Quick Details
Adventurer
Priced per person
$ 139
Child
Under 18 years old
$ 69
Tour Rating
Moderate
This cruise leaves the bay and runs the open coast. Expect swell, wind, and spray. You stay on the boat, but you need to be steady while it moves. Our captain reads conditions every morning and makes the call before we leave the harbor.
Book at your level. Check the rating and the local weather before you book. Be honest about your experience.
About the Tour
Old Hawaiʻi from the water. In an hour and a half, we run past the breakwall and up the Hāmākua Coast to Onomea Bay: sea cliffs, hidden coves, and waterfalls dropping straight into the Pacific.
Along the way your crew tells the story of this coast. Ancient Hawaiian village sites, the plantation sugar mills that built Hilo, and the cliffs that kept so much of it hidden from the road.
On a clear day, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa rise behind it all. It is the best view of the east side you can get.
Price & What’s Included
Adult
$139
Child
$69
Cruise Includes
- Captain and crew
- Safety briefing
- Water and snacks
- Stories of the Hāmākua Coast and old Hilo
- Up close views of the Onomea waterfalls
In Whale Season?
From December through April, the Whale Watching Tour runs this same coast looking for koholā.
Want the evening light?
Try the Sunset Cruise.
Ready to see the cliffs?
Pick your date and lock in your seat. Six guests max.
Requirements & What to Bring
Requirements
- Minors ride with a parent or guardian.
- Steady on your feet on a moving boat.
- Prone to seasickness? Take medication before the trip, not on the boat.
What to Bring
- Light jacket or rain layer
- Hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle
- Binoculars, if you have them
- Phone in a waterproof case (we sell them at the shop)
- Seasickness medication, if you need it
Tour Details
- Meet: Wailoa Small Boat Harbor. Directions come in your confirmation email.
- Duration: About 1.5 hours.
- Route: Out of Hilo Bay and up the Hāmākua Coast to Onomea Bay, then back.
- Group size: Up to 6 guests.
- Waterfalls: Fullest after rain. Hilo delivers often.
What You’ll See
Here is what guests commonly see on this tour.
- Hāmākua sea cliffs and hidden waterfall coves.
- Shark Fin Rock and the rest of Onomea Bay.
- Ancient village sites and sugar mill ruins.
- Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on a clear day.
- Seabirds, and sometimes spinner dolphins.
We give wildlife room.
Spinner dolphins are protected by federal law. If they show up, we watch from at least 50 yards and let them come and go.
FAQs
Will we see waterfalls?
Yes. The Onomea coast has falls year-round. They are biggest after rain, which in Hilo is often.
Will we see dolphins?
Sometimes. They are wild, so we cannot promise it. If they show up, we give them room.
Will I get seasick?
This is open ocean, so it is possible. If you are prone to it, take medication before the trip. It does not help once you are already sick.
Will I get wet?
Maybe a little spray. Bring a layer and a case for your phone.
What if the weather is bad?
Our captain makes the call before we leave the harbor. If it is not safe, we do not go, and we will work with you to reschedule.