Tours/Oahu/Mokolii Island Self Guided Kayak Tour
Viator · group up to 15 pax

Mokolii Island Self Guided Kayak Tour

4.7(45)Oahu1 hour
VIATOR4.7(9)TRIPADVISOR4.8(36)

Description

We provide everything you need to have a great and safe time out on the water. You'll get kayaks, seat backs, life vests, dry bags safety equipment and private instruction before you set out on your own to experience Mokoli'i Island. Experience this one of a kind Oahu adventure with plenty of epic views. We suggest this tour for individuals who are experienced in kayaking or are comfortable kayaking in the ocean.

Tour Options

Mokolii Island Self Guided Kayak Tour

Itinerary

120 min

Ocean Kayaking Experience and Hike combo. Self-guided experience with personal instruction before you set out on your own. Hike around the island for views of the Koolau mountain range. We suggest hiking around the circumference of Mokoli’i. The hike to the top is for experienced adventurers and is moderate to advanced at points.

Highlights

Printed Self-Guided Tour Map to take with you on the adventure
Life Jackets, Dry bags and all other equipment needed for the experience.
Pads and straps to transport the Kayaks that fit on any 4-door car, van or truck.

What's included

Included
Printed Self-Guided Tour Map to take with you on the adventure
Life Jackets, Dry bags and all other equipment needed for the experience.
Pads and straps to transport the Kayaks that fit on any 4-door car, van or truck.
Not included
Delivery of kayaks and gear to the beach

Traveller Ratings

4.7
45 reviews
5
39
4
3
3
1
2
1
1
1

Important Information

  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Reviews(45)

A
Arnold_F
June 17, 2026
Kayak rental

Rental process was a breeze. Mario help load up the kayak on my vehicle and our adventure began smoothly.

V
V2059RYhannahb
June 14, 2026
Great Staff & Equipment

The gentleman working when we picked up and dropped off the kayaks was fantastic! He was informative, helped load and unload, and when we asked if our 4 hour time slot would be enough to enjoy Chinamans Hat he told us to take our time and enjoy. We didn’t need much more than the 4 hours, but we were thankful for his kindness and flexibility! The equipment was great, and we all enjoyed the day out on the water.

E
Explore16981174384
June 5, 2026
Waves prevented us from getting to Chinamans Hat

Chinamans Hat looked awesome but with the weather we were unable to make it across. Waves were 5 plus feet tall and waves were strong blowing in strong. I think putting three adults on a "3-man" kayak was probably too much weight... our kayaking have much buoyancy. We flip twice and called it not even halfway there. Completely disappointed as we were really looking forward to the hike up the Hat. Can't blame Active Oahu for the weather but I feel like they should have known about the weather and advised us otherwise. In retrospect, I'm upset for not checking the tide schedule before going out. Based on today's tide schedule we should have gone out at 9:00 a.m. and let the high tide bring us in on our way back. Leaving at noon put us going out against high tide with the waves coming in. Certainly a memory for the books but not the one we were hoping for.

R
Rheannon W
March 12, 2026
The highlight of our trip!

We had such an amazing experience renting a tandem kayak from Active Oahu! The rental process was incredibly easy and seamless, which made it so nice to just focus on enjoying the adventure. We kayaked out to Mokoliʻi (only a 30 minute drive from the shop) and it was absolutely unforgettable. Michael went out of his way to make sure we had the best experience possible and that we were fully set up for a great day on the water. We’ll definitely be renting from Active Oahu again next time we’re back on the island!

D
D2871SSmartino
February 22, 2026
Active Oahu - great staff and great rental gear!

I made a reservation for a kayak rental that I picked up/dropped off with my rental Jeep for a self-guided paddle out to Mokoli'i Island/Chinaman's Hat. I had an absolute blast that day! The people at Active Oahu are great, booking over the phone was smooth and Michael would answer any questions I had about the rental patiently. We did talk about the weather and wind/surf conditions a lot since Oahu experienced higher winds while I was there due to trade winds hitting the island. Picking up and returning the kayak was also great. Very helpful staff and all I needed was provided and included in the price. Roof pads for the Jeep, strap-downs, a kayak seat and a life vest. The solo paddle out to Mokoli'i Island was a bit strenuous due to really high winds, but overall I was fine and made it to the little beach-like landing on the island. I did the hike to the top of the island as well. It was a very special feeling, since I had the island completely for myself while I was there! Mahalo Active Oahu for making this a special experience for me! I will be back for more!

H
Heba_A
January 28, 2026
Easy and Flexible

We were 2 women with a rental car and the set up was so well explained and easy to do. We Kayaked around Lanikai, with no pressure on time. Loved the freedom and ease offered.

Y
yousefb741
January 18, 2026
Exhilarating

We enjoyed our kayaking experience, it was windy but very enjoyable. We did unfortunately capsize our kayak on the way back from Moloki'i Island 🏝 but we eventually made it back safely to Kaiula state park

S
Seaside09865412340
September 28, 2025
This was a snap

Renting our kayak was very simple from start to finish. When we got there to pick it up, we got a little crash course on how to load it onto our vehicle and how to unload it. That was easier than we thought it would be. We also got a crash course on kayaking, since we’d never done it before. It took a minute to get the hang of it, but it was a blast. We had so much fun.

J
johnnyvL6071XA
August 15, 2025
Was not able to use what we paid for

My brother and I recently took a trip to Oahu in June. One of the top things on our list was to kayak out to China man hat island. We rented two kayaks from “Active Oahu Tours”. The lady that rented them to us was very nice. However we got to the beach where you depart for China man hat. The waves were so rough this day. Our friend owns a shaved ice truck and she sets up on the street right by the beach there. The waves were so rough that day she had to close up her truck because the waves were crashing into the street. The locals advised us not to go to the island that it wasn’t safe with the conditions. I later emailed “Active Oahu Tours” to see if there was anything they could do since we never got to use the kayaks. It has been going on two months and I have not heard back from them. If you rent anything from them I would say to check the conditions of the water before you decide to do so.

Operator response

Aloha, thanks for reaching out. We are very flexible on rescheduling or refunding due to weather, since it’s not something we can control. I’m fine with refunding you. I wasn’t able to identify any emails sent from you or any emails with JohnnyV. I did find a 4hr 1 kayak rental reservation on June 23rd for Johnny V with a 12:52pm start time and a 5:12pm return time. Email me back if that’s you and I can refund you no problem.

C
Compass30221457264
July 7, 2025
Giving a Shaka to Active Oahu Tours & Activities

While at the Kualoa Ranch on an ebike tour with a friend who lives in Oahu, we heard stories of paddleboarding out to Chinaman's Hat. Totally, on a whim, we reached out to Active Oahu Tours & Activities and reserved two paddleboards for the day. First - pricing - reasonable and the equipment was in really good shape. Second - the staff - excellent people, good communication. The whole experience was easy and enjoyable. I wish more businesses in Oahu were straight forward and pleasant like this one.

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