Amazing time. Crew was very expressive on the trip and was very professional. Showed us dolphins…read morewhen they didn't have to. Made sure everyone on the trip enjoyed and experienced something wonderful. Offered insight on anything, let us enjoy the water before showing us the manta rays. 10/10 experience and highly recommend!

We had a wonderful time with Tyler and Captain Alan. Really nice, down to earth people. We got…read moretwo swims at lovely coves and a spin To Kona. Highly recommended. A memorable day.

"Experience" the parts of Hawaii that few will ever get to…read more I wanted to give my scuba diving wife an unforgettable birthday present on the island. Booking with Hawai'i Island Private Charters didn't disappoint! We signed up for a two-tank all-day excursion to the northern part of the Big Island coast. As we boarded the boat, the captain explained that whatever activity you book with him--scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, whale watching, snorkeling, or a night manta ray excursion--quickly becomes secondary to the "experience" of the luxury of the boat and the breathtaking scenery. He was absolutely right! You quickly glide up the coast, taking in the last remnants of civilization and feeling like a king. By the time you reach your first dive on the edge of the wild lands, you almost don't want to get up, but the dives were worth it. The boat drops you off at location with various secret dive sites that the captain knows well. You drift along underwater, marveling at the diverse sea creatures. On our dives, we spotted sharks, nudibranchs, Spanish dancers, lobsters, hawkfish, and more. After a safety stop, the group resurfaces, and the boat that has been following you is right there to pick you up. But the real magic happens during the long surface interval after the dive. The boat moves up a coastline that rivals any in the Hawaiian islands, including Maui and Kauai. You'll be stunned by the stunning cliffs, beaches, caves, palm trees, valleys, and peaks that come one after another. The best part is that you can see them all in a culturally sensitive way--from a boat off in the water, without ever needing to hike on land that you are not suppose to, trudging through and destroying ancient Hawaiian ground. However, the excitement doesn't there. During the boat ride up the coast, we witnessed many whales breaching, spouting, and tail slapping (it was the right time of year). When we turned around to speed back for our second dive, we were greeted by bottlenose and spinner dolphins surfing our wake. We managed to get some close-up pictures of both without even trying! Our second dive was perhaps even better than the first. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious meal, snacks, and drinks on the ride back to the dock. We were once again kings and queens, content with the fact that our cameras were full of pictures to capture this unforgettable "experience". Whatever activities you choose to book with Hawai'i Island Private Charters, you'll have an amazing time and return with wonderful memories. It will be a highlight of your trip to Hawaii and well worth it.

A very smooth experience! We booked online, it gave meeting area instructions, times, etc. The…read moreteam was punctual, friendly, and knowledgeable about the boat! The views were amazing! Only thing that would make this 5 star is if the music would have been more prominent.

Such a gorgeous, relaxed day on the water. The crew were friendly (did I mention relaxed?) and…read moreknowledgeable about the marine life around us. Captain Damian used the light winds to carry us a few miles offshore, then apparently switched to electric power when the wind ebbed. It was blissfully quiet and peaceful. When we spotted whales surfacing nearby, mate Shaun dropped a microphone over the side and we were treated to the chorus of multiple humpbacks singing all around us - unbelievable! The crew kept us supplied with healthy snacks and hydration and good information about the baby, mother and male escort whales we were seeing. All and all, it was an epic morning experience off the West shore. Love to come back!

Our Waikoloa Scouts Troop and families went on our annual whale watch on March 8 aboard Sea Smoke…read morewith Ocean Sports, and after doing this outing for more than 9 years, I can honestly say this was one of the best trips yet. We had about 30 Scouts and family members join us, and the whales absolutely showed up! We saw pods everywhere, tail slaps, and even a full breach. The highlight was when a humpback surfaced about 10 yards from the boat, giving the kids a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The crew also dropped the hydrophone, allowing everyone to hear the whales singing underwater, which was an incredible learning experience for the Scouts. Moments like that truly connect our youth with the ocean and the amazing wildlife here in Hawaiʻi. Ocean Sports continues to impress us every year. Booking was easy, waivers were handled electronically, check-in was smooth, parking simple, and the hospitality from the crew was outstanding. They were knowledgeable, welcoming, and fantastic with the kids. Mahalo to the entire Sea Smoke crew for sharing the ocean with us and helping create such an unforgettable adventure for our Scouts and families. Your aloha spirit and professionalism make this trip something we look forward to every year. Highly recommend Ocean Sports whale watch tours!

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 had a wonderful time with X Boat Tours. We took the BIG…read moreISLAND MANTA NIGHT SNORKEL 7pm tour on Saturday the 1st. The crew was great, they were knowledgeable, thoughtful and kind to everyone. The manta rays did their job too! I would absolutely return and would make this a must do when visiting the island.

My sister's and I had a blast on the Manta Rey night snorkel. Taylor, Lauren, and Garret our…read morecaptain took great care of us.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Holoholo Kai Charters! My husband and two daughters had an amazing time…read morefrom pick up to drop off! We were so lucky enough to be taken out to watch the fireworks on 4th of July and let me say, once you watch the fireworks from the ocean, watching from land will never be the same. Aside from the fireworks the stars are amazing at night with no lights around. If you've ever been on a boat at night you know that it's pitch black, but with the knowledge and experience of Captain Tyson and his crew we felt at ease cruising through the night. Whether you're cruising during the day or night Holoholo Kai Charters offers an amazing experience and we can't wait to cruise with them again!

From the owner: Explore the wonders just off shore with our water excursions, where each trip promises new sights…read moreand the thrill of discovery.

My family enjoyed our 2nd snorkel excursion with this great family owned business on their…read morebeautiful traditional boat. Our first outing with them was years ago and it remains a family favorite and trip highlight. On this latest outing we sailed alongside a giant pod of bottle nosed dolphins. The snorkeling was excellent: saw 3 turtles, huge variety of fish and even spotted an octopus. I cannot recommend this company enough. Mahalo Hawaiian Sails! See you again (hopefully soon).

Authentic Hawaiian Sails was an absolute highlight of our time on the Big Island. From the moment…read morewe arrived, the crew made us feel welcome, safe, and genuinely cared for. This wasn't a touristy, rushed experience, it felt personal, relaxed, and truly authentic to Hawaii. The boat was spotless and well maintained, the sailing itself was smooth and peaceful, and the views were unreal. There's something special about being out on the water with people who clearly love what they do and respect the ocean. The crew shared great local insight, answered every question with patience, and made sure everyone was comfortable the entire time. If you're looking for a memorable, family friendly experience that feels real, not scripted, this is it. We would absolutely book with Authentic Hawaiian Sails again and recommend them without hesitation to anyone visiting Waimea or the Big Island.

I went with Kailua Kona Senior group. It was nice experienced. It was my first time ever in…read moreSubmarines. I recommend this adventure.

My friend recommended this trip as it was the highlight of her Hawaii cruise. I was so happy to…read morehave been able to book this excursion as not many sights were available on Christmas day. This is right on the cruise terminal port and quite easy to walk to. The check in area is in a hotel called Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. I would recommend to check in early as 15 minutes before your tour departs, they guide you to the water shuttle. Once you get on the water shuttle, it takes you to the submarine. You need to be able to climb a ladder to get into the submarine. The space is a little on the tight side and there are no backs to the seats so work on your abs before the trip! The air inside was cool and constantly recirculating so it did not feel stuffy. Everyone gets their own porthole to look into the ocean and there are fish identification cards in front of you. The submarine can get to 100 ft pretty quickly and I was surprised that my ears did not get plugged up. We saw lots of fish that day. Some get really close to the submarine. We even saw a school of fish! My only disappointment is color. At those depths, everything has a blue tinge so sometimes it was hard to identify the fish. The operators and tour guides were so nice and informative. This was one of the best tours I've had on this trip. Thanks again for a great excursion!

We had a great experience on our snorkeling trip! We even saw a few whales. We would definitely…read morebook again.

My husband and I booked the Shaka Lux for our anniversary and we had such a great time. Awesome…read moreservice, catered to exactly how you want to spend your day. They provided lots of fresh fruit to snack on and sushi for lunch, make sure to accommodate my gluten and dairy allergies. Snorkeling was on our own time and we could to explore reefs/beaches--it really is a custom experience. It really is an above and beyond experience that I hope I get to do again!

Went whale watching first charter of season, 12/22/25, got plenty of action!…read moreSpouts, humpbacks and tails too. Crew dropped a mic in water and listened to singing whales! Gorgeous sunset was a bonus! Kids were enthralled! Capt Ty and Mo & Jessa were the best crew! So much information wrapped up in excitement, and music, mahalo! Can't wait to fish, dive, whale watch, snorkel & hang out with Kohala Divers again!! Da Hess Ohana

These guys is so pilau... Park their boat infront the poles when we already have everything set up…read more We called them and they said there's nothing they can do... Thats so unsafe these guys don't care about your safety