P
Great day
Very interactive, small group on a boat people very helpful and professional but not cold, personal touches such as snack and soda or water
Kaimana Ocean Safari
+14 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Price from
- $255 / person
- Location
- Big Island of Hawaii, United States
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 273 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 6
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Kaimana Ocean Safari
- Meeting point
- 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.
Description
At Kaimana Ocean Safari you'll be guided by professionally trained ocean guides, boat captains, and underwater photographers to observe and interact with various wildlife along the Kona coastline. Our vessel only takes 6 people max so you beat the typical tourist trap large vessels for a more intimate experience. We approach our unique tours “safari” style, meaning we cover vast areas of the coastline in search of marine life aboard our vessel. We believe “the search” is part of the fun and allows nature to deliver the adventure. Join us on an incredible journey leaving you with a lifetime of memories! Please visit some of our instagram accounts to view more of what you can possibly see. Please note we do not guarantee any sightings or refund for lack of sightings. Wildlife is unpredictable and we cover as much ground as possible to see as much as we can.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:00 AM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 4
- Adult (ages 5–80)
- $255
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 3.
Tour Options
What's included
Included
Snacks
Use of Snorkelling equipment
We do not support single use plastic. Filtered water will be provided on the boat. If you have your own reusable bottle please bring that.
Not included
Towels, rash guards, sun protection are not included. Please bring reef safe sunscreen (zinc only).
Traveller Ratings
4.9
273 reviews
How it compares in Big Island of Hawaii
- Starting price $255 is 38% above the typical $185 for tours of similar length in Big Island of Hawaii
Excurgo comparison of 524 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We have a 4ft height limit for children
- We have an in-water weight limit of 300 lbs- must be able to climb ladder
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Kaimana Ocean Safari take?
Kaimana Ocean Safari lasts about 4 hours.
How much does Kaimana Ocean Safari cost?
Prices start at $255 per person for this Big Island of Hawaii experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Kaimana Ocean Safari run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM.
Can I cancel Kaimana Ocean Safari for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is 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. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Kaimana Ocean Safari offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 6 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
We have a 4ft height limit for children
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Kaimana Ocean Safari worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 273 verified reviews; it is run by Kaimana Ocean Safari.
Reviews(273)
D
Nice crew but too expensive for what you get
I give one star for the friendly and cool crew/guide, one star for the grey reef sharks and one for the pilot whales. Ofc you can never know what you’ll see but it was just too expensive for what we saw. I also found it too bad that we were only snorkeling in the water for about 5 minutes per stop (there were 3 stops in total) before having to get out quickly. I’d have appreciated more snorkeling time and there was still a quarter of an hour of the booked time left at the end. It was still a nice experience after all and I can recommend it.
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the tour didn’t fully meet your expectations, though we’re glad you enjoyed our crew and the wildlife you encountered. We’d like to provide a little context for future guests about how our Ocean Safari differs from a traditional snorkel tour. Our primary goal is to locate wild marine life, which means covering large areas of ocean in search of animals whose locations change daily. On your trip, we traveled nearly 40 nautical miles in our search. This style of tour naturally involves time spent cruising, and operating a small six-passenger vessel in Hawaiʻi (with fuel and operating costs being among the highest in the country) allows us to offer a more intimate, personalized experience. During your safari, you encountered bottlenose dolphins, a pod of pilot whales, more than 10 juvenile grey reef sharks, and enjoyed an additional snorkel stop on the reef. That reef is also a location where manta rays are frequently seen, so we stopped there in hopes of finding even more marine megafauna, though wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. We truly appreciate your feedback regarding the snorkeling time and will certainly take it into consideration. Guest experience is very important to us, and if you’re still disappointed, we’d love the opportunity to make it right. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly so we can discuss your experience further.
D
Sharks and dolphins and mantas too
We loved every minute !! Our 8 year old snorkeled more than ever. I thought she never would and she came in for the mantas! We saw mantas, a shark and dolphins and the crew was so good with all 4 kids!
J
A must do for adventurers
Absolutely amazing! Three young kids, two adults, so many cool spotting! Sharks, dolphins, rays, unforgettable! Wish we did it twice!
H
An intense experience,...
An intense experience, completely different from the usual group snorkeling with the reefs. We were able to snorkel with dolphins and pilot whales - amazing!
M
Fantastic day on the ocean
Knowledgeable fun staff. Small boat and group make it way better than big boat tours for us. Getting in the open ocean with wildlife is such an amazing rewarding experience.
C
Magical Ocean Safari — Dolphins, Turtles, and Even a Sperm Whale!
I had such an incredible experience with Kaimana Ocean Safari. The staff were kind, fun, and extremely knowledgeable, which made the whole trip feel relaxed and welcoming. I’m not an avid snorkeler and was probably the weakest swimmer in the group, but I still felt completely safe, supported, and included the entire time. We saw dolphins and sea turtles, and later went on a search for a sperm whale—which we actually found! It was such a magical and rare sighting, and something I’ll never forget. The photo package is absolutely worth it. Knowing the staff were capturing photos and videos allowed me to stop worrying about documenting everything myself and just fully enjoy the moment. I also loved the small group size (I think around 6–8 guests max), which made the tour feel personal and flexible. There’s no fixed route—they take you wherever the ocean leads that day. If I had more time on the Big Island, I would absolutely book another trip with them. Highly recommend this experience if you're visiting Kona. As a solo traveler and not the strongest swimmer, I especially appreciated how safe, welcoming, and inclusive the crew made the experience feel. This is a great tour for both experienced snorkelers and beginners—especially if you want a small-group ocean adventure that feels personal and safe.
1 people found this helpful
Y
Magical safari with Kaimana
The ocean safari with Kaimana was absolutely magical. I went with my 12 year old daughter and the crew was so nice, accommodating, and made us feel safe snorkeling with the whales! There was only 6 guest total on the boat which is so nice compared to other boat trips Ive been on with 20+ people. We saw dolphins leaving the harbor right next to our boat, we swam with a pod of pilot whales, and a sperm whale! I am still processing the magic of this experience. The crew did great making my 12 year old daughter comfortable and helping her. This experience was worth every penny & I would love to go again next time we visit. You will not regret it, book your trip today!
W
Best Day Ever!
We had the most amazing experience with Elizabeth and the crew. The day we went out we found a sperm whale carcass and dove with tiger sharks and oceanic white tip sharks. The team was informative, professional and fun, while keeping us safe during our once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend Kaimana Ocean Safari! I’m sure no 2 days are the same, but they will offer you the best day possible with an amazing team to explore the ocean.
K
Once in a lifetime
We had a phenomenal time with Kaimana Ocean Safari! They were super informative and made us feel very safe. We had a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Tiger Sharks feeding on a whale carcass. We also saw spinner dolphins from the boat and snorkeled. I feel very reassured that this semi- private tour (6 individuals) in a small boat afforded us this unique opportunity. Worth and difference in cost!!
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
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| Kaimana Ocean Safari | 4 hours | 4.9 (273) | $255 | |
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from$255
4.9(273) Free cancellation