Grant was an awesome guide. Led the process from getting outrigger canoe from the beach into the…read morewater, explaining the proper technique, providing information about the location and directing the paddle experience. Saw a large pod of dolphins that swam right by us - we stopped to keep our distance, but the dolphins didn't follow the rules so we got an amazing show from them. Added bonus was the paddling workout.

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!

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.

Amazing snorkeling! Free parking within walking distance…read more Our son loved the tide pools. You'll see so much ocean life here. Not too busy either when we went, this was a very family friendly spot!

Snorkel spot. Get it done. No sand, no beach just lava rock and reefs with lots of fish and sea…read moreurchins. Proceed with caution but once in the water it's pretty amazing down there. Watch for the signs that tell you where to get in and out of. There is actually a slimy step to use. Coming out I accidentally slipped and cut my finger on the slimy rock. Scared me as I thought I might have touched a sea urchin. Parking is interesting but we were lucky and found a spot on the street. You are greeted with signs that say Pharmaceuticals detected in the water please use restroom before entering water. Ewww yuck! That kind of freaked me out.

Love the people who work here. Super helpful when I was looking for something specific and just the…read moremost kind. Great options in all price ranges.

I've had a few trips where I hired surf coaches. And Austin is the best surf coach I've ever had…read more With Austin this is the first time I truly learned something insightful and memorable. Austin is very friendly, communicative and detail oriented. Before the lesson he made sure that he could prepare for equipments based on my body type and measurements. He likes to keep his class (if group class) very small so everyone gets to have more time to learn directly from him. What's more, Austin likes to keep his class fun and relaxing. He knows when he should be pushing the students hard to practice more, and when to rest a little with stories and jokes so keeps the students motivated. Also most importantly, Austin likes to bring depth to his class. He's very knowledgeable of sharing different ways of standing up, paddling. And he likes to share his insights on the pros and cons and when to use which. I found it extremely helpful. I found with this trip I can come home not only knowing how to stand up, but how to truly surf. In all, Austin is the best surf coach I've ever had and I strongly recommend you book lessons with him.

Great quality and value! We rented snorkel equipment and a…read morecooler for our trip and it was definitely worth it. Danny was great and made for easy pick up and drop off!

First time for me in Hawaii with family who had been before. Boss Frogs had a great deal going for…read moreweekly rentals and the equipment was excellent (even for a first timer) and the boss though at first glance didn't seem maybe to us 'Canadian level friendly' ended up exceeding our expectations. And he took great care of us when things didn't go as planned and our return was not as expected...amazing store, amazing staff, made our trip better than we could have expected. They know their stuff, can help you however you need it and they are generous and kind. Thank you Boss Frogs!

Jay was super cool. I rented a board from him and he gave me advice when I was in the water. He…read morerepresents the Hawaiian spirit of the islands. Will look him up again when I come back

Our group of 8 (3 adults snd 5 kids ages 14-8) enjoyed an awesome surf lesson with Jae and his…read moreassistant Nalu. Jae exudes genuine warmth and joy. His instruction was clear and his playful energy had us smiling the entire time. Jae masterfully read the waves, and encouraged us to paddle and get up at the right moment. We'll definitely take another lesson from him the next time we're on the island!

The location was perfect. Easy to find parking , great waves and very helpful instructor, who was…read morevery patient with my nine year old. They provided us with everything we needed (surfboards, shoes, leashes etc) and gave detailed helpful instructions. If you are looking for family surfing fun this is an awesome surf company to use.

Two years ago, my son (9 years old) took a private surf lesson with Kona Surf Company. The teacher…read morewas amazing. He was patient and very knowledgeable. We loved the surf class so much we brought friends with us this time. We signed three 11 year old kids up for a semi-private class. We were texted the night before the class and asked if we could move our 9:00 am class to 11:30 am. I said sure, no problem. The next day, we had one kid drop out. We had a new instructor. He was nice but didn't prep the kids for surfing (irresponsible). After an hour and a half, the instructor brought the kids back and said the office should have contacted me about the new class time. Classes are no longer two hours, the new times will be reflected on the website. I called the office for a week, no one answered and the voicemail was full. No one responded to my email and I texted the number that texted me for the time change with no luck. The website says a TWO HOUR surf lesson, it has not changed. I feel cheated and no one has contacted me.

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".

Anelakai was such a magical experience! It felt so unreal to see the manta rays and a huge relief…read moreoff of everyone's back to do it in an eco friendly way. Our tour guides were awesome, well informed, and friendly. The only thing I'd warn is to take seasickness precautions - I'm prone to seasickness and did not consider how rough the waters could be, and it's definitely enough to feel unwell. Luckily, they bring ginger ale onto the boat which is greatly appreciated! The manta rays were amazing and we got lucky to see ~15 of them. We did have initial issues finding our meeting spot, so if you experience that, it was right at the dock. Overall, great experience!

We had such an incredible snorkeling experience in Kona! From the moment we got on the boat,…read moreCaptain Bambi made the whole trip fun, relaxed, and memorable. She's knowledgeable, energetic, and clearly loves what she does -- which makes the entire experience even better. One of the things we loved most was the smaller group size. It made the trip feel much more personal and allowed for a really relaxed, intimate experience out on the water. Captain Bambi took the time to point out marine life, share local knowledge, and make sure everyone felt comfortable and confident in the water. The snorkeling itself was amazing -- beautiful reefs, tons of fish, and just an overall unforgettable Kona ocean experience. You can tell this crew truly cares about both their guests and the ocean. If you're looking for a fun, friendly, and more personal snorkeling tour in Kona, this is absolutely the one to book. And if you get Captain Bambi, you're in for an extra great time!

Local, Professional and very knowledgeable. We were able to see things other companies do not show…read more The limited size of the group makes for a very personal experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Our family of four had an excellent experience working with the Kona Boys Surf Shack, located on…read morethe beach behind the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. We signed up for a private outrigger canoe tour on Kailua Bay. Tommy and JP were fantastic with our kids (even when my son got a little upset mid-way through the tour) and provided a truly fun and memorable experience for all of us. The outrigger canoe tour was part tour and part history lesson of the Kona area, and was very nicely done. As guests at the hotel, we also worked with the Kona Boys to receive the beach gear items we were entitled to with our resort fee. All was great on that front too. Thank you and keep up the great work!

We stumbled on to this place our first day on the island. They are located at a small quiet beach…read morearea they rent everything you could possibly need for the day at a reasonable price. The staff is amazing and went above and beyond making sure we had everything we needed. We rented kayaks 3 times and umbrellas and chairs twice. If your looking for a relaxing day at the beach and or some time on the water give theses guys a shot you won't regret it.