Prepare For Your Kona Tour
How to Prepare
We’re excited for the opportunity to take you on the ultimate Hawaiian Adventure aboard Artemis! We run small-group, personalized tours and reservations are required in order to prepare gear (sizes of wetsuits, fins, etc.). We accept last-minute reservations when space is available, but at times we do fill up days in advance and have to turn people away. The best way to ensure you have a spot on one of our tours is to book your tour online or give us a call to reserve in advance.
We want you to have the best day on the water! We recommend applying sunscreen before the tour. Please, no spray-on sunscreen on the vessel. If you’re prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking motion sickness medication the night before your tour and one hour before your scheduled departure. Below are some more tips on how to make the most of your tour!
Arrive Early
Arriving early can set the right mood and tempo for your trip. It’s definitely more relaxing to be a few minutes early! All guests meet at the white Hawaiian Adventures Kona truck parked on the south side of Honokohau Harbor approximately 30 minutes prior to departure. The Captain and crew will meet you at the Hawaiian Adventures sign 15 minutes prior to the tour for a pre-trip orientation, then travel as a group to the boat! For directions to the meeting point, check out the map below!
Dress for Success
One of the biggest keys to having an enjoyable trip is packing the right clothing! Any time you’re in Hawaii, your first layer should be a swimsuit!
For our snorkeling trips, you should bring towels, light layers, and of course a swimsuit! For our whale watching tours, we recommend bringing layers to protect against both the sun or a chill.We have plenty of room onboard for extra bags, so it doesn’t hurt to pack your extra layers, towels, and camera gear!
All tours are barefoot optional!
Get Excited!
If you’re not excited, you’re not invited! We want your tour with Hawaiian Adventures Kona to be the highlight of your trip to the Big Island. Be prepared to bring energy and smiles! There’s never a dull moment with Those Guys!
Check In and Boarding
We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to your tour. All guests need to meet at the Hawaiian Adventures Kona sign on the south-central side of the marina, 15 minutes prior to departure. There’s no need to print off email confirmations or tickets –– we’ll check you in electronically with the last name on your reservation!
Check In Address:
247 Kealakehe Parkway
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Want to Chat?
Our phone lines are open from 5 AM to 1 PM, but we have our text line open nearly 24/7. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call, or better yet shoot us a text and we’ll get back when it’s convenient for you!
Call or text: 808-339-3604
Frequently Asked Questions
At Hawaiian Adventures Kona, our expert guides offer the Big Island’s ultimate small-group wildlife tour. Our year-round whale watch, night manta, Kona snorkel, ocean adventure, and private charters are the best opportunity for a true Hawaiian Adventure.
Whale watching in Kona is year-round! Hawaiian Adventures Kona has access to both near-shore and pelagic zones, which gives you the opportunity to see humpbacks, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, flying fish, surface-feeding mantas, pilot whales, beaked whales, sperm whales, spotted dolphins, whale sharks, and more!
Experience the real Kona nightlife and meet the mantas! Our Kona Night Manta tours depart strategically out of Honokohau Marina, giving us the ability to head where there’s better conditions, fewer people, and more mantas. This small-group tour is the best way to experience the #1 activity on the Big Island.
Snorkel the Kona Coast and beyond! All snorkel tours at Hawaiian Adventures Kona are private charters, which allows you to explore at your own speed. Whether it’s snorkeling at historic Kealakekua Bay or skipping the crowds and checking out the crew’s favorite snorkel spots, we provide all snorkel gear (masks and fins) for you and your party!
After 25 years in the tour business, this is the tour our family would seek out while traveling. It is also what we do for fun while not running other tours. Whether you're looking for an offshore pelagic snorkel, prefer inshore reefs, or are searching for wildlife from the comfort of our luxury six-passenger vessel, Callisto, our guides will sculpt a wildlife adventure you’ll never forget.
Explore the Kona Coast at your own speed. In selecting a private charter, you are choosing personalized service, exclusivity, and ample space aboard our 6-passenger center console Callisto. Work directly with your captain to design your dream excursion in the days leading up to your trip, ensuring your trip with Hawaiian Adventures Kona will be the highlight of your Hawaiian experience.