Aloha Kayak Co, Captain Cook HI

We generally choose smaller sized tours over big boat tours to get the best experience and this was definitely the case here. We started the day early, getting a very informative history lesson about Captain Cook and the island of Hawaii. It made the visit to the monument more meaningful. Iwa is very knowledgeable about all things Hawaii and a great champion of the wildlife.

Once we started out on our kayaks we began to see Spinner Dolphins. They got quite close to our kayaks and the water is so clear we could see them swimming around us. If you take a big boat tour you don't even visit the portion of the bay where the dolphins can be found.

After arriving at the monument we beached our kayaks and prepared to snorkel. If you rent a kayak on your own you can not beach your kayak. You must drag it around with you while you snorkel. Only tours are allowed to leave their kayaks on the beach, which is very small.

The snorkeling was phenomenal! A large enough reef that the crowds aren't a problem. There is a nice steep drop off where the reef ends, if you want a different perspective.

Between snorkel sessions we had a delicious lunch with two local cats that are adorable, but will try to steal your food if you're not careful. The are well mannered, but opportunistic feeders, understandably.

Iwa takes lots of pictures during the tour and sends them to you the same day. Nice momentos of the experience.

We would take another tour with Aloha Kayak Co should we visit the big island again.

Unbelievable kayak and snorkeling trip with a great history lesson provided prior to. It was really cool to get a lesson on Captain Cook and his travels and a lot of history of the islands of Hawaii prior to the kayak and snorkeling by the Captain Cook monument to have a better understanding of the monument. Great snorkeling in a beautiful reef and saw some dolphins while kayaking back!

Amazing tour for night manta snorkel. Kayaking out to the site made it much more fun. Iwa and Luke were wonderful guides, made us all feel safe and ready for our adventure. Saw so many mantas. Will never forget!

Iwa and Luke were fantastic guides! Super fun, super awesome nighttime snorkel with the manta rays Amazing experience up close and personal with those spectacular creatures. Aloha kayak knew where to go and made us feel safe the whole time! Going out by kayak added a whole extra layer of cool. The stars were spectacular and we didn’t have to listen to a boat motor, just the waves

Wow! This was the highlight of our vacation to the Big Island. TL;DR. Do a tour with Aloha Kayak! Worth every penny.

What an awesome day. Myself, my husband, my sister-in-law, and my brother-in-law went on this tour, as it included a little of everything. Kayaking, snorkeling, a tour of Captain Cook / Kealakekua Bay, and the possibility of seeing some dolphins. It was 100% perfect.

Iwa was our tour guide, and he started off the trip with some great history about the Big Island and Captain Cook. It's so fun to learn about the indigenous people of the island, and how they had such a way of life before it was "discovered". Not to mention, the tour was JUST THE FOUR OF US! We loved how personal it was! Next, he briefed us on the tour, fitted us for our gear, and gave us some safety instructions. We set out toward the bay, and Iwa was sure to help us all safely board the kayaks. I was nervous, as I had never kayaked before. Nerves were gone with this tour- I felt SO safe.

We headed out onto the bay, and he continued to give us history along the way. When we reached Captain Cook monument, we got to snorkel along the reef for an hour. It was an incredible experience! So many beautiful fish, such peaceful waters, and beautiful coral! When we were done, we got some local fruit for snacks, some water, and some more history of the land, including info about the fish we saw.

We set out to return shortly after, but managed to see some dolphins along the way! They swam about 10ft from our kayaks- SO INCREDIBLE! THAT was worth it in itself.

When we returned to the dock, even though it was low tide, Iwa was sure to help us all get out of the kayaks safely. My Sister-in-law is only about 5'2, so you can imagine it wouldn't be easy. But he was sure to help her get out safely and comfortably.

The two best parts (well, besides the dolphins, the safety, and the snorkeling?). Iwa took some FANTASTIC pictures for us (without us even asking him to!) And he recommended some incredible local restaurants for after we were done.

What an amazing day. I recommend this SO HIGHLY. Thank you, Aloha Kayak Co and Iwa.

This is definitely the best tour of our trip! Iwa was our tour guide. We felt like we hired a personal private tour guide of Kealakekua Bay. We loved how passionate & knowledgeable Iwa was of the bay and the Captain cook monument. We learned so much about the history of the Hawaiian people and their culture. This is a Local owned business and one of only three companies that are allowed to launch and dock at the captain cook monument. We saw dolphins up front and personal as well as great snorkeling! The turkey sandwich, tangerines and granola bars were delicious and just enough for lunch before getting back in the water a second time. We felt safe, protected and like we had the Alpha tour guide of all the groups in the water. You should definitely add this adventure to your list of things to do while in Kona Hawaii. You will not be disappointed!

My husband and I visited Big Island from Honolulu. We did Aloha Kayak Co. ’s Kayak & Snorkel 3.5hour Tour at Kealakekua Bay. Aloha Kayak Co.is one of the few companies with permits to land at Captain Cook monument. Their check in/office location was easy to get to from Kona and so close to the launching point for the kayak trip. We were fortunate to have Iwa, the owner of Aloha Kayak Co, as our guide for the trip! He taught us so much about the history of Hawaii and Captain Cook. He provided all the equipment that we needed (including a dry bag for our belongings) and also gave us a brief lesson on kayak safety before we launched for the trip to the Captain Cook monument. He pointed out places in the bay and explained more of the history as we kayaked. He made sure that we saw the dolphins swimming nearby, but also respected their space. He really seemed to care about our experience and about preserving the bay. Iwa participates in conservation efforts in Kealakekua Bay monthly and you can tell he is very passionate about Hawaii. He provided snacks and water while we were at the monument and was always there to help you in or out of the water. We always felt safe and looked after. Iwa also took photos of everyone throughout the kayaking and snorkeling trip and then sent all the photos to our phone within a day - at no extra charge! We love to support local businesses on our trips and we are so glad we chose Aloha Kayak Co.for our snorkel trip at Kealakekua Bay. We highly recommend Iwa and Aloha Kayak Co.for your Kona adventures! Mahalo nui, Iwa!

Owner and guide Iwa and guide Luke were great! They started the kayak and snorkel tour of the Captain Cool Monument area with a brief presentation of the history of Kealakekua Bay which was nice to hear from local Hawaiians and have some knowledge before hitting the water. It definitely made for good conversation on the trip!
They made kayaking and snorkeling super smooth and fun for beginners and those with experience alike. Iwa took photos of everyone during the trip so we didn’t need to worry about getting our phones out on the water (he sent the pictures via text later that day).
The captain cook area is wonderful for snorkeling - this tour is highly recommended! Even if you don’t “need” a tour guide the company of Iwa and Luke with their experience and knowledge of the area is well worth the cost. We would definitely do this or another tour with them again!

Iwa and Luke provided an awesome experience! They helped prep everyone for the night snorkel with manta rays, gave good instructions, and quickly guided us to where we would get into the water. They have an awesome light system to attract the manta, at one point we had 6 swimming around beneath us. Would definitely recommend to others!

Our family did a 3 hour kayak tour to the Captain Cook monument with Iwa. Before the tour he shared the history of this local area which was very beneficial in making enhancing the experience. Iwa's passion about his culture and this area were inspiring for us to learn more about Hawaii. The kayak trip was enjoyable and we were able to paddle closely to spinner dolphins which was really exciting for my children. When we arrived to the shore (where only 3 operators can actually land) Iwa continued to explain the history behind the area. His knowledge was unending. We had about an hour in the water to snorkel. That experience was incredible! The bay is sheltered and has beautiful coral and abundant fish! The color of the water in this area are impossible to describe. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and I highly recommend Aloha Kayak Company if you are in Kona.

The best kayak tour on the island! The trip was fun and these guys are very knowledgeable! Kayaking is easy, even for beginner. The snorkeling is amazing and you paddle right up to the monument. Simply can NOT miss this one. Great local business! Our best day on the island! ️

The Kayak tour with Iwa and Luke to Cooks monument was great. They made it safe and easy to cross the bag and were full of local knowledge and history. We arrived a bit late but were welcomed as an unscheduled addition to the tour and we had so much fun. We saw sea turtles, manta rays and even an octopus!

Run by locals. Amazing experience. We got a whole history lesson before even going out on the water! Our guide was the only one at Cook's Bay who knew what was up - he made sure people (people not even in our tour group!) were safe and didn't go too close to dangerous rocks, he made sure other tourists didn't stand on the delicate corral. These guys have so much knowledge of the island, the ocean, and they're just down to earth and passionate about their home. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because the bathroom at the main office was really really REALLY dirty.

Well run, small, local Hawaiian business provides an educational experience complete with kayaking to Captain Cook Monument, plenty of time to snorkel time with some of the best snorkeling in all of Hawai’i. Guides do not rush you at all. They also take ample photos for you so you can just enjoy the experience and not worry about taking photos. To boot, they provide a healthy snack too. Highly recommended!

Had an awesome time. Tour guide Iwa was very knowledgeable in the area. The snorkeling was wonderful

Ewa is passionate about telling the history of Captain Cook and Kealakekua Bay, and the kayaking and snorkeling were fantastic! All the needed gear is provided, along with snacks and drinking water. We saw flying fish and spinner dolphins en route to the monument, and gorgeous fish while snorkeling. Great tour!

Ewa was great (as was Luke) : my wife and I booked the manta ray kayak/snorkel with them based on the glowing reviews, and it turned out just to be the two of us getting an exclusive experience with the amazing manta rays. Not only were they funny, informed, and helpful, but they were so good at attracting the rays that all the other tour companies eventually started coming over to where we were. Never experienced anything like a 1500lb manta ray gliding inches away. Truly great tour.

Luke was our tour guide during our kayak & snorkel adventure. He was very informative, friendly, and helpful at all points of the day!

Kayaking across the bay was seriously so fun, and a unique way to get to the Captain Cook Monument. No promises, but we saw dolphins as we kayaked to the monument. From there, we snorkeled in the bay, ate snacks, then kayaked back. Aloha Kayak Co.is the way to go

My 20 y.o. Daughter and I had a great time with Iwa and Luke on our Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Tour. Iwa has an excellent history lesson before the tour commences, and continues it at the Capt. Cook memorial. Hearing it from a Hawaiian perspective is refreshing. The snorkeling was fantastic. They provide all the gear you need, plus water and snacks.

I had a great time on our tour. It was educational and exciting the whole time. I loved the view as we paddled across the bay. The best part was the snorkling.it was another world.something to truly experience!