Big Island of Hawaii - Kailua-Kona

Big Island of Hawaii

Adventures on Water - Cruises and Submarines

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Body Glove Cruises (326-7122, toll free 800-551-8911, www.snorkelkona.com). Body Glove packs in the crowds and cruises up to the outstanding snorkeling site at Pawai Bay, which is essentially accessible only by boat. The boat trip includes snorkel gear and a lunch buffet, and a scuba upgrade is available. There’s a fun 15-foot slide. The 4½-hour morning tour ($105, kids $65, children under five free) leaves at 9 am from Kailua Pier, and the three-hour afternoon tour departs at 2 pm($66, kids $44). Locals tend to feel pity for the people who seem crammed onto the 51-foot boat; for a smaller group both on the boat and in the water (and a lower price), try the Kamanu, which sails from Honokohau.

Kona Beach Boys ( 326-7686). Located in a thatched-roof hut near Kailua Pier, Kona Beach Boys offers several adven-ture opportunities with a focus on Hawaiian culture; owner and Big Island native Kalani Nakoa wants visitors to have fun while learning about Old Hawai`i. So his surf classes ($119) include not only 15 minutes on land learning about safety, but also a Hawaiian history of “the sport of kings” (and two hours in the water or “until your arms fall off!”). His outrigger canoe ride up the coast of Kona ($38/pp) involves paddling, but also includes a guide who paints a picture of the coastline before development, with myths and stories learned by listening to local kapuna. Kona Beach Boys rents kayaks ($20/hour) and snorkel gear ($10/day or $50/week), and can arrange for scuba and snuba trips. Kalani has plans to start renting out a 19-foot Ferrari deck boat with fishing rods in the future.

Atlantis Submarines ( 329-6626, www.atlantisadventures.com). Submarine tours with Atlantis are good for kids and people who don’t snorkel or dive – it’s a way to drop to 100 feet below sea level without getting wet. There’s a theme park vibe to the excursion – guides snap photos of guests posing with a life preserver on the pier before they leave (for sale at the end of the tour, of course), and the submarine is air-conditioned and plays Enya music.

Tours leave daily at 10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm and sometimes 2:30 pm; they cost $84 for adults or $42 for children 12 and under. Children must be at least 36 inches tall. Be sure to call and make reservations, as the boats often run at capacity.

Kailua Bay Charter Co. ( 324-1749, www.konaglassbottomboat.com). For a more comfortable and much less expensive experience, you can take a ride on a 36-foot glassbottom boat. It’s a big hit with kids. With comfortable padded benches and salt-air breezes, up to 24 people cruise Kailua Bay while gazing through glass viewing boxes. Trips leave Kailua Pier every hour starting at 10:30 am. The boat is also available for private parties. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under.

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