Kailua Bay Kayak & Snorkel: Mokulua Islands & Sea Turtles

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration5h 30m

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Paddle to Twin Islands, Snorkel with Sea Turtles in Kailua Bay

You paddle from Kailua Beach to the Mokulua Islands or Popoia Island, snorkel with green sea turtles and tropical fish, and hike to a natural tide pool. Equipment, permits, and parking are included; lunch is optional. Guided tours follow a set route; self-guided lets you choose your pace and stops. Most trips run two to four hours.

5h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and snorkel around Kailua Bay

Wait for hotel pickup or park for free
Meet guide or briefing staff
Receive orientation and gear
Launch kayaks from Kailua Beach
Paddle along Lanikai Beach
Hike to Queen's Bath tide pool
Swim in salt water jacuzzi
Snorkel to see sea turtles and fish
Enjoy picnic lunch with mountain views
Return kayak to Kailua Beach

The Experience

"Can you actually see them from the water?" someone always asks before the kayaks hit the sand, and the answer is yes — the green sea turtles are right there, feeding on the reefs around Moku Nui. You launch from Kailua Beach Park, a five-minute walk from the outfitter, and paddle out toward the Mokulua Islands or Popoia Island depending on conditions and which tour option you picked. The water is so clear you can see the bottom most of the way, and the Ko'Olau Mountains rise up behind everything. If you go guided, your guide handles the route and the stories; if you go self-guided, you set the pace and decide which snorkel spots to hit.

The Mokulua Islands are a bird nesting sanctuary — you need special permission to land, which the tour operator has had since 1982 — and Hawaiian monk seals often haul out on the beach to rest. Most people paddle out, snorkel the reefs for tropical fish and turtles, then hike up to Queen's Bath, a natural tide pool carved into the rock where you can float in salt water and look straight out at the ocean. It's not a long hike, maybe ten minutes, but it's steep enough that you feel it. After that, if you booked the lunch option, the guide breaks out a picnic on the beach and you eat while the waves roll in and the birds circle overhead. The whole Kailua Bay kayak experience runs two to four hours depending on what you choose — guided or self-guided, with lunch or without.

Equipment is all included: kayak, snorkel gear, life jacket, dry bag for your phone and keys, and a locker to lock up anything you don't want to carry. Free parking is in the lot at Kailua Beach Adventures. You need to be able to swim, and you'll need to help drag the kayak — they weigh 70 pounds — from the cart to the water, but the staff walks you through the whole thing at check-in. Children under 15 ride in a double kayak with an adult. Single kayaks max out at 280 pounds; doubles at 400 pounds. The outfitter is open 8am to 5pm every day, and you need to return rentals by 5pm, so book an early slot if you want the full morning on the water.

What’s included

Your day includes use of a kayak, snorkel equipment, life jacket, dry bag, and a locker for valuables.
Safety briefing and instruction are provided.
Island landing permits are included (required to access the Mokulua Islands).
If you book the guided option, a professional guide leads the tour.
If you book the lunch option, a picnic meal is provided on the beach.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are available for an additional fee.
Free parking is included at Kailua Beach Adventures.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Kailua Beach Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to snorkel with sea turtles and explore the Mokulua Islands without arranging your own boat or permits — the outfitter has held the special landing permission since 1982, and all equipment and parking are included, so you just show up and paddle.