I live on the Big Island but when my kids came home to visit and wanted to go sailing, we called…read more@KohalaSailandSea. We wanted an intimate experience rather than being with a big boat filled with strangers. This was perfect! Captain Steve was precisely on time for meeting us at the dock and beginning our sail. He and his 1st mate, Sarah, were attentive but not intrusive. They made us feel welcome, served us cold beverages and pupus. My daughter experienced a little seasickness and Sarah quietly noticed and brought her some ginger which helped to calm her belly. By the end of the cruise, my daughter was only wishing we had another hour to sail! I would highly recommend this small family owned company the next time you want to go out on the ocean. Their boat was super clean and well maintained. Those things matter! I will definitely use this company again. I am already looking forward to whale season! Mahalo, Captain Steve for making our sunset sail a family memory.

Great time with SueLang and crew. Truly an environmentally conscious sunset sail with our family…read more Even a stop for a quick dip in the soft waters of the Kohala Coast. We will definitely go back on our return trips to the Island. Mahalo

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!

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!

The staff were very very nice and helpful. The trip was peaceful and so beautiful! The ocean was…read morevery, very rough! But the staff still kept our drinks coming and with a smile. I was apprehensive about getting on the boats, but it was super easy. You will walk in the water a little bit so I don't recommend long pants or shoes. We wore shorts and flip flops and it was perfect. Loved that they give a Kama'aina discount! We'll go again during whale season! Very enjoyable, relaxing, beautiful experience.

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!

OMG, what a great experience and the best people! this trip was Lorin and Taylor.... but I have…read moredone this many many years and never disappoints!

Garrett and Lauren rocked it out tonight. the tunes were going the sunset was magical and we got to…read moresee some mantas ! def worth the experience for anyone to go and see.

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

We went on a snorkeling and whale watching tour with Liquid Hawaii for our wedding anniversary, and…read moreit ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Matt, the owner, was incredibly knowledgeable about the island's history and marine life, and he was kind enough to honor our tour even though they didn't have the minimum group size of four passengers that day. That alone says a lot about the kind of business he runs. He also made our anniversary feel extra special by providing a fresh seafood lunch with fish he had caught himself, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. The tour was about 3.5 to 4 hours total. From the marina, it was roughly a 10 minute boat ride to the snorkel spot. The ride itself was very comfortable. There is some shade on the boat, but it's not fully covered, so definitely bring solid sun protection. A long sleeve rash guard or sun shirt is a good idea. On the way out, we saw a few whales in the distance and once we were in the water, we could actually hear them singing. It was surreal and honestly kind of magical. The snorkel location itself was beautiful, with several sea turtles, tons of fish, and colorful coral. There was only one other boat nearby, so it felt remote and almost private rather than crowded or rushed. Hunter, our snorkel guide, was relaxed and helpful, and we were able to move at our own pace which made the whole experience feel unhurried and personalized. We didn't get to see any whales up close unfortunately, they just weren't cooperating that day, but even hearing them underwater was something we won't forget. Matt was friendly, down to earth, and clearly passionate about what he does. He offers both land and water tours, and we appreciated the local perspective woven throughout the experience. If you're looking for a more intimate, locally run excursion instead of a large crowded boat tour, I would absolutely recommend Liquid Hawaii.

Our manta ray night snorkel was honestly disappointing from start to finish. Trips had been…read morecanceled all week due to high winds, and in hindsight, this night should have been canceled too. It was extremely windy and choppy -- even the boat captain & guide commented, "this is windy," which didn't exactly inspire confidence. We didn't see a single manta ray, and the conditions made it hard to even enjoy being on & in the water. The ride back was rough, freezing, and completely soaked us. It felt more like surviving the ocean than experiencing it. I understand wildlife sightings aren't guaranteed, but guest safety and overall conditions should come first. I wish the company had made the call to reschedule rather than pushing forward in clearly poor weather.

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.

Not happy with the customer service. Called in to book a whale watching tour with the website…read morepulled up in front of me. It explicitly said the tour was $99 per person. The woman on the phone argued the price and told me it would be double what the site said. When I called back later to see if maybe someone else would pick up and help me, I mentioned I had called in earlier. The line went silent. Then she told me they were "not currently scheduling any tours". She was perfectly willing to book one when we called the first time. In short, this was handled in a very rude manner on their end. Both the magazine ad and their site are false advertising.

Whale watching with Kohala Tours, the boat the LavaKai, leaves from slip #S01, South Harbor at…read moreKawaihae, Hi. A little hard to find but very well worth the effort! We set off on Thursday, January 14th, under mostly sunny skies, gentle winds, and smooth calm waters. Once at the harbor we met Captain William, and his first mate, Chris. Both, well seasoned and professional, William follows the whales, in Alaska in Summer, while Chris does wildlife bus tours in Alaska. Both then head to Hawaii, for winter migration. Once aboard the Comfortable LavaKai, we headed out of port. Within seconds of heading out of to sea, we had our first sighting, the adventure had begun! First, a couple of blowhole water spouts, then so many more sightings, too numerous to count! Captain William, and Chris were as stoked as we all were! We experienced a full body out of the water Breech, a 40x tail fop, and even a cow & calf with escort family pod cruise along side of us! The tour was awe inspiring, a memory to last a lifetime! The boat, The LavaKai, was clean and comfortable, we were treated like guests,with fresh baked banana bread and shortbread served on a silver tray, as well as juice,water and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. We were very impressed by their hospitality. William and Chris are both following their bliss and it shows, they have a genuine love for sharing the majesty that the humpback whales display. We felt like partners of an adventure, rather than just another ticketed customer on a scripted tour. Highly recommend for the experience, the hospitality, and the professionalism. When on the Big Island during the winter migration, Kohala Tours, with Captain William and Chris is a Must Do Adventure! Don't miss out...

Rick and Davonte were amazing!!!! Their knowledge and humor kept the group entertained all…read moreafternoon. Highly recommend this Kona experience.

We just did a tour with Captain Zodiac in Kona and it was honestly such a special experience. Our…read moreguides, Ashley and Alec, were incredible. They were so knowledgeable and friendly, and they really took the time to answer every single question we had. Both Ashely and Alec have researched whales in Alaska and Hawaii, so hearing specific researcher knowledge was really cool. Ashley was also just so enthusiastic. She really made us understand how special it was to be out there witnessing these animals. The water was a little rocky at times, but we still saw so many whales, including one that got within 30 yards of our boat. The best part was actually on the way back. We were already at time for the tour, but Ashley noticed a group of boats congregating and went to investigate. It ended up being a whale shark that came right up by the boat, which the guides told us is an incredibly rare event. It was just an awesome thing to see. You can really tell they have so much reverence and respect for the whales. If you have any interest in seeing these animals up close and hearing from specialists who work with them full time, this is the company to go with. We have so much respect for the work Ashley and Alec do.