Our group of 3 had a blast learning how to surf! Our instructor Ky was very patient and made us…read morefeel comfortable when giving us advice and working with us to get up on the board. While we were waiting for waves, we had fun conversations and Ky gave us a lot of great recommendations around the island. Highly recommend!!

Great owners. Lots of info and videos on the prone paddle board I bought. They sent the board to…read moreHonolulu quickly and safely. The price of shipping was included in the cost of the board. The board came with 3 skegs, a chin rest, a coiled leash, a sock, and a travel bag. Great bargain for an innovative and well made prone paddleboard.

Loved the experience! The staff was very friendly (at the beach and on a boat). The vessel was…read moreclean so we could see everything clearly. Boat crew made sure we encountered every creature possible so they had to "chase" manta for a bit. Pretty good value! Highly recommend!

Buddy was the rudest, most insulting employee I've encountered at any type of Company, let alone a…read morehospitality business in the last 30 years. Zero stars merited.

We spent an awesome morning on the water with Evan. He was friendly, fun, knowledgeable and even…read morewent the extra mile (fathom?) while free diving 40 feet to find an octopus so that we could have an encounter with one. We saw lots of turtles getting their spa day while tropical fish cleaned them. Within an hour or two, we received an email with two dozen high quality photos and videos that Evan took with his GoPro. A pretty big value add to the tour! I was a little apprehensive about exiting the kayak but he made it a safe, easy and fun experience. If you're thinking of joining a huge group tour organized by one of the resorts, book a trip with Evan and his guides instead. You won't regret it!

Excellent experience. Evan and Don where great. They both were very knowledgeable of the ocean and…read moretook us to a great place to snorkel on the kayaks.

I almost never write reviews, but this experience absolutely deserved one…read more I accidentally booked my 8-year-old daughter's private surf lesson for the wrong Friday. I called the day before the lesson I thought we had booked, expecting there was no chance they could fit us in. Ben, the co-owner, couldn't have been kinder. He immediately said, "No problem," rearranged things, and even taught her lesson himself. From the moment we arrived, I knew we were in great hands. The safety instruction was clear, thorough, hands-on, and incredibly well done. It was obvious that every instructor has years of experience and genuinely cares about keeping students safe while making sure they have an amazing time. The entire atmosphere was calm, welcoming, and laid back. As a parent, I felt completely comfortable watching my daughter head out into the water. Harlowe is naturally a little shy, and Ben met her exactly where she was. He built her confidence from the start, made her feel comfortable every step of the way, and somehow had her smiling, laughing, and catching wave after wave. She had an absolute blast. I've taken surf lessonsp over the years, and this was, without question, the best experience we've ever had. If you're looking for surf lessons on the Big Island, this is the place. Professional, patient, safety-first, and genuinely fun. Thank you, Ben, for making one of Harlowe's favorite memories of our trip. We can't wait to come back!

INTRO Friendly shop with fair prices, but board quality can…read morebe hit or miss - especially some of the soft tops, which may be waterlogged and very difficult to surf. Definitely inspect your board before heading out and if you get a bad board, simply head in and swap it out. They will be very cool about it and likely give you more time in the water for the inconvenience. THE STAFF Very, very friendly and welcoming. No issues here. THE BOARDS Beware: some of the soft-top boards may be waterlogged. Pick them up - if they're unusually heavy, they're likely full of water and will surf terribly. I raised this with the leadership team, and Ben said they're going to do a better job inspecting the rental quiver to ensure boards are ready to ride. When in doubt, opt for a solid 8-9' hard top. BOOTIES You may think you want them to get out past the ~10 feet of rocky bottom. Not the end of the world - smooth rocks and ZERO sea urchins. They'll tell you they're everywhere, but you're only touching bottom for a couple seconds as you enter the crystal-clear water. Bring your own or rent for $5. If I had to do it again, I'd skip the booties. THE WAVES Scout the waves first. This is not Waikiki. This spot is hit or miss. THE CROWD Perpetual surf school sitting in the best spot in the lineup. No issues with them personally, but it does make the area feel crowded. OVERALL You're surfing in Hawaii - it's always a good outing. This is the best rental option for this beach. The staff is great and the prices are fair. Just double-check the surf and your rental board before paddling out, and don't hesitate to return to the shop during your rental to swap boards. They're happy to help, and if you lose time due to a bad board, ask for extra time - their team will likely make it right.

This is the prettiest, calmest bay water to swim in & snorkel in. I dont have to worry about my…read morehusband in the water here. The water is so calm. I am able to swim all the way out, knowing he is just fine. They have clean bathrooms, out door showers & changing rooms. Perfect! Snorkeling is good here. I would say great. But you mayl see at least 50 fishes in 30 minutes. The water is clean & clear. On a sunny day you can see the bottom from 60 feet up without a Snorkel mask! I highly recommend swimming here, especially if you have inexperienced swimmers with you! Enjoy! Mahalo

Beautiful small beach that starts sandy and shallow before gradually getting deeper. Tons of coral…read moreand excellent snorkeling once you go deeper. There are shower facilities and paddle board or kayak rentals on site. Easy drive-in beach access for private beach club members staying in Mauna Lani but can also be accessed by parking elsewhere and walking in. You can also access a lovely walking path to local fishponds. We loved it.

Wow! Wow! Wow! What an experience! 6 of us and a captain/tour guide went on a Wa'a (Hawaiian…read moreOutrigger Canoe). 6 got us a private tour so it was fun going as a family! Unfortunately, we didn't bring phones or had water proof cases so I didn't get pictures or video of the expereince. First, booking and communication was great! I called a couple days before and the staff member was nice and helpful. On the day of, we arrived and they welcomed us and confirmed everything. They provided with a safe spot so we can put all our phones, wallets, shoes, etc. When it was time, our guide brought us to the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe and started with a history lesson of the Islands, the canoe and the people that traveled from island to island. Then he showed us how to canoe and the traditions of the chants and timing. As we started to go out, he would continue providing us with history. It was fun, safe and educational. I would highly recommend doing this!

Ted and Grant were awesome - friendly, funny, helpful and no pressure when talking about excursions…read moreor renting equipment. Our family used snorkel equipment and paddle boards to enjoy the Kailua Bay. Grant was our guide for a morning magic kayak, across Kealakekua Bay to snorkel and return. He patiently led the group across and shared his knowledge of Hawaiian history relating to the bay. Once near our landing site he noticed some other kayakers who were in the water needing assistance. Grant paddled over, got into the water to right their craft before helping assist them back in. He patiently got our group into the water, assisting those needing more time or help, also freely answering questions from the public. All our equipment worked well. Got to see some interesting fish and beautiful coral. Our family had a fun and memorable experience! Great guide!

Had a great time kayaking through Kealakekua bay with Evan and Steve and then snorkeling near…read moreCaptain Cook's monument. This was our second time and it was just as fun, if not more! The early morning kayaking through the bay is soothing for the soul. We also got lucky and saw some dolphins. The snorkeling is out of this world with such clear water and variety of colorful fish of all sizes. Evan and Steve were both very attentive to all the kayakers and super knowledgeable as we learned a bunch about Hawaiian history, Captain Cook's arrival (and demise), and the lasting legacy of that episode on Hawaii's history. After all the snorkeling, the sandwich lunch hit the spot. It also came with a souvenir water bottle! I had a last minute dietary request and they graciously accommodated. Even though this was our second time, we still had fun and actually learned new details about the history and conservation efforts happening in the area! If you want a fun, yet respectful and ethical experience, this is it!

Fantastic experience with Kona Boys for the Morning Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel Tour. When we…read morearrived at the shop at 7 am for orientation, Frank was friendly and prompt with greeting us at the shop and giving the orientation talk, and Paul outfitted us with gear and made sure we knew how to get to the launch site. The shop dog and cat were also very friendly. Our guide for the morning was Grant, who was fantastic. He was engaging and extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, language, geology, flora, fauna, and many other topics. He was also communicative, attentive, and helpful to other people. Overall, I liked that our early start meant that we arrived before the other large commercial boats did, so we got to enjoy paddling and snorkeling the bay with fewer people. I highly recommend Kona Boys as an eco-friendly option with top tier service.

Our first visit to the Island of Hawai'i was memorable and not just because of Tropical Storm Lala…read more The Manta Ray Night Snorkel was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. There are many tour operators in Kailua-Kona, but we chose Anelakai Adventures because they take a more environmentally conscious approach to ocean tourism, respect the marine ecosystems, and avoid using motorboats. It's important to note that parking is limited in the area near the boat ramp, so it's best to allocate extra time to park your vehicle. We were greeted by Anela, and I did not realize until after our experience she is likely the inspiration for the tour company name. We met Kapono as we boarded the canoe which seats a max of 6. Together using paddle power we made it out to Keauhou Bay, and we were given the option to stay in the canoe or hang from the hulls of the canoe and snorkel in the water. As advertised on their site, it was an intimate manta ray experience and we saw the mantas closer than we expected! It was unfortunate the waters were choppy and we got seasick. I recommend bringing something like Dramamine if you're prone to getting sick like I am. It says a lot that even after hurling, I would still rate this experience as high as I did and that's thanks to Anelakai and Kapono. They were the best tour guides, super knowledgeable about the mantas, and they took excellent care of us after we got sick. Mahalo to them and Anelakai Adventures!

Everyone RAVES about the manta ray experience. However, it's the manta ray company you choose that…read morewill determine if you want a personalized, memorable trip where you actually learn about manta rays versus float in a big ring in the ocean staring at them. We chose the first option. Smaller size (6 people max), ecofriendly, and kid friendly. Anelakai crew is exactly that! Personable! Wealth of knowledge! Professional, yet fun! I believe it's the only company where you get to paddle out on a canoe to view the manta rays. Nothing to fear! It's a super easy paddle out and back! If my 9 & 10 y/o kids can do it, so can you! It's very ecofriendly. The exhaust from the neighboring boats was nauseating. It's too bad they haven't followed suit. The crew took care of the kids 100%. From helping them with snorkel masks, assisting getting in and out of the canoe (my 10 y/o freaked out a little and they calmed her down in an instant), and just teaching them (and all of us) all about manta rays! The viewing was amazing. I couldn't keep track of how many we saw, but we do recall seeing Big Bertha, Greyson, and Queenie. Yes! They have names! And the crew will identify them for you and how they got their names! Props to: Kono, & the younger guy (forgot his name) Thank you for the wonderful tour! If we're ever back on the island, we'll pay another visit. The kids can't stop talking about Big Bertha and Queenie, all the backflips the manta rays take, seeing plankton up close, and paddling their first canoe IN THE DARK WITH A FULL MOON. You've inspired one of my kids who has a love for marine animals to one day work closely with them AND/OR if ever so lucky...to identify a new manta ray (if not in the database) and name it "6 - 7".

Great options of adult and kids swim clothes. Very friendly and helpful service. They also rent…read morebeach chairs and umbrellas.

This review is for a weeklong "high performance" surfboard rental. I wanted to chime in here for…read moretwo reasons: first, because other reviews don't discuss the weekly or high-performance rentals. And second, because this place has some less-than-stellar reviews that I feel might not be totally warranted. The staff members I spoke with during pick-up and drop-off were both super friendly-- way more so than I expected. The board itself was not exactly "high performance" compared to my favorite boards back home, but it was definitely better than the Wavestorms and NSPs you commonly see for rent on beachfront stands. Can you do better elsewhere? Maybe, probably, if you put some legwork into finding alternatives. But there aren't that many other options if you're on the northwest side of the Big Island. Anyway more about the rental itself: The boards are epoxy but somehow the one I got was not as chattery and stiff as other epoxy boards I've used in the past. They're not exactly "real" hand-shaped (or even hand-finished) boards you would get from a "core" surf shop, but they seem a lot better than the average mass-market pop-out. They also said I could come and swap out for a different design during my rental period if I wanted as well. There were short boards, mid lengths, and longboards. Thrusters, single fins, and 1+2s mostly. Not gonna replace my quiver back home, but a totally fine experience all around.

I was a true beginner surfer.. Eric was kind and really encouraged me to go for it. Explained…read moreeverything clearly, gave me the push I needed.. highly recommend!!

An amazing experience for my daughter! She had so much fun and learned a lot. Hana was the best…read moreinstructor. He was encouraging and gave clear directions.