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Kaimana Ocean Safari: A Tailored, Intimate Wildlife Experience Along The Kona Coastline
4.9
253 Ratings
Kailua-Kona
Embark on a tailored and intimate wildlife experience along the Kona coastline with Kaimana Ocean Safari. Discover diverse marine life and create lifelong memories on our small-group tours.
Embark on a tailored and intimate wildlife experience along the Kona coastline with Kaimana Ocean Safari. Discover diverse marine life and create lifelong memories on our small-group tours.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 74 Kealakehe Pkwy - The adventure begins the moment you set foot on our vessel! Our tours are set up safari style which means from the start of the tour we are going to be scanning the gorgeous and dramatic coastline of Kona for any type of wildlife to observe and interact with. With the rapid and deep drop off of the sea floor along the coast, we…
- 74 Kealakehe Pkwy - The adventure begins the moment you set foot on our vessel! Our tours are set up safari style which means from the start of the tour we are going to be scanning the gorgeous and dramatic coastline of Kona for any type of wildlife to observe and interact with. With the rapid and deep drop off of the sea floor along the coast, we have the potential to see shallow water animals as well as pelagic (deep, open ocean) marine life. While nature is unpredictable and we cannot guarantee any specific interactions or observations, we have the potential to see sea turtles, various fish species, dolphin and whale species, sharks, and manta rays. We’ll have four hours on the water to provide you with the best experience imaginable. Please note we go into deep water for open ocean wildlife on nearly every tour & the search for pelagic life can take some time. Please note you should be able to swim, have a degree of athleticism, & climb up a ladder to participate in the water. This may not be the tour for beginners or some children. *Please review our cancelation policy & if you are joining from a cruise ship you need to confirm with them 24 hours prior they will let you off of the ship.
What's Included
- Snacks
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Bottled water
What's Not Included
- Towels, rash guards, sun protection are not included. Please bring reef safe sunscreen (zinc only).
- Towels, rash guards, sun protection are not included. Please bring reef safe sunscreen (zinc only).
Additional Information
Join us at Kaimana Ocean Safari for a curated oceanic adventure with our trained ocean ecologists, boat operators, and marine photographers. You’ll explore the vibrant Kona coastline and interact with a variety of marine species. With a maximum capacity of 6 guests, our tours far outdo the impersonal experience offered by larger tourist vessels. Our…
Join us at Kaimana Ocean Safari for a curated oceanic adventure with our trained ocean ecologists, boat operators, and marine photographers. You’ll explore the vibrant Kona coastline and interact with a variety of marine species. With a maximum capacity of 6 guests, our tours far outdo the impersonal experience offered by larger tourist vessels. Our excursions operate on a ‘safari’ model, covering expansive portions of the coastline on our vessel in pursuit of diverse marine life. The thrill of the chase is part of the adventure we offer, letting nature dictate the course of your journey. Embark on an unforgettable expedition with us and create memories that will last a lifetime! Please check out our Instagram pages to get a glimpse of the possible sights. A kind reminder, we do not assure sightings or offer refunds in the event of no sightings. We strive to explore as much as we can as marine life is unpredictable in nature.
- We have a 4ft height limit for children
- We have an in-water weight limit of 300 lbs- must be able to climb ladder
Location
74 Kealakehe Pkwy
Kealakehe Parkway
Tours meet at Honokohau Harbor north side bathrooms 15 minutes prior to departure. Enter Kealakehe Parkway from Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy, Make your first right & turn left after the gas station on your left. Park at the bathroom pavilion & meet staff.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(253 Ratings)
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Tina_g
Oct 12, 2025
Island Time! - A. Beautiful way to visit the island, get some sun, see some marine life...and definitely have some enjoyable time with the crew who were all very friendly, accommodating, as well as funny! 😊
Review provided by Viator
Aurelie_m
Sep 17, 2025
Amazing! We saw some... - Amazing! We've seen bottlenose dolphins and swimming with globicephales! I wish it had lasted longer... 4h is too short
Review provided by Viator
Deeann_k
Aug 27, 2025
Guide were great, helpful... - Guide were great, helpful and knowledgeable, we were able to see lots of marine life, hey assisted with all equipment needed.
Review provided by Viator
Alice_b
Aug 24, 2025
Amazing trip! - This safari was one the highlights of our trip. Cam and Dev were an amazing crew to spend the morning with. They are very knowledgeable and you see that they love what they do. We were super lucky to have a lot of wildlife that day: bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, spinner dolphins, a manta ray and even a white tip shark as a surprise guest! Their security briefing was extremely clear and was very useful when we had the encounter with the shark. We felt safe the whole time and that was very important for me especially since it’s very impressive to have this kind of experience. The boat was very comfortable and the trip was great. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Anne_j
Aug 17, 2025
Epic trip for some locals - My friends and I live in Kona and have for decades. My friends are die hard snorkelers and love to swim with ocean mammals.Im getting back into it now that I'm retiring. This trip, like the whale watch I went on with them was TOTALLY epic!! They swam with white tips, we saw dozens of pilot whales - it really was amazing. Highly recommend this boat, you will have a blast, guaranteed
Review provided by Viator
Tracif992
Aug 12, 2025
Our Favorite Excursion!! - This is our second time on the Kaimana Ocean Safari and it did not disappoint. Hands down our favorite excursion on the Big Island. This team has a true heart for the ocean and community, and they do a wonderful job. Worth every penny. We will be back 2026.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Litprof2014
Aug 5, 2025
Great wildlife encounters! - We went on the 4 hour "safari" excursion, with the specific purpose of seeing and (if possible) swimming with sharks and (especially) whales and dolphins. We got exactly what we were looking for. We were a small group of 5 in total (myself and my wife, with 3 others who rounded out the group); this made for a calm, "tailored" wildlife- viewing experience. The crew, led by Elizabeth, was experienced and knowledgeable, and expertly guided us to various sites to look for critters. They carefully explained what we would be doing when we found animals to look at, and made sure we would all behave safely and respectfully of the wildlife. We were lucky enough to see a huge pod of pilot whales -- probably 12 or so -- swimming beautifully through calm oceans, and the crew expertly positioned us so that we could snorkel in the ocean while they safely approached...and dived right under us as we watched! Elizabeth knew we were especially interested in dolphins, so worked hard to find some pods: we saw a small group of bottlenosed dolphins (with whom we are allowed to get in the water with) who also swam right beneath us as we watched; we also saw a pod of spinner dolphins (protected, and therefore forbidden to swim near) which we watched from a distance. It was a perfect wildlife viewing experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mermaiddawn
Jul 23, 2025
Can’t get enough! - So far I’ve joined 5 adventures with Kaimana. I live on island and always recommend this as a must do for friends and family that are visiting. This last time my cousin was here with his family for his son’s 21st birthday. We saw pilot whales, two oceanic whitetip sharks that were interactive, and sperm whales! Quite a lot of wildlife to see in one day! The staff always educates us on what we see and how to ethically experience time with any magnificent creatures we might see. The photo pack is a must too! I plan to attend more safaris in the future as it’s always an amazing time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maxfield_m
Jul 16, 2025
Overall very kind and... - Overall very kind and welcoming staff, experience was both educational and fun. Team took both animal encounters and snorkeler safety very seriously making for a comfortable environment for both myself and the animals.
Review provided by Viator
Sara_j
Jun 28, 2025
Can’t miss!! - The crew worked so hard to make sure we saw a lot of animal life, and they delivered! We saw many animals in each of the four dives. They were very welcoming and knowledgable. Safety first. They were highly respectful of the wildlife, keeping a proper distance and collecting trash.
Review provided by Viator
