We had a great experience on our snorkeling trip! We even saw a few whales. We would definitely…read morebook again.

My husband and I booked the Shaka Lux for our anniversary and we had such a great time. Awesome…read moreservice, catered to exactly how you want to spend your day. They provided lots of fresh fruit to snack on and sushi for lunch, make sure to accommodate my gluten and dairy allergies. Snorkeling was on our own time and we could to explore reefs/beaches--it really is a custom experience. It really is an above and beyond experience that I hope I get to do again!

A very smooth experience! We booked online, it gave meeting area instructions, times, etc. The…read moreteam was punctual, friendly, and knowledgeable about the boat! The views were amazing! Only thing that would make this 5 star is if the music would have been more prominent.

Such a gorgeous, relaxed day on the water. The crew were friendly (did I mention relaxed?) and…read moreknowledgeable about the marine life around us. Captain Damian used the light winds to carry us a few miles offshore, then apparently switched to electric power when the wind ebbed. It was blissfully quiet and peaceful. When we spotted whales surfacing nearby, mate Shaun dropped a microphone over the side and we were treated to the chorus of multiple humpbacks singing all around us - unbelievable! The crew kept us supplied with healthy snacks and hydration and good information about the baby, mother and male escort whales we were seeing. All and all, it was an epic morning experience off the West shore. Love to come back!

Great time with SueLang and crew. Truly an environmentally conscious sunset sail with our family…read more Even a stop for a quick dip in the soft waters of the Kohala Coast. We will definitely go back on our return trips to the Island. Mahalo

Unfortunately, I can't review the actual tour, since we didn't get to take it due to a bit of a…read morerare swell in the ocean. What I can review is the communication with the company, or, rather, lack thereof. From the time that I booked the tour in October of 2019 throug our scheduled tour time in December of 2019, I made multiple attempts, through email and by phone, to contact the company for a couple of questions. None of my emails were ever replied to and none of my calls were ever returned. The most upsetting of all was the day of our scheduled tour. We were staying on Hilo side of the island, which meant that we had to get up and ready to leave our accommodations at 6a to get to the meeting spot by 7:30. We arrived around 7:45, waited til 8 for our crew to arrive. No one did. I emailed and called to get a response. Neither of which were answered at all (still 24 hours later, at the time of this review). After talking with a people that were there, it was obvious that the tour had been canceled for the ocean conditions. What is not understandable is why we were never given the courtesy of notification that it had been canceled prior to us making the drive over. The only communication we received was a email reminder of our scheduled tour the day before. And just got an email saying "thanks for joining us, please post a review " Looks like the only communication from this company is automated response...

Our Waikoloa Scouts Troop and families went on our annual whale watch on March 8 aboard Sea Smoke…read morewith Ocean Sports, and after doing this outing for more than 9 years, I can honestly say this was one of the best trips yet. We had about 30 Scouts and family members join us, and the whales absolutely showed up! We saw pods everywhere, tail slaps, and even a full breach. The highlight was when a humpback surfaced about 10 yards from the boat, giving the kids a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The crew also dropped the hydrophone, allowing everyone to hear the whales singing underwater, which was an incredible learning experience for the Scouts. Moments like that truly connect our youth with the ocean and the amazing wildlife here in Hawaiʻi. Ocean Sports continues to impress us every year. Booking was easy, waivers were handled electronically, check-in was smooth, parking simple, and the hospitality from the crew was outstanding. They were knowledgeable, welcoming, and fantastic with the kids. Mahalo to the entire Sea Smoke crew for sharing the ocean with us and helping create such an unforgettable adventure for our Scouts and families. Your aloha spirit and professionalism make this trip something we look forward to every year. Highly recommend Ocean Sports whale watch tours!

The staff were very very nice and helpful. The trip was peaceful and so beautiful! The ocean was…read morevery, very rough! But the staff still kept our drinks coming and with a smile. I was apprehensive about getting on the boats, but it was super easy. You will walk in the water a little bit so I don't recommend long pants or shoes. We wore shorts and flip flops and it was perfect. Loved that they give a Kama'aina discount! We'll go again during whale season! Very enjoyable, relaxing, beautiful experience.

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND Holoholo Kai Charters! My husband and two daughters had an amazing time…read morefrom pick up to drop off! We were so lucky enough to be taken out to watch the fireworks on 4th of July and let me say, once you watch the fireworks from the ocean, watching from land will never be the same. Aside from the fireworks the stars are amazing at night with no lights around. If you've ever been on a boat at night you know that it's pitch black, but with the knowledge and experience of Captain Tyson and his crew we felt at ease cruising through the night. Whether you're cruising during the day or night Holoholo Kai Charters offers an amazing experience and we can't wait to cruise with them again!

From the owner: Explore the wonders just off shore with our water excursions, where each trip promises new sights…read moreand the thrill of discovery.

Went whale watching first charter of season, 12/22/25, got plenty of action!…read moreSpouts, humpbacks and tails too. Crew dropped a mic in water and listened to singing whales! Gorgeous sunset was a bonus! Kids were enthralled! Capt Ty and Mo & Jessa were the best crew! So much information wrapped up in excitement, and music, mahalo! Can't wait to fish, dive, whale watch, snorkel & hang out with Kohala Divers again!! Da Hess Ohana

Kohala Divers provides a first rate experience! We booked a two stop guided snorkel trip for two…read moreadults + teen and were delighted by the day. Captain Tai, Mo, Kay, Gordon and all the staff were welcoming, knowledgeable and worked together seamlessly. Highly recommend!

Not happy with the customer service. Called in to book a whale watching tour with the website…read morepulled up in front of me. It explicitly said the tour was $99 per person. The woman on the phone argued the price and told me it would be double what the site said. When I called back later to see if maybe someone else would pick up and help me, I mentioned I had called in earlier. The line went silent. Then she told me they were "not currently scheduling any tours". She was perfectly willing to book one when we called the first time. In short, this was handled in a very rude manner on their end. Both the magazine ad and their site are false advertising.

Whale watching with Kohala Tours, the boat the LavaKai, leaves from slip #S01, South Harbor at…read moreKawaihae, Hi. A little hard to find but very well worth the effort! We set off on Thursday, January 14th, under mostly sunny skies, gentle winds, and smooth calm waters. Once at the harbor we met Captain William, and his first mate, Chris. Both, well seasoned and professional, William follows the whales, in Alaska in Summer, while Chris does wildlife bus tours in Alaska. Both then head to Hawaii, for winter migration. Once aboard the Comfortable LavaKai, we headed out of port. Within seconds of heading out of to sea, we had our first sighting, the adventure had begun! First, a couple of blowhole water spouts, then so many more sightings, too numerous to count! Captain William, and Chris were as stoked as we all were! We experienced a full body out of the water Breech, a 40x tail fop, and even a cow & calf with escort family pod cruise along side of us! The tour was awe inspiring, a memory to last a lifetime! The boat, The LavaKai, was clean and comfortable, we were treated like guests,with fresh baked banana bread and shortbread served on a silver tray, as well as juice,water and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. We were very impressed by their hospitality. William and Chris are both following their bliss and it shows, they have a genuine love for sharing the majesty that the humpback whales display. We felt like partners of an adventure, rather than just another ticketed customer on a scripted tour. Highly recommend for the experience, the hospitality, and the professionalism. When on the Big Island during the winter migration, Kohala Tours, with Captain William and Chris is a Must Do Adventure! Don't miss out...

Captain Greg & first mate Zac made our day exceptional, memorable and totally fun!…read moreSpinner dolphins, flying fish, neon needle fish were just the tease......landed two great Mahi!! Was my 3rd trip out, twice diving......Kohala Divers & Siren Sportfishing are the B E S T! Big Mahalo from Hess family

We are so thankful we found Greg and Siren Sportfishing…read more Greg and team exemplify all the important qualities that make them the best fishing charter in the area: knowledgable, thoughtful, passionate, accommodating and professional. I've chartered fishing boats out of multiple harbors on Hawai'i over the past 6 years, and we've found Siren Sportfishing to be the best. First, knowledgable - Greg and his crew are extremely well prepared and his extensive experience fishing North and South Kohala areas gives him the ability to find fish (if they are biting)! He has an exceptional understanding of the currents, underwater topology, and behaviors of local fish to find the right place. Second, thoughtful - Depending on what your group is like and what you want to go after, Greg has a plan that maximizes your fun, and your goals for the charter. Third accommodating - Greg and his crew are kind, helpful, and fun to be on the water with. They are flexible and adaptive based on how everyone on the boat is doing - if they want to go in to catch smaller bottom fish for the keiki or troll for something bigger. Updating reservations is easy , and they are extremely responsive before and after your charter. Siren's policy currently is to let you keep one of the fish caught and are accommodating to make sure you have fresh fish for your family when you head home (assuming you caught something). Overall, a great operation, and highly recommended.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Wilson and the Mauna Kea Summit & Stars excursion…read more Wilson was incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable and I learned so much! He did all of this while navigating steep roads (not all paved) and feeding us amazing chicken stew, cookies, and hot cocoa. This was a truly memorable and magical trip and the weather was just perfect! Everything was well organized and I cannot recommend them enough

We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.