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    Bay Side Adventures

    4.9 (197 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    Phil J.

    Great first time kayaking thanks to islander kayak. We were able to see dolphins multiple times which made snorkeling the icing on the cake. Thanks for the help Rocky! Good suggestion for food(poke) afterwards as well

    Jo S.

    Memories to last a lifetime! We rented 2 double kayaks from Bay Side Adventures. I called last minute (on the drive over from Waikoloa) and they booked our reservation. Had our kayaks and dry bags ready to go, so when we arrived, all we had to do was sign the waivers (all automated on iPads). Great friendly service and staff. Ciela (sp?) was great. She made us feel welcome and put my 2 teens at ease (they were a little nervous about going out without a guide). Before going out, she gave us instructions on where to go, how to get off/on kayaks whilst in water and answered any questions. Went out early at 8:30am. Highly recommend going out in the early morning to get to Kealakekua Bay before the tour boats arrive. It was about a 20 minute paddle out to the bay. Visibility was incredible and it was by far the best snorkeling we experienced on our trip. Saw pods of Spinner Dolphins, Moray Eels, and an incredible amount and variety of fish. We have our own snorkel gear, however they have equipment to rent if you need it. Recommend water shoes. Parking was a little tricky but we were lucky as we were there early so there was an area down the street to park.

    Joff E.

    If you find yourself on the Big Island, you must take yourself to Kealakekua Bay. The Bay is the site of Captain Cook's arrival and departure (death). His monument at the Bay is a historical marker in Kealakekua. It's only reachable via boat/kayak or long swim. We booked our kayaks on Yelp. Drove down the winding road to The Bay. Seani met us at the dock, and with a short intro sent us on our way. 20 minutes in a school of dolphins (10-15) showed up. Kayaked for few more minutes and snorkeled near the monument, probably the best spot on the bay. I recommend going early for this trip. At about 10 am the tourist charters start showing up with boat loads of ppl. Get to the bay at least by 8 am. Bring water and snacks to carry on kayak too.

    Launching spot for Kayaks to Captain Cook
    Courtney J.

    If you want to do Captain Cook on your own without the tour boat and/or don't want to do the strenuous hike, renting a kayak from Bay Side Adventures is the way to go! We had a little trouble finding the launch point thanks to Google Maps. However, Bay Side pointed me in the right direction after a quick phone call. We were only a couple blocks away, and their staff was there waiting for us. They help you load up your boat and give you a dry bag with your permit and life vests, and answer any questions. They tell you where to go and help you get in your kayak and you basically have the rental for the day. We were lucky and were only one of three boats in the whole bay that morning. A pod of dolphins was swimming around, and I got to swim with them. There was even a baby! I kept my distance, but they weren't shy and a few swam up close to check us out. It was my second time swimming with wild dolphins, but that didn't my make it any less exciting! After the dolphins left, I was just hanging out in the water when my eyes caught something large moving toward me. I thought maybe it was a lone dolphin. Nope! No such luck! It had big sharp teeth and was huge and shiny and coming towards me. I immediately got back in the kayak as fast as I could. I knew it wasn't a shark, but something that large and fast moving with teeth is never good. When we arrived back on land, I described it and was asked if it was a giant barracuda. A quick google search showed that was definitely what I saw. Yikes! So just be careful since those things will take fingers off. Snorkeling was pretty good over by the monument, but I was still panicked from the barracuda so we didn't stay too long. It was only the second time we've ever kayaked (last time was in a tour on Oahu), and we felt perfectly comfortable with it. The waters in the bay are calm and it's easy to figure out where to go. Coming back was no problem, other than we were tired from all the swimming. Towing the kayak while snorkeling wasn't a big deal either (you can't dock at Captain Cook). The staff was so nice and helpful with the whole process from booking to returning the rental. I will definitely rent from them again if I return to big island.

    The same view the locals get.

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    7 years ago

    So glad we found this outfit! Totally professional and friendly. Need to come back next time!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Bay Side Adventures

    Review Highlights - Bay Side Adventures

    We rented kayaks to go to the snorkelling place near the Captain Cook Monument - it was a really cool journey.

    Mentioned in 31 reviews

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    Kahalu'u Bay Surf & Sea - Surfboard Rentlas in Kona Hawaii

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    4.8(562 reviews)
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    INTRO Friendly shop with fair prices, but board quality can…read morebe hit or miss - especially some of the soft tops, which may be waterlogged and very difficult to surf. Definitely inspect your board before heading out and if you get a bad board, simply head in and swap it out. They will be very cool about it and likely give you more time in the water for the inconvenience. THE STAFF Very, very friendly and welcoming. No issues here. THE BOARDS Beware: some of the soft-top boards may be waterlogged. Pick them up - if they're unusually heavy, they're likely full of water and will surf terribly. I raised this with the leadership team, and Ben said they're going to do a better job inspecting the rental quiver to ensure boards are ready to ride. When in doubt, opt for a solid 8-9' hard top. BOOTIES You may think you want them to get out past the ~10 feet of rocky bottom. Not the end of the world - smooth rocks and ZERO sea urchins. They'll tell you they're everywhere, but you're only touching bottom for a couple seconds as you enter the crystal-clear water. Bring your own or rent for $5. If I had to do it again, I'd skip the booties. THE WAVES Scout the waves first. This is not Waikiki. This spot is hit or miss. THE CROWD Perpetual surf school sitting in the best spot in the lineup. No issues with them personally, but it does make the area feel crowded. OVERALL You're surfing in Hawaii - it's always a good outing. This is the best rental option for this beach. The staff is great and the prices are fair. Just double-check the surf and your rental board before paddling out, and don't hesitate to return to the shop during your rental to swap boards. They're happy to help, and if you lose time due to a bad board, ask for extra time - their team will likely make it right.

    UPDATED - November, 2025 -…read more FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW!!! Jackson now is in his fourth year of lessons with Eli. He started at 5 years old and this year his sister Reagan started - she's six years old! Eli is the BEST surf instructor in the entire world. The kids love him and he genuinely loves the kids. He teaches them to love the water and have FUN - all while being safe. Supporting Eli is the owner and operator Ben who makes sure everything is covered at a high level. Great equipment, location, safety and the positive VIBES! If you're interested in surfing on the big island, water it's renting equipment, lessons, or the location, this is your spot! Check out the photos.

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    Anelakai Adventures - Sunset and Manta Rays!

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    4.9(105 reviews)
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    Everyone RAVES about the manta ray experience. However, it's the manta ray company you choose that…read morewill determine if you want a personalized, memorable trip where you actually learn about manta rays versus float in a big ring in the ocean staring at them. We chose the first option. Smaller size (6 people max), ecofriendly, and kid friendly. Anelakai crew is exactly that! Personable! Wealth of knowledge! Professional, yet fun! I believe it's the only company where you get to paddle out on a canoe to view the manta rays. Nothing to fear! It's a super easy paddle out and back! If my 9 & 10 y/o kids can do it, so can you! It's very ecofriendly. The exhaust from the neighboring boats was nauseating. It's too bad they haven't followed suit. The crew took care of the kids 100%. From helping them with snorkel masks, assisting getting in and out of the canoe (my 10 y/o freaked out a little and they calmed her down in an instant), and just teaching them (and all of us) all about manta rays! The viewing was amazing. I couldn't keep track of how many we saw, but we do recall seeing Big Bertha, Greyson, and Queenie. Yes! They have names! And the crew will identify them for you and how they got their names! Props to: Kono, & the younger guy (forgot his name) Thank you for the wonderful tour! If we're ever back on the island, we'll pay another visit. The kids can't stop talking about Big Bertha and Queenie, all the backflips the manta rays take, seeing plankton up close, and paddling their first canoe IN THE DARK WITH A FULL MOON. You've inspired one of my kids who has a love for marine animals to one day work closely with them AND/OR if ever so lucky...to identify a new manta ray (if not in the database) and name it "6 - 7".

    Anelakai was such a magical experience! It felt so unreal to see the manta rays and a huge relief…read moreoff of everyone's back to do it in an eco friendly way. Our tour guides were awesome, well informed, and friendly. The only thing I'd warn is to take seasickness precautions - I'm prone to seasickness and did not consider how rough the waters could be, and it's definitely enough to feel unwell. Luckily, they bring ginger ale onto the boat which is greatly appreciated! The manta rays were amazing and we got lucky to see ~15 of them. We did have initial issues finding our meeting spot, so if you experience that, it was right at the dock. Overall, great experience!

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    LightSUP Hawaii

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    5.0(47 reviews)
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    Highly recommend! We initially found LightSUP on Yelp at the top with all its stellar reviews and…read morewith SUP on my check off list, we booked it. I talked to Kelly on the phone and she was amazing ! and very patient answering all my questions, I had a lot lol since this was our first time. Looking at weather and surf conditions, she assured us Tuesday would be a great am for lessons. We drove down to Kona from Waikoloa ~30 min drive. Meet up was near a wharf, where we found free 2 hour parking off of Ali'i drive. Met up with our instructor Mark 830 am - a super friendly and understanding dude and he made us feel at ease. He went over some instructions with us regarding the board, how to, safety, and possible route. He warned us, looking at the windsock, it was a little windy, waters might be rough, but that we could make it work. Life vests were available, I wore one since I'm not the greatest swimmer. The boards were really cool, with the upper half containing a clear glass portion for views of marine life in the ocean. In the evenings, they offer lit up SUP boards. When I got onto the water, the waves were soooooo choppy, I immediately felt seasick- nauseous and dizzy, I was only able paddle for less than a half hour. Hubby was able to stand up a few times, but soon was washed off the board due to the waves. Mark noted that it was definitely advanced waters kinda day. We weren't able to enjoy as much as we had liked to or be out the two hours allotted. But, he made us feel comfortable and was so kind. He shared with us all the videos and pics he took of our am. He called and left a message with Kelly, the owner, of our uneventful morning. I messaged Kelly as well, and she did not charge us. Mahalo! We definitely tipped Mark for his time, kindness, and patience : ) This is a wonderful small owned company that cares about its clients! Check them out!

    My gf booked this tour our trip and I was initially a bit scared as being in the open ocean water…read moreis one of my fears. I thought it would be fun though to see the wild life at night however since it's such a unique experience. The tour starts with one of the nicest sunsets I've seen in Hawaii. It was such an amazing view. We then started on the shallow area just to get used to the board and water. It is a lot harder than you think to stand on that board! Our tour guide was AMAZING! He was so funny and told us amazing stories. I loved all of the factoids! He was so enthusiastic and you can really tell he cared for us to have fun even if we didn't see anything. You can also tell how passionate he is about the coral and welfare of the ocean. We began to paddle out before it became completely dark. This is where I tried to stand up and ended up falling into the Ocean! My biggest fear! It was in the deep end also. I suggest not doing it far out where there are still waves but also trying to stand before it gets completely dark. On our tour we saw so many fish. There are a ton of needle fish that jump on your board. You also get super close to the coral and get to see a lot of the amazing fish at night time which is a totally different perspective. We were able to see a small sting ray, a bunch of fish, tons of coral and the most amazing thing was a shark (twice!). I don't know what kind of shark it was but if I had to guess maybe a tiger shark? The tour guide said it is super super rare to see that. The shark was pretty friendly and a bit curious about the board but then quickly swam away. It only appeared for about 5 seconds. About an hour later, a much smaller one appeared and came up to the board and then swam away. Overall, which an amazing (and slightly scary) experience. The water is pretty warm even at night. The tour guide was so nice. I highly recommend this tour!

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    Greenwell Farms - Free samples station

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    Whether you're a coffee drinker or not, you'll enjoy a visit to Greenwell Farms. First off, there's…read morea sample station with about 8 different coffees. All are free. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I thought what the heck, so I tried a few sips and was surprised how smooth it was. They also have tours that run about 1/2 hour (also free). The tour is very casual, and you're free to leave whenever you want. I thought the tour was really entertaining, and we got to see the chasm left by the spring storms. You learn about the history of the farm, sample some of the other items they grow on the farm (like pepper), and take in the beauty of the tropical flowers all around. Even if you're not a coffee lover, you'll probably walk away with a few items from their gift shop. They have coffee (of course), mac nuts, plantain chips, and avocados as big as your hand.

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    Bay Side Adventures - tours - Updated May 2026

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