Review for Windward Water Sports
33 Hoolai St, Kailua, HI…read more96734
Owner/Instructor: Jeff Tobias
On August 31, I contacted Windward Water Sports, owned and operated by Jeff Tobias, regarding a kayak rental. Since it was a Sunday and most other rental businesses were closed, we reluctantly went with this company -- a decision I sincerely regret.
From the outset, the experience was chaotic and unprofessional. Calling ahead yielded little useful information; staff were unclear, unresponsive, and seemingly uninterested in helping. We were forced to book online due to the lack of timely or reliable communication. Upon arrival, we were issued kayaks and life vests that were in poor, unsafe condition. The life jackets were tattered, worn out, and looked completely unmaintained -- a major safety red flag. It's clear that this business does not prioritize safety or equipment standards. There was no proper safety briefing, and we received no warnings about the unfavorable weather or ocean conditions.
The water that day was rough, choppy, and unsafe -- especially for first-time kayakers. No one at Windward Water Sports made any attempt to reschedule us or even disclose these conditions. A responsible and ethical business would have recognized the risk and acted accordingly.The parking at the launch site was disorganized and overcrowded, costing us nearly an hour of our already limited rental window. What should have been a 20-minute paddle to the snorkeling area took over 90 minutes due to the dangerous wave activity. Once we arrived, visibility in the water was zero -- snorkeling was completely out of the question. To make matters worse, on the return trip, one person in our group capsized and could not reboard their kayak without assistance -- a terrifying experience that further reflects the lack of proper safety measures, briefing, or equipment quality.
After this ordeal, I requested a partial refund, understanding that we used the kayaks briefly. I was met with a flat denial. The justification? "Business has been bad." That is not a valid excuse. It is completely unacceptable to prioritize your financial struggles over the safety, experience, and basic rights of your customers. At this point, given the unsafe conditions, defective equipment, and the lack of disclosure or professionalism, I am demanding a full refund. That is the only reasonable and ethical course of action.
Jeff Tobias needs to do the right thing and issue a full refund immediately. This wasn't just a poor experience -- it was negligent, unsafe, and unethical. I will be filing complaints with relevant consumer protection agencies and posting this review across all major platforms to warn others.
Avoid Windward Water Sports. Your safety and your money are worth more.