Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On the Kona side of the island, the best beaches for bodyboarding and body-
surfing are
Hapuna Beach, White Sands Beach,
and
Kekaha Kai State Park.
On the east side, try
Leleiwi Beach.
KAYAKING
OCEAN KAYAKING
Imagine sitting at sea level, eye-to-eye with a turtle, a
dolphin, even a whale—it's possible in an oceangoing kayak. Anyone can kayak:
Get in, find your balance, and paddle. After a few minutes of instruction and a
little practice in a calm area (like the lagoon in front of
King Kamehameha's
Kona Beach Hotel
), you'll be ready to explore. Beginners can practice their
skills in
Kailua
and
Kealakekua bays;
intermediates might try paddling from
Honokohau Harbor
to
Kekaha Kai Beach Park;
the
Hamakua coast
is a chal-
lenge for experienced kayakers. Kids will be happier if they can paddle the
kayak; use your judgment, but by the time they are 7 years old they are usually
tall enough to maneuver the paddles.
You can rent one- and two-person kayaks (and other ocean toys) from
Kona
Beach Shack,
on the beach in front of King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
(
&
808/329-7494
), starting at $15 for 2 hours and $5 for each additional hour.
The price is the same for one- and two-person kayaks.
Aloha Kayak
(
&
877/322-1441
or 808/322-2868; www.alohakayak.
com) has a unique tour from Keauhou Bay and the Captain Cook Monument,
with Hawaiian guides showing you their “secret” spots (including sea caves) and
snorkeling areas, abundant with fish and turtles. The tours are either 4 hours
($65 adults, $33 for children 12 and under) or 2
1
⁄
2
hours ($50 adults, $25 chil-
dren 12 and under), and include all equipment, beverages, snorkeling gear, and
snacks.
FRESHWATER FLUMING
Years ago, the best thing to do on a hot summer
day was to grab an old inner tube and go “fluming” down the Kohala Sugar
Plantation irrigation system. There were only two problems: You had to trespass
to get to the elaborate ditch system, and the water was cold. But the opportu-
nity to float past a pristine rainforest, over ravines, and under waterfalls was
worth the risk of getting caught (and worth a numb rear end). You no longer
have to worry about either problem.
Flumin' da Ditch
(
&
877/449-6922
or
808/889-6922; www.flumindaditch.com) offers perfectly legal access to this
North Kohala area. Their tours in high-tech, double-hulled inflatable kayaks
include knowledgeable guides talking story about the history, culture, and leg-
ends of the area. The tour includes snacks. When the operation first started years
ago, it was fabulous, but on our last trip we were somewhat disappointed. To
ensure a good trip, tell them you want your family to be in the kayak with the
guide. (Otherwise, you will miss out on all the history, culture, and so on.) Wear
a swimsuit or bring a change of clothing, because the kayaks pass beneath water-
falls and through water pouring in from the intake systems—getting wet is part
of the fun, and the whole experience is one you won't forget. The 2
1
⁄
2
-hour
cruises are $85 for adults, $65 for kids 5 to 18. No experience is necessary, but
children must be at least 5.
SNORKELING
If you come to Hawaii and don't snorkel, you'll miss half the fun. The year-
round calm waters along the Kona and Kohala coasts are home to spectacular
marine life. Some of the best snorkeling areas on the Kona-Kohala coast include
Hapuna Beach Cove,
at the foot of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, a secluded
little cove where you can snorkel not only with schools of yellow tangs, needle-
