We had a great day out searching for Whales! The staff was great with communication and answering…read morequestions before the trip.

We had a wonderful time with Tyler and Captain Alan. Really nice, down to earth people. We got…read moretwo swims at lovely coves and a spin To Kona. Highly recommended. A memorable day.

We went on a snorkeling and whale watching tour with Liquid Hawaii for our wedding anniversary, and…read moreit ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Matt, the owner, was incredibly knowledgeable about the island's history and marine life, and he was kind enough to honor our tour even though they didn't have the minimum group size of four passengers that day. That alone says a lot about the kind of business he runs. He also made our anniversary feel extra special by providing a fresh seafood lunch with fish he had caught himself, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. The tour was about 3.5 to 4 hours total. From the marina, it was roughly a 10 minute boat ride to the snorkel spot. The ride itself was very comfortable. There is some shade on the boat, but it's not fully covered, so definitely bring solid sun protection. A long sleeve rash guard or sun shirt is a good idea. On the way out, we saw a few whales in the distance and once we were in the water, we could actually hear them singing. It was surreal and honestly kind of magical. The snorkel location itself was beautiful, with several sea turtles, tons of fish, and colorful coral. There was only one other boat nearby, so it felt remote and almost private rather than crowded or rushed. Hunter, our snorkel guide, was relaxed and helpful, and we were able to move at our own pace which made the whole experience feel unhurried and personalized. We didn't get to see any whales up close unfortunately, they just weren't cooperating that day, but even hearing them underwater was something we won't forget. Matt was friendly, down to earth, and clearly passionate about what he does. He offers both land and water tours, and we appreciated the local perspective woven throughout the experience. If you're looking for a more intimate, locally run excursion instead of a large crowded boat tour, I would absolutely recommend Liquid Hawaii.

Our manta ray night snorkel was honestly disappointing from start to finish. Trips had been…read morecanceled all week due to high winds, and in hindsight, this night should have been canceled too. It was extremely windy and choppy -- even the boat captain & guide commented, "this is windy," which didn't exactly inspire confidence. We didn't see a single manta ray, and the conditions made it hard to even enjoy being on & in the water. The ride back was rough, freezing, and completely soaked us. It felt more like surviving the ocean than experiencing it. I understand wildlife sightings aren't guaranteed, but guest safety and overall conditions should come first. I wish the company had made the call to reschedule rather than pushing forward in clearly poor weather.

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!

Garrett and Lauren rocked it out tonight. the tunes were going the sunset was magical and we got to…read moresee some mantas ! def worth the experience for anyone to go and see.

We had a great time with Captain Lauren and Spencer on a boat tour. We saw tons of dolphins, a…read moreturtle cleaning station snd a plethora of fish. Perfect day of boating.

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.

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!

Authentic Hawaiian Sails was an absolute highlight of our time on the Big Island. From the moment…read morewe arrived, the crew made us feel welcome, safe, and genuinely cared for. This wasn't a touristy, rushed experience, it felt personal, relaxed, and truly authentic to Hawaii. The boat was spotless and well maintained, the sailing itself was smooth and peaceful, and the views were unreal. There's something special about being out on the water with people who clearly love what they do and respect the ocean. The crew shared great local insight, answered every question with patience, and made sure everyone was comfortable the entire time. If you're looking for a memorable, family friendly experience that feels real, not scripted, this is it. We would absolutely book with Authentic Hawaiian Sails again and recommend them without hesitation to anyone visiting Waimea or the Big Island.

This was an amazing experience. They cap it at 6 passengers so my party of 5 felt like we were on a…read moreprivate cruise. You ride on a canoe and can sit in the middle area or on the sides. The boat will go closer to whales if they spot any. The boat goes south for snorkeling off the coast of Puako. The trip takes about 30 mins. We were in the water for 45 mins or so. They have one of their crew go in the water with you to guide you around the reef. They helped us spot a turtle. They provide snorkels, flippers, noodles, and towels. Refreshments are also provided. After your swim, they provide snacks and fruit. They provide a dry bag on the boat if you need to keep anything stowed away (although you shouldn't bring too much unnecessary items on the boat). This is a family run business so the whole crew are family members - friendly people and great stories and conversation. They had a lot of good recommendations on the island such as the secret pond in the Mauna Lani resort, and the fried chicken at the Mini Mart. I highly recommend this. I would do this trip again on our next visit.

Mariano was definitely next-level! On time, clean vehicle -- he takes great pride in what he does…read more I recently had surgery and had difficulty walking. He had a step stool ready for me! He made a 2-hour medical ride enjoyable. I've had him as my driver twice so far--he's definitely an asset for R&L Taxi & Tours, LLC!

Always on time and friendly! We ordered the rides through…read morethe Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. Both times the taxi was ready and waiting for us. Pretty reasonably priced when compared to Lyft or Uber and more reliable. We will use them again when we travel to the Big Island. Gaga our driver was waiting for us when we deplaned from Maui. Such an easy transition to the hotel too! I hope you choose them over the other company's! Sorry no photos but look for there sign on top of their van. Easy to spot!

Fun filled evening aboard a catamaran along Kona's beautiful coat. Great sunset views followed by…read moremagical interaction with gentle giants! Mantas were graceful and gently glided past. Felt like a child on Christmas morning! Awesome experience and the crew were so friendly and helpful. Best night of my 2 weeks in Hawaii!

My partner and I did the manta ray sunset cruise and 100% recommend it! The first time someone…read moresuggested this experience I was thinking: "the ocean...at night? NO THANK YOUUU!". By about the 15th time someone told me how amazing it was I was like "ok, fine..." And let me tell you-it was absolutely BREATHTAKING. The crew was super friendly and put us at ease right away. They had a wealth of knowledge about these incredible creatures. One thing I would suggest for anyone who struggles with motion sickness- take precautions. We had good weather and the boat ride out went smoothly. The transition from water back into the boat was a little rocky with people moving around and getting situated-I was glad I had taken a preemptive Dramamine. We will definitely be doing this again!

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...