Our group of four booked a 2.5 hour Turtle Town kayak and snorkeling tour with Kelli's Kayak and had the best time. Thank you so much to our tour guide, Tyler, for the awesome experience! The company sends a text message with information the night prior to the tour with information on where to meet (Makena Landing Beach Tour). The check-in time for us was at 7:00 AM and the tour starts around 7:30 AM. All equipment needed was provided (snorkeling set, wet bag, kayak, and life jackets). There were five other people on our tour, which made the tour even more fun :) Tyler gave us all of the proper instructions and tips for kayaking and snorkeling. We've kayaked before but it was both my boyfriend and my first time snorkeling and he made us feel really comfortable and confident in trying something new. The snorkeling experience was amazing and we had the chance of appreciate the beautiful coral reefs, aquatic life (including tunas jumping out of the water), green sea turtles, and surrounding mountains. Tyler was also really knowledgeable about things to see on the island and had a lot of interesting fun facts. Our friends also agreed that the tour was worth it and overall had a really great time. I'd highly recommend booking a tour during a Maui trip! read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Really great experience with a knowledgeable guide. You will be well-cared for and well guided along the Maui coastline to hotspots for wonder-filled scenery. Things to know: - They will ask you to park in the beach cove parking lot at 5110 Makena Rd. From there you walk along the road past the bathrooms by the beach and you will find your guide along with a guides from other services - You will be provided a 15 liter wet bag - As they say, bring as little as possible - there's no room for more - You will launch from the beach, but you will get in and out of your kayak while anchored in open water - Trust your guides, they are smart, helpful and personable (especially Cody!) read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Side view of the cove you will launch from - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Our family of four, with two boys, were on a one month tour of Hawaii, with one week on each of the four islands. We did activities on each island, had many wonderful moments, have to say the Kayak experience with Tyler at Kelii's the most outstanding, should have been 6 star out of 5. Tyler is not only giving a tour, but his love of the water simply radiates in a very positive manner, yet never offending nor demanding. He really knows the water, and we had close encounter with whales, turtles, sea urchins, and lots of kayak and snorkeling fun. We have taken two other big boat ride before this and have seen many whales moments which were great, but the kayak experience should not be missed since it was most close and personal. Thanks for sharing your enjoyment of the water with us! read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Whale by our kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We had an amazing time with Tyler on our 7:30am west shore snorkel trip (Olowalu). He was really helpful/kind, had lots of observations to share about the ocean, and explained everything you needed to know about being on the water-- I'd never kayaked in the ocean before and he put my mind at ease. Getting into and out of the kayak was quite easy (and he helped people who need additional assistance). The ocean was incredibly calm and the wildlife was terrific-- whales breaching, big turtles, and fish! The only thing that would have been nice to know before showing up is that the parking situation is challenging at this location. There is small lot is right off the highway and it was really busy when we arrived, but we finally managed to squeeze into a spot. Tip: Be careful parking b/c you could get stuck in the sand if you pull too far forward in certain spots and don't have all-wheel drive. read more

I love to go kayaking when I travel and Kelli's Kayak Tours gave me the perfect opportunity to do so. We met in Makena early (7am) with our guide Greg, who promptly briefed us on safety, launching and returning in the surf, and where we were headed out to, what we can expect, etc. it was a gorgeous morning as we paddled out to 2 spots for some snorkeling, which was awesome. I saw and swam next to sea turtles at both spots, including a turtle coming up for air right next to me! Just remember to take some Dramamine or ginger candy, as the current during snorkeling and while kayaking can be a little up and down. Energy bars and soft drinks are provided, but I thought I signed up for a tour that included lunch, but that was not the case. Overall a fun, active morning excursion I would highly recommend. read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Post-trip on Makena Beach - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Amazing day swimming with sea turtles! Tyler was an awesome guide, and led us in our kayaks to an area not overrun with other groups. He took his time teaching those who have never snorkeled on the ins and outs. The gear and equipment was top notch and well maintained. He even went after someone's dropped camera! read more

IF YOU GET MOTION SICK DON'T FORGET TO TAKE MEDICINE BEFORE GOING OUT. The kayak and bobbing while snorkeling in a life vest will make you sea sick if you are prone to it. Do not do what I did and think that you can power through. Aside from the motion sickness, the tour was awesome. Mia took my family and me out at 7:30 am. The kayaking was fun, and he was helpful with beginners. We had some younger girls with us so it was a little hard to keep the full group together as I was pretending I was an Olympic rower. He had a lot of information and jokes for us to keep us company. The row was beautiful. The sea was super clear and we got to see turtles. We even got snacks! I would recommend for a family looking for an adventure. read more

Tyler was the best kayak/snorkel guide we've experienced! We were a small group of six. He was attentive and provided clear instructions. He balanced his sharing of knowledge allowing most of the time for us to spend marveling at the turtles and reef! He took some great pics and video, which we were able to purchase (quick air drop - fantastic idea!). Super accommodating, supportive and kind. Thanks so much for a memorable excursion!! read more

We had a blast on this tour. Our guide Cody was awesome. Great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable about the island and local marine life. We absolutely enjoyed our morning watching whales play, great snorkeling too, so many turtles! Would love to go again with these guys. Mahalo Cody read more

We were impressed by how professional this company was in handling our booking and later (unfortunately) our cancellation/refund. Due to weather/water conditions, they gave us the option for continuing with our tour with modifications or cancelling right beforehand. We had small kids with us so opted for the latter. The staff was super helpful in advising us about conditions as well as what to do with our morning in the local area (gave us great tips for local things to do). I super appreciated their flexibility given the weather conditions and would highly recommend booking with them for that reason. Also, they were really helpful in answering questions before the tour on the phone. Very professional and friendly overall! read more

Our kayak tour and snorkel experience was fantastic. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the "turtle town" (there are several turtle towns, we learned) that we snorkeled. He was also a source of good information about Maui and nearby islands. Of our three snorkel trips we joined this week, Kelii was the best. read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Our family went on the 2.5 hour kayak / snorkel tour , our guide tyler was very informative and had lots to share about land and ocean. We travel to Maui all the time but this was by far the best tour we have done. We came within 10 feet of the newborn humpback calf and her mother! We followed them for about an hour just hanging in the ocean letting them swim around us. Tyler was very knowledgable about the ocean life and when it came time to snorkel showed us sea turtles and local fish. By far best kayak tour on Maui read more

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I almost want to deduct one star for the lady who answers the phone. She is absolutely AWFUL. But that would take away from this great tour and the awesome guide, Curtis. The tour was simple, easy, informative and full of majestic sea turtles. At the peak we were swimming with 8 turtles. It was incredible. Curtis had a lot of island knowledge and was super friendly, really made this a super cool experience. read more

My friend and I went on the 7:30am Kayak and snorkeling tour to sea the turtles on Mon Sept 30 2019 and we were shocked by the tour guide Jeremiah. He made condescending and inappropriate jokes the entire time and sexually harassed me and my friend. He asked if we were lesbians and who was on top or bottom in the relationship. He also came by when we were on the kayaks in the middle of the ocean and asked us to open our mouths for him and then laughed. He also made snide comments to other people in the group and made comments about people's size and weight. Highly inappropriate. I emailed the agency directly to complain and they never responded. Should fire the inappropriate guide or close down your agency if this is how you operate. Next time we'll definitely go with another agency. read more

What an amazing start to our 10th Anniversary! My wife and I arrived and got a private tour! It was awesome! Tyler was amazing and was the highlight of our entire trip. His knowledge and passion for the island and the sea are extremely evident right off the bat. He made the experience that much better. He brought us to an area where we were able to come very close to a couple of whales, and took us to a spot where my wife went snorkeling and saw a huge turtle! We felt very safe and even more entertained. We will definitely be coming back with our son so that he can take the same tour with Tyler. Mahalo Tyler!! read more

This trip was amazing!!!! Tyler was fantastic, super cute and patient!!! We saw so many turtles and different species of fish. I would highly recommend this trip and guide to anyone! Aloha! read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Definitely go to Kelii's when in Maui! Booked a kayak tour last week and our guide, Tyler, was amazing. When you first arrive he gives you a bag so you don't have to worry about your valuables getting wet while kayaking. We were all new to kayaking and snorkeling and he was so patient and kind to all of us. We all learned quickly because his clear instructions. For those that have motion sickness, Tyler carries a few cans of Ginger Ale with him and offers to take you back to shore if you're not feeling well. He's genuinely kind to everyone on tour. He took us to two different spots for snorkeling and they were both great. The water was warm and crystal clear. We saw so many different fish and a few turtles! At the end of the tour, Tyler offered to take photos of my mom and me with my phone and the photos came out great. He even threw in a few panoramic shots. Kelii's Kayak Tour is definitely a fun time! I enjoyed this a lot more than taking a snorkeling cruise. This is perfect for family/couple activities! read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Easily the BEST part of our trip to Maui! Our tour guide, Cole, was amazing! I was a bit nervous as I've never snorkeled before and did not know much about ocean kayaking, but Cole made me feel safe and comfortable. This is a MUST when visiting Maui. Will certainly do again. read more

Kelii's was recommended by our hotel. Our group was a small group, felt private. It made our first time kayaking a lot more pleasurable. Since my daughter and I had no clue what we were doing. Our tour guide Jeremiah explained all instructions in detail. He took time out with my daughter to go over snorkeling, he made sure she felt confident and safe while snorkeling. For a mom, I couldn't ask for a better person than Jeremiah, patience, funny and he has your best interest in mind to create those special memories. Thank you Jeremiah!!! Highly recommend booking your tour with Kelii's. read more

We had a great time with Tyler! A south swell made the waves a bit unpredictable in the day we did the kayaking, but Tyler was able to spot the calm breaks and shepherd us out during those breaks with no problem at all. He was very entertaining and made us feel completely safe. He even took wonderful family photos of us with a special lens attachment on his camera. We highly recommend this tour! read more

Cancelled day off. Ok so can't give a accurate review of the tour because the day off we were cancelled due to wind. So thanks for the safety in mind. Just wanted other yelpers to know that they may get cancelled on so have a back up plan. read more

We went on a kayak tour with Tyler and the dude was awesome. I was hoping we would all be best friends forever. It was a little choppy out but since we had a small group and were all confident and experienced we went for it. We were able to see some whales, a turtle, & a few fish during our snorkeling. A lot of the wildlife was hiding out though due to the waves. We enjoyed Tylers stories and knowledge of the area. Honestly if our guide wasn't as entertaining then the trip would not have been nearly as enjoyable. We see whales all the time in Alaska so we were more interested in turtles and fish and that part was lacking (out of everyone's control). Tyler more than made up for it though with his conversational skills. I would definitely recommend this company. We felt safe and well taken care for the duration of the tour. In fact, Tyler ended up helping other kayakers come to shore and not get clobbered by waves. Not part of the tour but totally worth mentioning: Once back onshore, Tyler was picking up trash and still assisting people. You could tell it was natural and normal behavior for him. He really made an amazing impression on us not just because of the great guide he was but because the awesome human he is. read more

Kelii's Kayak Tours - We really enjoyed our time on the water while in Maui! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We feel completely safe in Kelli's guides after a kayak trip today, Jeremiah did the most important thing a guide can do - looked after our safety and comfort. His quick, effective response to an issue was impressive and taught us good ways to manage things for future trips on our own. read more

We booked this last minute kayaking/snorkeling tour. Curtis was awesome !!! Made us feel so comfortable for our first time experience . So glad we got him as our guide . read more

We chose this company out of the many on Maui, based mostly on the previous review. Our guide was nice and laid back, though not the most talkative. Actually it seems like all the tours companies are pretty much the same. We did the Turtle Town kayak/snorkel trip which is about the same price at all of the companies ($60-65) and saw several other groups putting in at the same spot and going to the same places. One of the other guides was really into it and seemed to be giving people a lot more information and guidance, and we were a little sad that we weren't with him. Then we saw a third guide who was a jerk, did a bad job guiding his people in to land and wasn't very helpful when they turned over. So I guess our guy was about average...at least he seemed nice and didn't yell at us! And the trip itself was wonderful, fun but not too strenuous. It was really beautiful and we saw tons of turtles and fish. I would highly recommend doing a kayak/snorkel trip to anyone, it was the highlight of my trip. About 2 hours was a good amount of time for us. One guy was there with a really small child (like 4) and he was a little too young, he ended up getting tired and crying. So probably better for kids that are a little bit older. read more

I just recently got back from my first trip to Hawaii. While there, I wanted to get in as many things as possible for a low rate. Along with that, I wanted it to be as stress free as possible. That's where Kelii's came in. They are now offering a NEW package that covered many of the things on my to-do list.The package is called "Paddle, Snorkel & Learn to Surf" and if you couldn't deduct from its name, the activities include kayaking, snorkeling, and surfing. All for a mere $129 pp and they were doing a promo deal where we got a free underwater camera. I loved how I was getting 3 activities, including a packed lunch in one wrapped up package through one company. We started off the morning with surf lessons in Kihei (S. Maui, about a 45 minute drive from our stay on Kannapali Beach). This was probably the my least favorite part of the day, but that's like pointing out the ugliest model. Basically, I suck at surfing. I have no hand eye coordination and the salt water was hurting my eyes and ears. However for the times that I managed to get on the board and ride the wave in, my complaints were forgotten and I was the King...er Queen of the world. The kayaking and snorkeling was the highlight of the trip. It was a 20 minute drive away from the surf spot, but fortunately was on the way back to our resort so it all worked out. My boyfriend and I got to enjoy our lunch on the beach before we headed out. The location was gorgeous and the snorkel spots were pretty top notch. We even got to see a shark! Intense. Our guide's name was Brandon and he seem to know the ins and outs of where we were going and the animals we saw. Not to mention he had an incredibly weird (in a good way) voice/manner of speaking that was very relaxing and soothing. Important to mention, my boyfriend and I are not very active people. Read: we'd prefer to sit on our fat asses grubbing rather than out running getting our work out on. We were surprised to find that we weren't worn out by the end and the entire day was pretty low impact. FOR THE TL;DR CROWD: Awesome deal, lots of fun, check it out. read more

The bf and I did the 2.5 hour tour from Makena Landing. To give you some background, I planned this activity mainly for my bf who one, is a good swimmer, and two, loves water sports. I, on the other hand, am a terrible swimmer and pretty much try to avoid water at any depth past 4 feet. Needless to say, I was pretty terrified of this whole experience. Our guide Brandon was very laid back and gave us a quick demo of the kayaking basics. Surprisingly, I got the hang of everything pretty quickly and we didn't capsize! We stopped at our first snorkeling spot, and this was the moment of truth! Ok, I had a life vest on, but it's only natural for a non-swimmer to freak out! I told our guide about my lack of swimming experience. He gave me a few tips and said if I ever needed help he was basically a floating lifeguard. His words of encouragement we're really comforting. So I just sucked it up and jumped in the water! At the first spot we saw a huge turtle and a lot of cool fish and sea urchins. The second spot was much better in my opinion. We were so much closer to the reef and there was a lot more marine life in this area. It was so beautiful! As we headed back to shore a turtle swam right next to our kayak to say hello! We really enjoyed ourselves and recommend this tour to others! read more

Our experience with Kelii's Kayaks started with an email from Anne explaining that the 4.5 hour tour we booked on their website was not available on the day we booked. This was a week after booking online, but fortunately we had other days available, so we rescheduled. Upon arrival for our tour our guide, though friendly, kind of hurried us though getting on the kayaks. I guess it's better than sitting around all morning, but some prep would have been nice. Once in the water our guide began to shine. He pointed out some whales in the distance, took us to some great snorkeling spots, and even spotted a "non-aggressive" reef shark, though only one of us in the water got a chance to see it. Upon returning to land, my wife and I noted the trip was only 2 hours and weren't quite sure if it was over or if we were headed back out. We weren't, which was fine as we'd had out fill. I emailed Anne to make sure were we're charged correctly and were told "sometimes it can't be helped." I guess it can't, but notice is nice. read more

Aaron was great. He really took care of our group. He was very pleasant to talk to and always had a smile on his face. We arrived at the Makala landing late but Aaron was not stressing. He immediate gave us the release form and suit us up. He started with a 15 minute mini lesson on how to paddle. He helped everyone, one by one get into the water with the kayaks. He took us to the first place but that day is was very windy so we had to stayed close to the shore. Aaron wanted to make sure we were safe so he took us to a nice place where we saw lots of turtles. We swam with the turtles and other sea creatures. Aaron showed us many sea creatures. He dived and got them specially for us to see. The second spot he took us to was just a great. The pictures he took were great! I will definitely hire him again. read more

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One word, BREATHTAKING. This was my first vacation with my boyfriend so of course we wanted to try all touristy stuff. My mom and dad live in Oahu (a different island in Hawaii) so when my mom said not only was she taking us to Maui we were going kayaking and snorkeling, we were beyond excited. After surfing all morning, we went to Makena Landing to meet our instructor. His name was Scotty. Scotty was there with his wife (I believe her name was Patty.....I am terrible with names) and he was AMAZING! We went over safety stuff first and then we were out in the water. We kayaked to an area where there was only 3 other people and then we hopped out to snorkel. It truly was unreal. Soon, the other snorkels left and it was just my boyfriend and I swimming with sea life. At one point a sea turtle came up inches from my boyfriend and I and just stared at us, it was a baby and seemed to be quite curious. The whole experience was so personal, it really was magical. All in all, Scotty was incredibly sweet and knowledgeable and his wife was a doll! This truly was the most amazing experience ever! Thank you for making this trip one for the books! (Did I mention we had never kayaked and didn't cap size? And my boyfriend Michael and I have the same names as Scotty's parents? It was fate!!!!) read more

Whenever we travel to the Pacific Islands, we would always find opportunities to kayak and snorkel. This summer we decided to explore Maui. We heard the beaches are just beautiful and a close encounter with the sea turtles was highly probable around this time of the year. We decided to look for a tour that offers both kayaking and snorkeling. Kelli's Kayak Tours was the company we decided to try based on Yelp's reviews. We were not disappointed. We purchased the 2.5 hour kayak and snorkel package. For the three of us, we spent roughly 200 dollars (not including tips). Were we in for a treat! We saw turtles up close! They are such majestic and calm creatures. They swam alongside of me and did not seem to be bothered by my presence. I was about to touch one of them, but to my disappointment, my partner pulled me back and motioned me not to. In any case, the tour guide was nice and attentive, but rather talkative. I would definitely recommend this company. read more

My fiance' and I arranged a kayaking trip the day after we got engaged. There was a huge storm, so we weren't sure we'd be able to get out. We met our guide, Miah, at Makena Landing, and I will just say, I was less than thrilled by him. I truly enjoyed the scenery, the snorkeling and the whale spotting, but he was an arrogant jerk. He was not helpful at all with my fiance, who was a kayaking and snorkeling novice. I'll keep this brief, kayaking is a must in Maui, just request a different guide. He tainted our experience greatly. read more

We had Cody for our tour guide and he was the most fun person I could Imagine being with on a kayak tour he was fun with the serious things but didn't let that get in the way of his point. Very fun would recommend it's a great morning activity. And very offering for snacks I can't stop he's to good!!! read more

We did the West Shore kayak, departing from Olowalu at 7:30am on 9/8. One of our scooters got a flat and our guide, Brandon, offered to pick it up and bring it to the launch area. He gets 5 stars!!! He carries drinks and bars in his cooler bag for when you're on the water. They offer only double kayaks and you stay pretty close to shore. We snorkeled 3 spots and saw turtles, white tipped reef sharks, humu's and tons of other fish. Coral in some areas nearly break the surface, so be careful when paddling!!! We were back at the landing after about 3 hours and had our sandwiches there. We all loved this experience, however, would do a different tour or possibly rent our own next time. read more

Soooo much fun. We had miah as our guide. Amazing guy. Very qualified for the job. We only did the 2.5 hr tour, but still saw so many turtles and schools of fish in the clear blue water by the reef. Learned a lot about Maui and kayaking read more

We had Tyler as a guide. He was super helpful and knowledgeable about everything. He made everyone feel comfortable and was really easy going. The snorkel trip was awesome and saw some big turtles and the weather was perfect. It also made it better that the water was calm and the weather was good. Would recommend to anyone! Super fun! read more

Just came home from my first trip to Hawaii (definitely not the last!). It was actually full of many "firsts". It was my first time jet skiing and most relevant to this review, first time kayaking and snorkeling. I picked Kelii's based on the concierge's recommendation. I signed up for the $65 2.5 hr West Maui Coast Tour located by the 14 mile mark of the 30. I was part of Aaron's group and like other reviewers, I feel compelled to sing his praises. He was an awesome guide! He gave great tips for newbies like me and kept me from tipping over. He dove down for some pretty cool urchins and found turtle hideouts for us. I was most impressed by his respect for the coral. Aaron and the company really emphasize that the reef is a living organism that should be enjoyed but also protected. I would absolutely book another trip with them. read more

I went on the Olowalu kayak tour and it was awesome! It was a sunset tour so I also got to see a beautiful Maui sunset from on the water - a perfect vantage point. (as well as a whale sighting, even though it's normally too early in the season for it). There were 6 other people in the tour, so I got a lot of personal attention. I've never kayaked before and our guide, Derrick, was great. He gave helpful instructions and made me feel confident being on the water and with the equipment. (all in great shape and well maintained I might add). After going on the great Olowalu tour, I decided to take the kayak tour out of Makena. I'm glad i did. Lot's of turtle sightings and an amazing whale family sighting - or should I say encounter, since a couple of them surfaced within 20 feet of us! It was awesome!! Our guide, Scott, gave us lots of interesting information about them. He called himself the 'whale whisperer'. We first saw the whales way out in the distance, then Scott had us paddle in a direction he determined by looking at boats in the vicinity and how the whales were surfacing. We stopped a respectable distance from them but then they came up within 20 feet of the kayaks. It was amazing!!! I've never seen a whale first hand! After that Scott took us to a reef to snorkel and see fish and turtles. We saw a few turtles and tons of fish. The turtles were so close that Scott had to remind us to keep a respectable distance. I even got to see a humuhumu-nukunuku-apuaa. (I practiced how to pronounce it my whole trip). I had a blast! Besides my two friends, there were 4 other people on this tour so, again, lots of personal attention and helpful tips while on the water - for example, the proper way to get off and back on the kayak while out snorkeling. I'm not the best swimmer and Scott made me feel safe on the water. I would recommend Kelii's to everyone. The next time I go to Maui, I'm calling Kelii's Kayak Tours. read more

Five stars for our guide Tyler, 1 star for the other two employees they sent with him, 3 stars for the equipment and the over all quality of the trip apart from Tyler. Upon arriving there was a woman who seemed frazzled trying to get a feel of who was going on the trip. She was condescending, when I asked a question. The other tour guide was very distant, very quiet and not very welcoming. Tyler made up for the poor service of the other two employees. He was knowledgeable and entertaining. We felt safe with him on very rough water and when a snorkel was dropped to the bottom of the sea accidentally, he quickly dove in and rescued it. Thanks Tyler. :) read more

This rating is not for the kayaking. Even though the conditions were not good to snorkle and see much the Kayaking was fun to be honest, our guide Jeramiah however was kinda rude. Although at times he seemed nice enough with his knowledge of the islands and his corky jokes he had an undertone of snarkyness and was very rude in the way he said things and some of the commments he made to myself and others. Overall the experience could have been way better. I would like to recommend the BEST guides we've ever had which were Casey and Tony at Skyline Zipline, good, good guides. Top notch. They made the experience phenominal! read more