World class SNORKELING, FISHING, and WHALE WATCHING
Kailua-Kona Private Charters
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World class SNORKELING, FISHING, and WHALE WATCHING
Kailua-Kona Private Charters
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Ocean Blue Kona welcomes you aboard!
We offer the ultimate full-service experience in a private setting. You and your party can decide whether you want to snorkel, whale watch/wildlife search, fish, or all of the above! We strive to give you a memorable and customizable experience that you will carry with you for life.
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About Our Boat
Our boat UliUli Moana ("Blue Ocean" in Hawaiian) is a perfect craft to get in and out of tight coves, stay close to wildlife, and zip quickly up and down the coast.
- 27 foot World Cat 6-passenger vessel
- Equipped with all necessary amenities, including a toilet and a freshwater shower
- Child-friendly, with appropriately sized life vests available
Tour Highlights
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Custom Private Charter
Experience the ultimate customizable adventure with our private charter. Enjoy snorkeling, fishing, and other activities tailored just for your group.
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Fishing Tour
Come catch dinner with us on a family-friendly fishing adventure. Enjoy a unique “catch and cook” option at a local restaurant to savor your fresh catch.
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Private Snorkeling Adventure
We transport you to nearby reefs and bays for a day of sightseeing and snorkeling, with the opportunity to swim amongst tropical fish, sea turtles, and coral reefs.
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Deluxe Sunset Cruise
Cruise down the Kona coast and enjoy the beautiful Hawaiian sunset while learning about the rich local history of the area. Our most relaxing and majestic experience.
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Whale Watching and Wildlife Tour
Join us for a seasonal humpback whale watching cruise, or experience a captivating wildlife tour year round. Come witness Hawaii’s breathtaking marine life up close.
Special Requests
We offer ceremonial ash scattering and other custom ceremony/party requests on all tours. Please specify any special requests in your comments while booking, or feel free to give us a call!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of equipment should I bring?
Hat, sunglasses & a smile!
What is provided?
- Beverages (water, juice, sports drinks)
- Assorted snacks
- Breakfast / lunch / charcuterie board (on select tour types - see tour details for more information)
- Towels
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Go Pros with take-home SD cards
- Snorkel gear (snorkel tours), including prescription snorkel masks (-1.5 to -6.5; additional prescriptions available on request)
- Fishing gear (fishing tours)
- Flotation devices
What kind of meals are offered?
Meals are included on select tour types - see tour details for more information. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options are available on request.
Example breakfast spread: fruits, banana bread/pastries, and 100% Kona coffee
Example charcuterie board: a variety of cheeses, fruits, crackers, and premium meats
Example poke bowl lunch: made with local farm ingredients including fresh ahi, white rice, green onions, shoyu, and sesame seeds
Example sandwich lunch: create your own sandwich with turkey, ham, roast beef, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, ciabatta/sourdough bread, spinach wraps, and condiments
May we bring our own snorkel gear?
Yes, you may bring your own snorkel gear if you would like. However, as part of our safety protocol, we ask that you leave your full-face snorkel masks at home.
What is your cancellation policy?
We offer a full refund on all charters with 72 hours notice.
Do you have a restroom?
Yes we do! We have a marine head on board available for you and your party.
Will I get seasick?
It is hard to say whether or not you will get seasick. If you are worried you might, feel free to take over-the-counter nausea medicine available at most stores around here! We will also have some peppermint oil on the boat that may help ease the sickness.
Find Us
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Address
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Ocean Blue Kona
Honokohau Marina and Small Boat Harbor,
Kealakehe Pkwy,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 - On online maps, search for Ocean Blue Kona for the correct location.
- Do NOT use the address for Honokohau Marina, as it will lead you to the wrong location.
Directions
From Highway 19, turn West (towards the ocean) on Kealakehe Parkway by the “Honokohau Marina and Small Boat Harbor” sign.
Take the first RIGHT (also Kealakehe Parkway) to go to the North side of the harbor, passing Gentry’s and the tall boat storage building on the left.
We will meet you in the grassy area behind the public restroom. We will embark from one of the two boat ramps on either side of the parking area.
Typical travel times to the harbor:
- Kailua-Kona town: 15 minutes
- Kona International Airport: 20 minutes
- Waikoloa Resorts: 40 minutes
About Us
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Kevin and Tasha
Head Captain and Owners
We are a small, family-owned business, and are proud to serve you on the beautiful Kona coast. We fell in love with each other while fishing and playing on our boat in Lahaina, Maui, and we're excited to share that passion with you!
In August 2023, the Lahaina wildfire claimed everything we had ever known. Just two weeks later, we had our first son, Kade. Seeking a fresh start, we moved to the island of Hawaii. Ocean Blue Kona came to us at the perfect time for us to pour our hearts into a company we truly love.
Kevin is Ocean Blue Kona’s head captain. He's been navigating Hawaiian waters as a captain since 2015, and crewed for years before that. Along the way he's honed his skills in reading whale behavior, catching fish, and providing an awesome experience for guests. He's also perfected his dad jokes since becoming a father.
Tasha is the friendly voice behind the phone calls - and the one doing a happy dance every time we get a booking. We welcomed our second son, Max, in November 2024. If you hear a baby (or two) in the background, you know why!
Moving to Kona has been incredibly healing and we are so grateful to call Big Island home. We look forward to having you aboard and making you be part of our Ohana!
Meet Our Crew
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Kihe
Captain
My name is Captain Kihe. I was born and raised here in the Hawaiian islands in a small town called Kona. Being native to the islands and surrounded by the ocean, I am grateful to be a proud fisherman. I have been fishing from a young age and still fish today. I come from a long line of fishermen, gathering knowledge from 10 generations. I love sharing my passionate Hawaiian culture like the language, the stories of the old, and of course the beauty of the islands and surroundings of the ocean. Hawaii has so much to offer and I hope to share with you out on the Moana (ocean). Mahalo and aloha!
Reviews
5.0 80 reviews
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Dee B
★★★★★
in the last week
Capt Kevin was amazing! First ever sighting for him and us of the Cuvier Beaked Whale, we saw playful humpback whales (multiple single breaches and a few double breaches), we saw bottle nosed dolphins, spotted dolphins and spinner dolphins on multiple occasions and got to enjoy viewing large and small sea turtles! Topped off by a very nice snorkeling trip to K-Bay! The food was great especially Tasha’s world class home made bread! It
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Kristin R
★★★★★
a week ago
Wow, wow, wow!! The PERFECT day! We found Ocean Blue Kona on google and so glad we did! This couldn’t get any better. The 6 members of our family went out for the day on the “Customizable Private Charter” and it was better than we could have asked for. Captain Kevin and his deck hand Mahina was on time, friendly, prepared for everything, had delicious breakfast and lunch for the whole family, and was determined to help us catch fish! They went above and beyond in so many little ways by making the kids (ages 2 and 4) pb&j cut into stars for my kids, handmade sourdough for the lunch sandwich’s, cool ice lavender towels at the end to feel refreshed with and so much more. We saw dolphins, whales, fish, turtles, and the beautiful coast of Hawaii. The weather was great, the boat was comfortable, the staff was friendly. We got to keep our fish, was provided with recipes or a restaurant that would cook it for us, and wonderful memories. I cannot recommend them enough to everyone!! We will never use another company and love supporting a great local family. This truly is perfect for all ages and abilities—they make it so easy to have a perfect day in paradise. I wish it never ended!
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kyle L
★★★★★
a week ago
Had the opportunity to go fishing with captain kevin (legend) and Mahina (also legend) it was an absolute blast. We had a couple younger kids that they did an amazing job with. We saw whales and Hammerhead sharks! Then we caught a bunch of fish.. jumped in the ocean.. what a blast.
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Bryce D
★★★★★
2 weeks ago
Had a wonderful time with the crew! We saw so many Whales and Dolphins at all points of the trip, the snorkeling was phenomenal. The fishing was very cool, Lunch and breakfast were great as well. Kevin and Tracy were the ones who took us out, They were so knowledgeable and fun to be around. They made us feel like family on our honeymoon trip. Tasha is the one who took my original call and was so helpful in getting everything organized and made sure we were able to experience all that we wanted. My only wish would have been for more time out on the water. The 6 hour custom route was definitely the way to go
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Scott C
★★★★★
4 weeks ago
We had an incredible day of bottom fishing with Ocean Blue Kona! Our group of 4 fishing buddies have been sport fishing, trolling, and bottom fishing in Hawaii, Mexico, Guam, Saipan, the Marshall Islands, and American Somoa for the past 40+ years. Kevin and Mahina are a fantastic crew and run a great operation! We HIGHLY recommend them, and will be going out with them again!
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Hector J
★★★★★
a month ago
Kevin and Tracey gave us an excellent tour. This was very memorable, from the fish sighting, to the fishing, to the snorkeling, if you're looking for a Kona adventure - don't waste your time looking for anything better
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Haley S
★★★★★
a month ago
I recently had the pleasure of going on a boat tour with Ocean Blue Charters Kona, and it was nothing short of incredible! My three girlfriends and I spent a fun, safe, and thrilling day on the water with Captain Kevin and deckhand Mahina, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
From the moment we stepped on board, Captain Kevin and Mahina made us feel completely at ease. They were not only professional and safety-conscious but also super knowledgeable about the local area and marine life. Their passion for what they do truly shines through, and it made our day so much more special.
The highlight of the trip was definitely fishing. None of us had ever caught a fish before, but Captain Kevin made sure that changed! He guided us every step of the way, and soon we were all reeling in fish like pros. It was such an exciting experience, and we’ll never forget it! We even took the fish home and made homemade fresh poke with their recommended recipe!
We also got to snorkel in a breathtaking cove near the Captain Cook monument. The water was crystal clear, and Mahina told us about all the hidden gems of the area. They took us to all the fun nooks and crannies, ensuring our adventure was as fun and action-packed as it was memorable.
I can’t recommend Ocean Blue Charters Kona enough! Whether you’re a seasoned boater or a complete newbie like we were, you’re sure to walk away feeling like an expert fisherman and with a deep appreciation for the local lore. Thank you, Captain Kevin and Mahina, for an unforgettable day on the water! -
Steve S
★★★★★
a month ago
kevin, tasha mahina and team were great. top quality boat and experience, know they are hoping for some sort of fish to table overall idea, hope it works we will be back..
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Jim R
★★★★★
a month ago
Can't say enough good things about Ocean Blue Kona. 6-hour fishing trip was phenomenal. Caught some great fish, saw some whales, and enjoyed the incredible scenery. Kevin and his crew was fantastic. Thanks to them for giving our family a very special day.
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Katy F
★★★★★
a month ago
We absolutely loved our experience with Kevin and his team. If we could give more than 5 stars we would! It was fully customized for what we wanted to do with our 7 and 8 year olds. The lunch was delicious and we caught several fish to take home and cook ourselves. Don't miss out on this experience!
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James M
★★★★★
a month ago
Captain Kevin was awesome. We felt comfortable and at ease the whole trip. Kevin saw that we caught multiple species educated us about the fish we were catching and had all the provisions we needed. He also helped us schedule to have our fresh catch prepared for us at a local restaurant Holualoa garden and kitchen which was excellent
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Conor A
★★★★★
2 months ago
My 5-year old described it as “one of a kind, dad!” And he was spot on. We had the best adventure on Thanksgiving ever…. Captain Kevin took us out for an epic charter. We fished and caught amazing goat fish that he left us with pro menus on how to prepare (after he cleaned for us!). We snorkeled in amazing spots and saw several dolphin pods. We had 3 adults and 3 kids. The boat was perfect for us, family friendly and still a 5-star experience. Tasha makes the most amazing fresh sourdough bread for lunch sandwiches alongside poke bowls and there was a lavender cold wipe at the end. We went for the fishing and the sea, not the amenities, but clearly thought and care had been woven into the planned experience by its owners from the second we got on the boat to the hours after we left. We had whole roasted fresh Hawaiian fish for Thanksgiving!
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Lydia M
★★★★★
3 months ago
Booked a 4 hour bottom fishing trip for our son’s birthday and Kihe and Mahina showed us an awesome time! We got several fish right off the bat, trolled for a while and then caught a few more before we were done for the day. They were both very knowledgeable about the ocean and the fish we caught and they helped to give the kids a great experience which was our priority. Kihe helped us get a big Rainbow Runner at the end of the trip which was a blast. They cleaned and packaged up the fish for us to take back to our hotel and sent us with some recipes for cooking them up. Would recommend to anyone looking for a family friendly fishing experience with a very knowledgeable and fun crew!
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Marilee M
★★★★★
4 months ago
From the first phone call with Tasha to the drop off at the marina, this was 5 stars all the way!
Kevin and Tracy gave us an incredible day out snorkeling. When we arrived at the marina (with great directions and even a little map) they had pastries and coffee ready. After we all grabbed some and got our safety briefing we were off.
We stopped first in a little cove that no one else was at and hopped out for some snorkeling. Tracy is a great guide and pointed out all of the neat things to see, even a turtle! She was super patient when I had some equipment issues (brought my own, switched to theirs).
Back on the boat and we were off to Kealakekua. This is a very popular spot so there were already many boats there but it still didn’t feel overcrowded. Kevin showed us where to go. It was truly amazing! So many beautiful creatures.
Back on the boat for lunch where we had poke bowls or sandwiches. Tasha bakes the sourdough bread. What an incredible treat! As we were starting to eat Kevin spies some spinner dolphins in the other side of the bay and took us close enough to watch them. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip! So amazing to see the babies jump out of the water! They are so tiny!
On the way back we made a couple of stops where Tracy treated us to some history of the island. We learned so much!
I cannot recommend this tour enough!
Thank you Kevin, Tracy, and Tasha for giving us an incredible day and a lifetime of memories! -
Wil H
★★★★★
4 months ago
Had a great time on ocean blue Kona today caught many fish and great time with Captain Kihe and crew Mahina ..Great people will be back
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Dan S
★★★★★
5 months ago
Kevin, truly an outstanding time on your boat yesterday. Both you and Mahina were true pro’s from the moment we boarded the boat until we finished. The snorkeling, the music, the Hawaiian history lessons and overall conversations, made for a great day! Thanks again and I would highly recommend your charter to anyone considering a private charter out of Kona! All best, Dan
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Tricia G
★★★★★
6 months ago
My daughter reserved a private afternoon charter for both of us, her seven-year-old son, and a family friend. She selected Ocean Blue Kona based upon online reviews, and wow, did she make the right choice! We had a total blast spending the afternoon with Kevin and Parker, snorkeling, cruising the ocean, and stopping for a delicious late lunch complete with post-meal chocolate treats! Kevin was a great trip leader and super-fun to talk to. Parker led the snorkeling expeditions with professionalism, care, and joy. He clearly loves the ocean and its many beautiful, curious, and interesting inhabitants. Most memorable - a starfish in the throes of ingesting a sea urchin, with spines sticking out through the starfish belly in a mind-boggling (and possibly painful?) feat of digestion. Both Kevin and Parker took especially kind care of us and left us feeling great about the afternoon, ready to return next time the opportunity permits. I would highly recommend Ocean Blue Kona to anyone looking for a very special ocean adventure, whether fishing, snorkeling, or just exploring the beautiful Kona coastline, cruising to great music in the ocean waves. Video courtesy of my daughter, Ruthie.
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Jack S
★★★★★
6 months ago
Captain Kevin and his crew-mate Parker were both awesome as was the entire experience. We did four hours as a family of four and had a blast. Perfect sized boat and the fact that we didn’t have to hang out with 40 of our best friends on a larger cruise was priceless. Yes, it is a touch more expensive than with a bigger boat but so worth it. Without a doubt.
Worth mentioning that you may get bounced a tiny bit on the way to/from your destination. Nothing major. Just choose your spot well, further back is less bouncy and you can fully lean back for support. And hold your beer tightly!
Mahalos Kevin and Parker!! -
John S
★★★★★
7 months ago
Kevin took us out for a
Sunset fishing experience. Although we didn't come home with dinner, we pulled up some beautiful looking fish and even a large barracuda. Kevin went out of his way and tried his best to find the keepers, they just weren't there last night. We'd go back in a heartbeat if we weren't leaving tomorrow. Spend the money, you'll get a great experience. -
Michelle E
★★★★★
a year ago
Our experience on Ocean Blue Kona was most definitely our favorite part of our trip! We got to enjoy an amazing snorkel, saw lots of whales, ate lunch while surrounded by dolphins and caught all kinds of fish. My daughter is 2 and she had a blast, she was talking about whales, dolphins and fishies for days. Kevin is a great captain and made sure that we had the best day possible out on the water. If you are considering booking them, do it!