World class SNORKELING, FISHING, and WHALE WATCHING
Kailua-Kona Private Charters
World class SNORKELING, FISHING, and WHALE WATCHING
Kailua-Kona Private Charters
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.
Our boat UliUli Moana is a 27 ft World Cat 6 passenger vessel, fully equipped with all necessary amenities, including a toilet. She is a perfect craft to get in and out of tight coves, stay close to wildlife, and zip quickly up and down the coast. The boat is child-friendly, with appropriately sized life vests available. She offers big boat comforts with an intimate feel.
Tour Highlights
We offer a number of options that we're certain you'll love!
Custom Private Charter
Experience the ultimate customizable adventure with our private charter. Enjoy snorkeling, fishing, and other activities tailored just for your group.
Fishing Tour
Come and 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.
Private Snorkeling Adventure
We transport you to nearby reefs and bays for a day of sightseeing and snorkeling, with the opportunity to swim amongst colorful fish, sea turtles, and coral reefs.
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.
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
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
Kevin and Tasha – Head Captain and Owners
We are a small family-owned business and are proud to be serving you on the Kona coast. In August of 2023 the Lahaina wildfire claimed everything we had worked so hard to gain. We lost our home, our boat, our jobs, and our community all in one day, just days before our first baby was born. After we had our son, Kade, we moved to Kona looking for a fresh start.
Ocean Blue Kona came to us at the perfect time for us to pour our hearts into this company. Kevin, Kade’s dad and Ocean Blue Kona’s head captain, worked in the Maui waters as a captain for 8 years and crewed for years before. During that time he learned how to read whale behavior, catch fish, and provide an awesome experience for guests. He has perfected his dad jokes since becoming a father. Tasha, Kade’s mom, is the voice behind the phone calls and the one doing a happy dance every time we get a booking. If you hear a baby 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 having you be part of our Ohana!
Meet Our Crew
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!