicious sandwiches-Thank you Ali'i!! read more

The ladies give a 5 star experience! I highly recommend this tour. They go the extra mile to make sure you get to see as much marine life as possible. We were so happy with the experience. read more

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Our snorkeling adventure was awesome. Captains McKenzie and Trip were so professional but also friendly, funny and provided a lot of historical information. The boat was clean and comfortable. The breakfast snacks and lunch were delicious. Would definitely recommend this company. read more

We went on this tour and it was the best decision! Our whole family went including grandma and 2 young kids. The food was excellent, the beauty was unlike any I've ever seen and Erin and Leao were so knowledgeable and friendly! They made all of us feel so comfortable, especially the kids who were a little nervous about jumping in. We saw different species of dolphins, snorkeled in the most beautiful waters at Captain Cook and had the chance to see Sperm Whales. We will be back! read more

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Snorkeling yesterday was epic. Swan with a pod of 100+ dolphins just inches from our faces, so hard not to reach out and touch them! Beautiful fish at the 2nd location, weather, food and friends were all wonderful. Saw a few turtles and a pilot whale. The two that guided knew their shit and Ryan was a great captain, she told us all about the island and history while her partner guided us in the ocean. Getting to enjoy the boat (with bathroom!) and yummy food and drinks was a blast! Highly Highly recommend. Would do it again anytime and they said they're kid friendly if you want to bring littles. read more

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My second review for Ali'i Ocean Tours One word - Amazing Took visiting family on a tour with them yesterday. This was not a normal whale watching day, where you are lucky to see a few blow hole spouts - I can't even count the number of humpbacks we saw - breaching, slapping - putting on a show that I have never seen before in my over 30 years on water in Hawaii (both visiting and as a local) Realize that no one cancontrol Mother Nature - and that it is not normal to see so many, for almost the entire time that we were on tour - but definitely one for the books. I am officially wrecked for any other tour. My sincere compliments to the team. Captain Ryan respects the ocean - and most importantly the animals. Her kuleana was shining for all to see - so maikai! read more

A great time was had by all! We were skeptical at first...but soon found the crew was first rate with a real-life, college educated marine biologist leading the way! Our trip started off with a little continental breakfast and coffee laid out for us as the crew fitted us with snorkeling gear and a towel. The action started almost immediately as we encountered a pod of dolphins at the mouth of the harbor, then a short trek to a nearby bay where we got in and swam with at least four pods of dolphin! After swimming with the dolphins we started to the bay where Capt Cook's monument is located but encountered a pod of hump back whales which was a bonus! Once at the bay where Capt Cook's monument is we spent roughly an hour snorkeling on the reef with plenty of colorful fish, coral and a couple of reef sharks. They laid out a little lunch of sandwiches, chips, dips and vegetables. On the way back the winds picked up and it was rough going, the captain may have been going a bit too fast and one young girl sitting in the bow of the boat actually got injured when we hit a big swell. It was at that point he realized he needed to slow it down and eventually the crew had everyone move to the back of the boat for safety sake. Young children should be instructed to hold on to the rails while the boat is moving, especially in rough seas! I recommend you bring an extra towel or two (they provide one), a windbreaker/jacket, and a wet suit if you get cold easily. Overall an awesome time - I can highly recommend this tour. read more

We have done several snorkel excursions -- both with and without our kids, now teens. This was by far the best, especially at ages where sliding off the larger boats wouldn't be quite so exciting, and unlimited mai tais also don't flip the bill. Sharky and Erin were great hosts! Knowledgeable, friendly, but not over the top. It was the right amount of tour. We especially enjoyed the lava tubes and spinner dolphins. An advantage of the catamaran (or was it a trimaran?) was riding at a good clip close to the shoreline. We had a beautiful November morning, which was a real treat. We also arrived at our snorkel destination well before any other tours. Lunch was simple -- sandwiches and chips. Perfect start to the day. Thank you to Sharky and Erin for giving us one more thing to be grateful fir in Thanksgiving! Mahalo. read more