FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and helpful information about booking and preparing for your luxury charter experience. Please feel free to contact us with additional questions!
General Questions
- Water (ideally in a reusable water bottle to align with our sustainable practices)
- Non-aerosol REEF-SAFE sunscreen (we recommend applying your 1st layer prior to leaving for the harbor)
- Sun protection such as sunglasses, hat, rash guard/long sleeve shirt
- If you have your own snorkel/mask/fins, bring. Otherwise, we have sets available aboard
- Towel
- Don’t forget your underwater camera if you have one!
Yes! If you plan on snorkeling you must be able to swim. We provide flotation devices so you do not need to be an expert swimmer, but we do require all who wish to get in the water to have basic swimming capabilities.
No. Although we have a very high success rate of seeing marine wildlife on our tours, we appreciate your understanding that we are in a big ocean looking for wild animals in their natural habitat. We will always do our best, but we cannot guarantee any animal sightings. For a higher probability of seeing dolphins we recommend booking the morning tour. For whale watch tours, we recommend booking in January or February. Those 2 months are when the humpback whales are here in their highest numbers.
Yes! We welcome all-ages aboard ʻĀlohilohi. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and under their strict supervision at all times whilst aboard our vessel. For our snorkeling trips, children who can not swim may stay aboard with a parent/guardian while the rest of the group are in the water. Please note: children who choose to enter the ocean but show an inability to swim, or display any signs of distress/panic will be required to get back on the boat along with an accompanying parent/guardian. Your snorkel guide will have the final say. Decisions are always made with safety in mind.
Reservations, Rescheduling, Refunds
You can make your reservation online by clicking the “BOOK NOW” button.
If you prefer to speak with someone please call (808-481-2813). To make a phone reservation we will need the following information:
- The tour you wish to book and how many in your group
- The date and time you wish to join us
- Your phone number and email address
- Your payment card information. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and JCB cards. You can also pay with cash or traveler?s checks although we do require a credit card to hold your reservation
- Anything extra we need to know about (for example physical limitations, allergies etc)
*A 48 hour cancellation policy is enforced for all tours. Failure to cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled trip will result in the full retail value of the tour(s) to be charged to your credit card. Our shared snorkel/sunset and whale watching trips require a minimum of 4 passengers to run. We reserve the right to cancel or rebook within 24hrs if the minimum passenger number is not met.
Please call us at (808) 481-2813 to discuss a change of dates for your booked tour.
Contact us direct for kamaʻāina discounts. Hawaiʻi ID required.
Yes! We are happy to create a personalized e-gift card for you to share with a loved one. Please call us to discuss.
Day Of
Arrive 10 min prior to your departure time. Free parking is available at the harbor. There are parking spaces along the water as well as by the bathroom.
Our tours depart from the Kawaihae South Small Boat Harbor. A 45 minute drive from Kailua-Kona town, and just minutes from the beautiful resorts and beaches of Waikoloa and North Kona. From Hwy 270 turn into Kawaihae Harbor Gate 1, then a quick left into Gate 13. Follow the road around, past the boats and park near the ramp.
Directions will also be provided to you in your confirmation email. The address to the harbor is South Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor on Google Maps.
Our vessel was built for stability and a smooth ride in most ocean conditions. Our experienced captains always drive with guest safety and comfort in mind. However, if you think you might, or are prone to motion-sickness, we recommend taking measures to prevent this. Due to health laws we CAN NOT provide any form of medications to our guests. There are many non-drowsy, over-the-counter options available at most stores. We do offer ginger chews and can share a simple but effective Chinese acupressure point with any guests who become nauseous whilst on board.
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