Self-Guided Kayaking Discovery in Kailua, Oahu
4.8
Self-Guided Kayaking Discovery in Kailua, Oahu
By Kailua Beach Adventures
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 8-99, max of 99 per group
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
- Off shore island landing permits
- Lunch
- Snorkel Gear
- Bikes (13 +)
- Boogie Boards
- Beach Chairs
- Double or Single Kayaks
What's not included- None
- Start:
- 130 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734, USA
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5140P5- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please check in 15 minutes before your tour time.
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5140P5
From
£86.41
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- courtneysD2183FP0 contributionsReviewMike and April were amazing very welcoming to a new state for me!! This was the best trip for me by far very please with how everything's gone!!Written 19 March 2025
- Mike W0 contributionsFantastic time at Kailua BeachThe staff was very friendly and made sure everyone was well equipped and well informed. The area is absolutely stunning! Our kayaking adventure to the Mokes was fairly challenging but absolutely worth the effort!Written 19 March 2025
- 271kw0 contributionsStunning views and fun kayak to the Mokes!Awesome experience!!!! Brian gave us an orientation to the kayaks and then we launched the kayaks off Kailua Beach and set off for the Moke’s. We ranged in age from 25-70, and had some previous river/lake kayak experience. We were so glad we did the guided tour so that Brian could guide us on dealing with waves, avoiding reef, and he really helped us with the landing on the island. He led us on a fabulous short walk, pointing out birds, crabs, and we even spotted a whale in the distance. We had high hopes and expectations for the day—and the tour met and exceeded them.Written 17 March 2025
- jafsere0 contributionsLovely PeopleGreat experience renting surfboards. Staff was super friendly and professional. Will return and would recommend.Written 13 March 2025
- danaI7378BJ0 contributionsGuided kayak tourWe had a fantastic time. Mike was our guide the day we went out, he was very knowledgeable and personable and made sure everyone was safe, comfortable, and had a great experience. Would definitely go again. Highly recommend!Written 10 March 2025
- christasC6462HU0 contributionsGreat AdventureFantastic trip! Caught some waves with Mike on a windy day and had a blast and would recommend to all my friends anytime!!Written 8 March 2025
- jeremygN7203JW0 contributionsMike is the best!Mike was super friendly and informative. You couldn't ask for a better guide. What a beautiful trip. I highly recommend it!Written 6 March 2025
- 489saia0 contributionsGreat experience!Incredible experience overall and it was all possible due to our fantastic host, Maggie! The views from the island were fantastic and Maggie has such a wealth of knowledge about the island and its ecology. It was a windy day and kayaking was a bit challenging (we’ve never kayaked in the ocean before) but Maggie made us feel very safe and comfortable.Written 4 March 2025
- sarahmaudec20250 contributionsReally amazing experienceIt was really fun and the worker Evelyne was really kind and helpful. I recommend it for people who are on vacation or want to do something amusing with their friends!Written 3 March 2025
- justingR3078HD0 contributionsNiceBeautiful place! Evelyne is very nice! It dis very charming!!!!!!! I love the place, everybody is soooo nice and helpful. They help you with everything you ask for and they have a lot of things!!!Written 3 March 2025
- m_l0_sew0 contributionsSuch a cute placeevelyne has a big smile and really kind! The place very very very beautiful and charming!!! I would come here everyday if i could. the merchandise is so so so cute!Written 3 March 2025
- Daydream6353440 contributionsFabulous!Our guide Mike was the best! We had a fabulous time and would highly recommend this tour! If you go to Hawaii, be sure to put this on your list!Written 25 February 2025
- moniboni20150 contributionsBeautiful water, lots of rocksThe water was warm and gorgeous. The snorkeling off the island was very good. We snorkeled with a couple of sea turtles and quite a few tropical fish. It was a relatively windy day. We did hit rocks and the waves coming over the rocks almost capsized us. I don't think the instructions on how to get to the second larger island are clear. It says to turn at the red roofed building and there were a couple. However even if we followed the map given to us we still would have hit a rock wall that we couldn't get around. We weren't told about these rocks - they should be emphasized before the trip. I don't remember them being mentioned in the video either.Written 25 February 2025
- erinkY8962AQ0 contributionsGreat Trip!We had a great time with our guide, Mike! He took great photos of us on the tour so we had all the memories. We saw turtles, crabs and even caught a glimpse of some whales in the distance! Thanks for a great excursion!Written 24 February 2025
- johnnyhK7443PS0 contributions20th Anniversary Kayak tourEvelyn and Aiden were great tour guides and were very knowledgeable about all of the history here! Definitely recommend booking with this company!Written 24 February 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.8
169 reviews
Excellent
147
Very good
12
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
3
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Doreen F
2 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
We were a group of nine on the self-guided tour. We had to split up into two groups while leaving the shop, but we met up again on the water and kayaked together to Flat Island. The shop was very well-run and efficient; we quickly got our gear and a good orientation to the area, including current conditions and the best place for snorkeling. It was easy to transport kayaks to the beach with the carts. We also appreciated that they let one of us (a former kayak guide) take out a high-performance single kayak. Highlight of our trip!
Written 2 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
宏 山
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
Natsue saved my life.
On the 5th (Sat), I fell on the rocks at Futago Island and suffered some pretty serious abrasions.
However, the staff treated me warmly when I returned to the shop.
Natsue in particular was really concerned about me, and even looked up medical facilities for tourists that spoke Japanese and gave me a note.
In Hawaii, where Japanese is still not widely spoken, having someone like Natsue was very reassuring.
I really feel like my life was saved.
Many Japanese people are now visiting both Kailua and Lanikai.
Staff who can speak Japanese are invaluable.
I hope you will continue to travel with peace of mind...
And finally, once again, thank you so much, Natsue.
I look forward to seeing you again.
On the 5th (Sat), I fell on the rocks at Futago Island and suffered some pretty serious abrasions.
However, the staff treated me warmly when I returned to the shop.
Natsue in particular was really concerned about me, and even looked up medical facilities for tourists that spoke Japanese and gave me a note.
In Hawaii, where Japanese is still not widely spoken, having someone like Natsue was very reassuring.
I really feel like my life was saved.
Many Japanese people are now visiting both Kailua and Lanikai.
Staff who can speak Japanese are invaluable.
I hope you will continue to travel with peace of mind...
And finally, once again, thank you so much, Natsue.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eGoXVI
Amsterdam, The Netherlands17 contributions
Once you pick the right activity, you can’t go wrong with these guys! 5 star attention to clients and amazing acitivities.
We wanted to rent a two person kayak for 2 to 3 hours to paddle across the Kailua Bay. So we came across Kailua Beach Adventures.
My recommendation is to allow yourself a bit more time and pick the right activity. So if you want to kayak by yourself without guidance across the bay, rent the kayak, don’t do the guided or self guided tour and start the activity before 1300hrs. If you want an awesome guide, its a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for and they’ll guide you through everything.
We opted for the self guided tour to start at 1430hrs. Upon arrival you’ll see its a fun shop with very friendly staff. Not knowing what to expect exactly we went through all the steps. Which are smooth and easy!
After you get fitted with life jackets and receive a short explenation of where to enter the water, its a really short roll with your kayak on a trolley to the beach. Takes about 10-15mins and then were free to paddle around.
Take note that you really have to finish up your activity and get back by 1700hrs at the latest or else a late fee will be incurred.
So to allow yourself more time, go a bit earlier. We ended up booking the wrong activity by accident and starting a bit late in the day. They were totally accommodating about it and very customer-friendly with their service. Customer happiness is their no. 1 priority. So you can really sense that ALOHA Spirit at KBA.
The equipment they provide is good and new, so no complaints. just pick the right adventure for you, and if you’re not sure, give them a call or e-mail they’ll help you out. We will be returning to Kailua Beach Adventures!
We wanted to rent a two person kayak for 2 to 3 hours to paddle across the Kailua Bay. So we came across Kailua Beach Adventures.
My recommendation is to allow yourself a bit more time and pick the right activity. So if you want to kayak by yourself without guidance across the bay, rent the kayak, don’t do the guided or self guided tour and start the activity before 1300hrs. If you want an awesome guide, its a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for and they’ll guide you through everything.
We opted for the self guided tour to start at 1430hrs. Upon arrival you’ll see its a fun shop with very friendly staff. Not knowing what to expect exactly we went through all the steps. Which are smooth and easy!
After you get fitted with life jackets and receive a short explenation of where to enter the water, its a really short roll with your kayak on a trolley to the beach. Takes about 10-15mins and then were free to paddle around.
Take note that you really have to finish up your activity and get back by 1700hrs at the latest or else a late fee will be incurred.
So to allow yourself more time, go a bit earlier. We ended up booking the wrong activity by accident and starting a bit late in the day. They were totally accommodating about it and very customer-friendly with their service. Customer happiness is their no. 1 priority. So you can really sense that ALOHA Spirit at KBA.
The equipment they provide is good and new, so no complaints. just pick the right adventure for you, and if you’re not sure, give them a call or e-mail they’ll help you out. We will be returning to Kailua Beach Adventures!
Written 6 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel H
4 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
I waffled on writing a negative review, because we ultimately had a really fun experience. However, I felt the booking information on the website was often misleading, so instead of writing a negative review, I am writing a review to help the next person who wants to book this trip avoid some grief.
First, they are only renting out snorkel gear for their tours now, not if you just rent a kayak. So bring your own gear, or you’ll have to pay 40 dollars for a snorkel and mask in the shop.
Second, they want you to return the kayak by 5. Doesn’t matter how late you got it. I know they have an option for renting for “half-a-day” but that is an outright lie at best if you don’t pick the kayak up at noon. If you want to both snorkel and visit one of the islands, don’t rent later than 2. If you want to go to the further island, don’t rent later than noon.
Finally, be prepared to haul your kayak a substantial distance. They can’t launch from the beach. Also, you cannot launch at the closest beach, but instead, have to go to a canal further away from the shop. It takes serious time, so I would recommend arriving thirty minutes before your plans so you have time to haul the kayak.
First, they are only renting out snorkel gear for their tours now, not if you just rent a kayak. So bring your own gear, or you’ll have to pay 40 dollars for a snorkel and mask in the shop.
Second, they want you to return the kayak by 5. Doesn’t matter how late you got it. I know they have an option for renting for “half-a-day” but that is an outright lie at best if you don’t pick the kayak up at noon. If you want to both snorkel and visit one of the islands, don’t rent later than 2. If you want to go to the further island, don’t rent later than noon.
Finally, be prepared to haul your kayak a substantial distance. They can’t launch from the beach. Also, you cannot launch at the closest beach, but instead, have to go to a canal further away from the shop. It takes serious time, so I would recommend arriving thirty minutes before your plans so you have time to haul the kayak.
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pkpdd488
St. Louis37 contributions
Where do I start. We were looking for a way to do a beach on the east coast. But since we were staying at a hotel, trying to coordinate beach supplies and activities is a pain in the you know what. We zeroed in on Kailua Beach as a good option with parking and facilities. But then we found KBA because we were considering kayak rentals. We looked at just the rentals, but ended up picking the self guided kayak tour because of the extras. It was SO worth it. We started the day at 8:30 with free parking in their parking lot. We were greeted and they explained everything in their package. You get as much kayak time as you want, a dolly to get the kayak to the beach. Tons of instruction and help. You get a free lunch from one of three local restaurants, and the use of any of their other equipment all day and all included. We kayaked for about 3 hours. We headed back and traded the kayaks for snorkeling equipment, bikes and a cooler. Headed to the deli to pick up sandwiches (delicious) and headed to the park for a picnic. We rode over to Lanikai, but we weren’t that impressed with that beach. We headed back after an hour, traded the bikes for a boogie board, beach chairs, and an umbrella. We walked down to Kailua and spent the rest of the day on that picture perfect beach. All of this was included in the one price and it was an amazing value. We would’ve spent 4x what we did for all these activities. And we wouldn’t have had the expertise and hospitality of this amazing company. Don’t hesitate. Book today!!
Written 7 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlos C
13 contributions
This was easily one of the best parts of our trip to Oahu. Although we were tempted to choose the guided tour, we found the self guided tour to be an amazing experience.
EVERYTHING is included. Kayaks, snorkeling gear, dry bags, even coolers! You also get a free lunch at one of the nearby eateries.
You’ll still want to bring or buy your own water and snacks, (I think these are provided on the guided tour) to fill your cooler with, and if you forgot a hat, sun-shirt, or reef safe sunscreen, the shop has it in stock so you can make sure your prepared for a day out on the water where there are good chances to see turtles, octopus, and schools of beautiful fish. We did!
Our interactions with the staff felt like interactions with friends (that know way more about kayaking and the island than we do).
We have older children who could hold their own out on the water, and although it did get a bit choppy in the middle of our excursion, we felt confident in their abilities.
If you’re new to kayaking, and or have smaller children, I’d recommend the guided tour. You’re on the windward side of the island, and with the rocky shoreline of some of the islands, it can be a bit dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
Ask the staff to help you plan your trip based on skill level. They’ll be happy to do so.
EVERYTHING is included. Kayaks, snorkeling gear, dry bags, even coolers! You also get a free lunch at one of the nearby eateries.
You’ll still want to bring or buy your own water and snacks, (I think these are provided on the guided tour) to fill your cooler with, and if you forgot a hat, sun-shirt, or reef safe sunscreen, the shop has it in stock so you can make sure your prepared for a day out on the water where there are good chances to see turtles, octopus, and schools of beautiful fish. We did!
Our interactions with the staff felt like interactions with friends (that know way more about kayaking and the island than we do).
We have older children who could hold their own out on the water, and although it did get a bit choppy in the middle of our excursion, we felt confident in their abilities.
If you’re new to kayaking, and or have smaller children, I’d recommend the guided tour. You’re on the windward side of the island, and with the rocky shoreline of some of the islands, it can be a bit dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
Ask the staff to help you plan your trip based on skill level. They’ll be happy to do so.
Written 3 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scot a
Sandpoint, ID7 contributions
Or second time doing a kayak experience with this outfit. This time was a self guided kayak tour day. For the price, it’s a great value: all gear including boat, snorkel gear if you want it, dry bag, soft cooler, and each person gets a ticket for lunch at a choice of three places. One of us opted for the to-go lunch from the local deli (which was great) and the other opted for pizza from Bobs (two BIG slices) after the paddle was done. We started around 9:30am and returned around 2. Boats paddles and pfds were well used but clean and in good shape. Staff was friendly, patient, and helpful. Store facilities are basic but have everything you will need. Good information was provided and we were able to go to the locations we wanted to (two islands). I especially appreciated that there are staff on the beach where you launch and land, who run out and assist. Even though we are experienced paddlers, it’s nice to have a hand when dealing with surf. You do have to walk with your boats for a few minutes to reach the beach, but carts are provided and it’s flat and not a big deal. Highly recommend this experience.
Written 22 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian B
1 contribution
May 2024 • Family
We recently rented beach supplies and kayaks for our day at Kailua Beach. The team at Kailua Beach Adventures was highly professional in all aspects of our day. Every person was consistently thoughtful and collaborative in helping with our day. When some things didn't go as planned because of weather, the entire team (and particularly Brian), worked to help us have a great day. If you need anything for a beach day in Kailua...GO HERE!!!
Written 11 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasmin S
Weil der Stadt, Germany2 contributions
We had the pleasure of going kajaking at Lanikai and it was an absolutely breathtaking experience. The crystal clear waters and lush greenery surrounding the area made for a picturesque setting. The staff at the Kailua Beach Adventures were incredibly friendly and informative, ensuring that we had a safe and enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this activity to anyone visiting the area. It's a must-do! 5 stars!
Written 19 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JFTD
Steilacoom, WA20 contributions
Our family of 4 did the self guided kayaking tour and it exceeded our expectations. We thought it was a great value at $99 per person for a kayak for the whole day, a complete snorkel set, dry bags, use of a locker, lunch, and we didn’t even make use of the boogie boards, and other stuff. Their staff were very helpful and friendly. Kailua Bay was drop dead gorgeous and the kayaking was not that difficult. We benefitted from great weather with little wind and waves, though. My wife and I are in our late 50’s and I am not very fit, but we made it to both islands, and it was not too difficult. Their system for pulling the kayaks to the beach on a little set of wheels was very easy. Anyone can do it. Our Uber was about about $40 from Waikiki, each way. Highly recommended
Written 11 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.