Our little one is 3 years old and the trainer was so great in helping her understand what to do and explain a lot of things about our dolphin Hoku. Highly recommend for animal lover kids such as my own, even though we were not completely in the water she still got to do a ton of tricks with the dolphin. Her favorite was tickling his nose and he would make noises. read more

The staff here at the Kahala love what they do! They are so friendly and eager to teach us about the 6 dolphins who live here. First we had a lesson about how they train and take care of the dolphins and then we got in the water and did all sorts of fun things. They took pictures of us too. This is pricey but well worth it - we even got about 10 extra minutes in the water with the lovely dolphins!! read more

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Such a scam. Went for my bday and it was $250 each for 30 min only. So cruel too, 6 dolphins shoved in a tiny pond in the back of a bougie hotel doing tricks. Not connected to rescue or conservation at all; the owner of the hotel was def like "ya I'm just gonna buy some dolphins and make mils on the side on top of owning the most expensive hotel in Waikiki". These good reviews must be bought bc I'm so surprised anyone would give this any stars. I'm really disappointed and sad for the dolphins, I had no idea it was going to be so cruel and such a ripoff otherwise I definitely would not have given them my money. read more

The staff was patient and so accommodating the Hotel was beautiful and the Dolphins were so cool

Wow! I am one of those people who will not go to a zoo. I don't want humans to take animals from their natural habitat. I have a friend of a friend who works at Dolphin Quest and I thought I would stop by and ask some questions. Now I may not have all the facts completely accurate but let me tell you what I remember. These Dolphins are well taken care of. One of the first dolphins here (40 something years old) was permitted to be taken from the ocean for research many years ago. He has been used for breeding and (IMPORTANT) they no longer take dolphins from the ocean. Dolphin Quest has learned so much about these animals. Understanding these majestic beings is so important when trying to help this species survive and thrive. This location is known as "The bachelor pad". They are all male dolphins here in order to prevent inappropriate breeding. Most of the Dolphins here were born here, in captivity, and know no other. This, to me, is similar to how we have taken dogs , cats and other animals and domesticated them. In the wild this breed of dolphin will split up by sex. The males swim in their group and the females are off on their own as well. These dolphins are very loved by the people who work here. All of the staff is very well educated. I was impressed with how they are constantly mentally stimulating them. They get a lot of exercise as well. Every day for them is different. They have no routine and this is so important for the dolphins. The trainers constantly provide different challenges and will allow them to rest if they so chose. It was explained to me how they all have their own diet and are weighed every week. When you go you will notice the many different lunch boxes. The have Vets coming in regularly to monitor health and growth. Some days don't go as planned. One day one dolphin may not feel social and they will have to change up their plan. The dolphins are at different learning levels. Some can differentiate 2 shapes and there's one that can differentiate 9. The trainers work really hard to provide a healthy safe environment. It seems that the oldest one enjoys the attention from humans the most and is quite a show off. There are fish swimming in the water that the Dolphins could eat but they choose to eat what is given to them by staff. They like being catered to lol. I am going to share some video of what you may be doing if you sign up for an encounter. It might be expensive but please understand that it is not cheap to care and study these beautiful animals. Also understand that your encounter may be a little different since they do not force the dolphins to do tricks. They have positive reinforcement with food (of course), clapping, petting and a whistle. If you do a dolphin encounter somewhere else please do your research and don't give your money to a company who does anything less than what they do here. I spoke mostly to a woman who has been there for over 17 years and it is obvious that her heart is in it. The other staff as well read more

Dolphin Quest - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I came with my 6 yo daughter in Oct, 2022. The 5 stars is for the above-and-beyond effort the staff made to help my daughter feel comfortable and still participate even though she became too nervous to get in the water. The trainer as well as support staff adjusted their plan and ensured that the experience wasn't lost. My daughter ended up loving it. It was the highlight of her vacation! Thanks! read more

Such an amazing experience with some truly amazing animals. every part of this experience was incredible. The drive up is beautiful, the Kahala resort is gorgeous, the trainers and staff are friendly and helpful, and the dolphins are just magical. my family and I will never forget this experienc. read more

My wife and I brought our kids to swim with the dolphins and it was incredible! We had the privilege of having Alexa be the trainer to guide us on our adventure. She was very caring and fun which helped as one of our kids was a little timid. Of our 10 days in Hawaii, this is the only tour/ adventure that we will do again on the next trip! read more

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Great tour! Staff was awesome even though they knew we were nervous they calmed us down! Seeing the smile on our kids faces was priceless. Highly recommend read more

Great experience! The trainers were genuinely passionate about their work with the dolphins and guests, and photos came out great!

The price is outrageous and aside from the friendly trainers, this experience sucked! They preach how the dolphin's are treated better and therefore you cannot do any activities with the dolphins, aside from touch them. I just don't see how keeping them in captivity is any better. Anyway you pay over 700 dollars (for the so called private lessons) and you can't even take your own pictures! They take them for you and charge you 20 more dollars per picture. Additionally, a group of spectators watched for free as we were the suckers paying for their side show. To top it off, they had the audacity to try and cut it short - asking us if we wanted to swim with some sting rays!!! We said no, we want more Dolphin time, because we paid for 45 min for 'personal' dolphin TIME. So, they let us sit on the doc while they had the dolphin's do tricks - LAME!!! Don't waste your money - let some other poor tourist pay for it, then watch on the sidelines and take all the free pictures you want. Its just as entertaining - touching a dolphin is not worth 700+ bucks! read more

My husband and I decided to swim with dolphins on our honeymoon and it was probably the most well spent money on our entire trip. Not sure how many times the average person gets the opportunity to swim with such beautiful animals, but it was an activity we couldn't pass up. I've done a similar program with beluga whales at sea world in San Diego, which was slightly cheaper (approximately $215) but it was only 20 minutes long and you basically stayed on the platform the entire time. For $35 more we actually got to swim with a dolphin in a natural salt water lagoon filled with all types of sea life. The fact that this was more than just standing on a platform made it super worth it to me. What made it even better was all of the action shots we got swimming and playing with the dolphin. Although the photos did come at a hefty price, they're now memories we'll have forever. read more

I was never the lucky child who was picked at Sea World to pose with the killer whales or dolphins. So when this place was recommended by our tour book, we made our reservations immediately. Very friendly trainers made this an amazing experience that we'll never forget. From the start, everyone was very enthusiastic and showed a real love for these beautiful creatures. We got the Dolphin Encounter. You get in the water right away and for a full 30 minutes you're touching, rubbing bellies, telling them to do tricks, feeding them... a dream come true experience. Unfortunately, you don't get to bring a camera to the water, but they do have a professional photographer taking shots of your group the entire time. And near the end, each person gets to pose with the dolphin. I finally got to kiss one - and yes, I ended up buying that picture. Pictures are not cheap. $19.95 for one printed photo. $45 for 3 printed photos. If you want a CD of all the pictures from your session, it's $150. We ended up getting three shots. What can I say? This was an amazing experience and I highly recommend Dolphin Quest to make your dolphin dreams come true. read more

For our first family visit to Hawaii, our sons wanted to do only one thing... swim with a dolphin. As our sons are both on the Autism spectrum (Autistic and Asperger's Syndrome) I was very worried at how they would react to being in the water with these large mammals. In looking over the different options for dolphin encounters on Oahu, Dolphin Quest caught my eye, as their web site stated that they had special encounters for individuals with special needs. I contacted the special needs coordinator for the location, Holly, and discussed what challenges my sons had and what my concerns were. She explained that the session would be individualized to what ever level was appropriate for my sons. If they didn't want to get into the water, things could be done form the shore that would still make it an incredible encounter. Feeling better about it, I reserved a 15 minute package. Holly further explained that during the time slot, it would just be my sons, the dolphin, and the trainers... so there was no concern with distractions or over stimulation. I have to say... Holly sure did know what she was talking about and how to calm my concerns! When we arrived at Dolphin Quest, we were greeted by the whole staff and my sons were given the undivided attention of 3 staff members who worked PERFECTLY with them. In no time, both sons were up to their waist in the water touching the dolphin and playing games. It was amazing to see them take so easily to it and the smiles on their faces will last with me forever. 5 days later, when our trip to Hawaii was over, my wife and I asked the boys what their favorite part of the trip was... after all, we had done a LOT fun things. Their answer, in unison, was playing with the dolphins. My wife and are in agreement that seeing the smiles on their faces while they were with the dolphins was our favorite part of the trip. THANK YOU Holly and the Dolphin Quest team! read more

The dolphins were adorable and trainers were very friendly. My problem is that we paid $1000 for our family of 5 to swim with or pet the dolphins and then they charged $30/ picture. They took about 100 pictures of us with their nice camera and can't send us a few with the $1,000 we spent. So ridiculous in my opinion! So I paid $55 for 2 good quality pictures because I want to frame them for my kids. The pictures my husband took with his phone weren't great quality. read more

Unless you are obsessed with Dolphins this is not worth the price. I thought it would be a more interactive experience but it was mainly standing next to the dolphins in cold, dirty water and being told when to touch, instruct, swim or talk. The handlers are well informed and love the animals. Then they charge way too much for photos. read more

Want an up close and personal experience with the smartest animal in the world? Check out www.dolphinquest.org for more details. You can swim with dolphins and spend 2 hours with them. Whether you're a kid or an adult, you will enjoy this experience of a life time. Will run you about $250/person. read more

Note: this review is for the quality of the experience, not for the ethicalness of Dolphin Quest. My husband and I came here twice: once for the 15-minute Dolphin Dip (feed and play with the dolphin in shallow water) and the 30-minute Dolphin Encounter (feed, play, and swim with the dolphin in shallow and deep water). Overall, my husband and I really enjoyed the experiences. We are both animal lovers and have never been so close to dolphins before! Watching them swim through the lagoon was amazing already, and then being able to feel them, feed them, be in the water with them, and watch them do their tricks were icing on the cake! The trainers were also super friendly and accommodating, making sure we felt comfortable in the water, answering questions, and explaining about their dolphins. To reiterate what others have said, the packages are pricey. You pay at least $125 per person and then have to pay for pictures on top of that. To save money, if you're able to have a friend take pictures for you from behind the fence, that will help cut costs, although the photos may not be as professional and up close as the photographer's. In addition, as others have mentioned, you could not pay and just watch from behind the fence, but that's no comparison to being so close to the dolphin. The Dolphin Dip for $125 is the most basic and least expensive package, and should meet the needs of most people. If you love dolphins and want a good experience with them, I'd highly recommend this! It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that my husband and I will never forget! read more

OMG! This was a very fun fantastic experience. Meg, the trainer, was very informative and led us through a wonderful experience. If you are in Hawaii, do not miss this. And take the photo package! The photographer was great and captured the experience forever! read more

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We swam with the dolphins on the big island at the Hilton but swimming with them here at the Kahala was by far the best experience for us! The staff was so awesome and friendly!! Not to mention the group size was better. We did not like the beach entry on the big island and prefer the lagoon with the step entry. We got so much more interaction with the dolphins and it's much more intimate. I highly recommend you try this. read more

Awesome experience, definitely worth it! It's not just a pool with dolphins, it feels like you're in their natural habitat. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable :) read more

Dolphin Quest - He sneezed on us, and it was so cute! - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is the place to go if you support animals & want to interact with them. Unlike other places in Hawaii, this place actually takes actual care, does constant science & research to expand their lives and really love their animals and know them in and out. Other attractions and Hawaii are using spinner dolphins who are losing out on 82% of their sleep because they are being worn out by the exploitation of the tours. That in turn makes them more unable to defend themselves against predators. Dolphin quest is an actual sanctuary for these babies. Best experience ever. read more

This was excellent! It was so much fun to get to swim and touch a dolphin! We learned a lot about them too! This may be more oriented to kids however. My sister in law booked it. We were in a small group with a dad and his son, so it was really small and personal. They take photos for you which didn't cost that much. And after your time is up you get to use the pool and hot tub. And the ocean is only a short walk if you want to go to the beach. read more

Dolphin Quest - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My family and I had a great dolphin encounter experience. Our trainer, Caitlyn, was so professional and knowledgeable. Our dolphin, Lono, was so beautiful and smart. I know that the idea of keeping them in a lagoon can be conflicting but honestly I feel like they are genuinely cared for. I would recommend this experience over any other options on the island and please stay away from the swimming with dolphin encounters in the ocean as it is very disruptive and unsafe. read more

My wife did the half hour Dolphin package, well worth the money. The staff was friendly and helpful. It's an experince that will last a life time. read more

One on one time with the dolphins and a trainer, pretty cool! My husband and I have swam with the dolphins in a big group of people while in Cozumel and I thought that was fun but this experience is pretty cool since it lets you get a bit more up close and personal with the dolphins. It is pricey and yes people will pay the money to do this but I feel it is over priced. I think they could be more reasonable instead of breaking the bank, just my opinion though. We were staying at the hotel so we knew exactly where we were going. We arrived a bit early to get ready. Met with a trainer and swam with the dolphins for about an hour. We lived feeding them! You get to learn about the individual dolphins and take a couple of pictures with them as well. They have a book for you to choose which style of pictures you want. I brought a waterproof camera and was disappointed that I couldn't use it. The dolphins here are not used to the noise the camera makes when underwater so I would suggest not to bring one. We enjoyed the experience quite a bit but too pricey. The dolphins are gorgeous and the trainers are very nice and knowledgable. read more

An absolute must!! We spent the most beautiful morning swimming with the dolphins. You can tell how much the staff cares about the dolphins, facility and guests. Jade & Nicole went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful time. Due to COVID we were blessed to be the only 2 people in the water. read more

Gorgeous resort, super friendly staff, sweet lovely dolphins. I really enjoyed our dolphin interaction, just wish it was longer. Next time I'll want to stay all day with the dolphins ...Lol. Thank you Dolphin Quest. read more

Dolphin Quest - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Dolphin Quest was amazing and such a wonderful experience!!! They took the time to explain things before hand and make sure everyone was comfortable swimming. They were great with our kids as well and getting them to interact and feed the dolphins. Also were great about answering questions from the kids. It was an amazing experience that we will do again and I would highly recommend it! read more

This is the first time I ever decided to interact with dolphins. Our instructor, Kelsey, was super nice and friendly. She was patient with us. She saw that I was nervous and took her time with us. The other staff was friendly as well. Ben, who worked at the reception desk, was friendly as well. He was patient as we scrolled through the photos that we wanted. The staff thanked us for visiting. Also, the Kahala Resort lobby and outside area was very nice. The views of the ocean and beach was very nice. The beach was clean and the water temperature was perfect. The dolphins were beautiful, and were treated well. At one point the dolphins didn't want to participate. The staff was patient and let the dolphins decide where they wanted to swim. Great experience and I'll bring my children next time! read more

Dolphin Quest - The turtles at the Kahala resort. - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We've done dolphin activities in the past but this one was hands down the best we've experienced. The staff was really fun and knowledgeable. We had ample time to ask questions after they gave us a great initial discussion. The in-water dolphin portion was amazing. You can tell they loved their habitat and their trainers. The whole experience was perfect - could not have asked for! read more

My mother's one request when I told her we were going to Hawaii was to swim with dolphins. This experience was her absolute favorite of all our adventures--it was mine, too! The staff care deeply about the dolphins, and prioritize their well-being. It was great to learn and interact with them up close, and I would definitely recommend. read more

A surprise gift for my daughters birthday, we were thrilled to have chosen dolphin quest (especially after a drive by of the alternate option). They really maximized time in the water with the dolphins, were friendly and don't rush anyone. The people (especially trainer Meg) made everyone feel safe and there was tons of laughter. The entire staff was approachable and helpful. Thanks you!!! read more

My daughters had the best time. Alisha was great with all the kids and very interactive, she seemed like a big kid herself. If you go try and get Alisha as your trainer/guide. read more

Dolphin Quest - Kids with Alisha learning about whales - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Experience of a lifetime!!! We had the best time and such an up close and personal experience with Le'Ho the sweetheart! I was a little conflicted at first but after watching the trainers and their interactions with these guys I can say they are loved and well cared for! This is a MUST DO in Oahu! read more

Absolutely amazing! The trainer we worked with was so kind and informative and it was a wonderful experience overall. This one of the best things I've ever done and I highly recommend it! read more

This was a great experience that i definitely recommend to anyone visiting oahu. Staff was very polite, professional, and knowledgeable. The interaction with the dolphins were amazing, would definitely do it again! read more

What a great adventure. I booked and made reservations 8 weeks in advance as I know it can get busy during the xmas holiday 2019. We stayed in Honolulu and it was an easy uber drive to the hotel where the dolphins were. We got there early, so we were able to go to the bar and have an appetizer and drink. The staff members are really nice and they have lockers for everyone. For my huge backpack I brought, they kept it behind the register. The staff was always smiling. Yes, you can not take your own pictures and the photos are not cheap, but for me and my family it was worth the price. the time with the dolphins was perfect, of course you get to pet him/her, swim with them, give them hugs and feed them. There are only 6 of us in the group, which was perfect. We all received quality time. I chose this place because I read the other reviews of the other places. I didn't want to hold their fins to swim with them as it is bad for the dolphins. I didn't want to be one of 25 people in the water and only getting a few seconds with them. It was an intimate worthwhile experience I will never forget. read more

Dolphin Quest - One of the best memories I ever had. - Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A really great day with the dolphins for my family! We had a one hour family swim. The trainer took such care in explaining and teaching us about the dolphins. Really cool to see them eating sustainable and sushi grade fish. This place really puts the welfare of the dolphins ahead of everything. Your dollars are going to a good place with dolphin quest. Highly recommended do not miss this if you or your kids want to swim with dolphins. read more

Worth every penny! We took our five-year-old for the Premier Experience. Yes, it is very expensive. But I highly recommend that you bite the bullet and spring for the whole enchilada, including the towels, PHOTOS, and frame. Pay online and forget the blow to your account. When you get there, everything is then paid, parking is free with validation. It was one of the great family experiences of our lives. The staff is professional and pleasant. By the time we were finished with our block of time, we had had all the dolphin fun we came for. And the photographer took care of all the photos, so we could fully enjoy the dolphin experience. You'll get photos of a lifetime, and an experience you'll take with you for the rest of your life. The money you spend will soon be forgotten, but the memories will never fade. read more