Quick Details
Guest
$ 149
Tour Rating
Moderate
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Advanced
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Advanced
We rate it by the day. On a calm morning it is moderate. When the trades are up, almost 5 miles across open Hilo Bay gets advanced fast. Either way, you need the stamina to paddle for a few hours. Our guides check conditions every morning and make the call.
Book at your level. Check the rating and the local weather before you book. Be honest about your experience.
About the Tour
Paddle across Hilo Bay to a hidden waterfall. This is our longest kayak tour: almost 5 miles across the bay and into the mouth of the Wailuku River, with a waterfall waiting at the end.
You pass Coconut Island (Mokuola), once a place of healing where warriors came to recover. Your guide tells the myths and legends of this coast, the sugar plantation days that built Hilo town, and how the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis reshaped the bayfront.
Then you head up the river, under the Singing Bridge, to the falls at the edge of the valley. It is a real paddle, and the payoff is worth it.
Price & What’s Included
Guest
$149
Tour Includes
- Guide, small group
- Kayak, paddle, and life jacket
- Paddling basics before you launch
- Myths, legends, and Hilo history along the way
Want Something Shorter?
The Hilo Bay & Coconut Island kayak covers the bay in 2 hours.
First time in a kayak?
Start with the calm Wailoa River Kayak.
Ready for the falls?
Pick your date and bring your paddling arms.
Requirements & What to Bring
Requirements
- Ages 12 and up. Minors paddle with a parent or guardian.
- In good physical shape. You paddle almost 5 miles over about 3 hours, sometimes into the wind.
- Comfortable in open water if you tip.
What to Bring
- Swimsuit or quick-dry clothes
- Sturdy water shoes or closed-toe sandals
- Hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle
- Phone in a waterproof case (we sell them at the shop)
Tour Details
- Meet: At our shop, 1717 Kamehameha Ave.
- Duration: About 3 hours.
- Distance: Almost 5 miles round trip.
- Route: Across Hilo Bay, past Coconut Island, up the Wailuku River to the falls, and back.
- Water: Open bay, then river. Expect wind and spray.
What You’ll See
Here is what guests commonly see on this tour.
- The Wailuku River falls at the edge of the valley.
- Coconut Island (Mokuola) from the water.
- Hilo town’s bayfront, shaped by sugar and tsunamis.
- Honu, sometimes, swimming under the Singing Bridge.
Give honu their space.
Stay at least 10 feet away and never touch them.
FAQs
How hard is this tour?
It is our longest kayak. Almost 5 miles with wind and chop on the bay. You do not need experience, but you do need the stamina to paddle steadily for a few hours.
I have never kayaked. Can I still do this?
Yes, but only if you are in good physical shape. This is almost 5 miles of steady paddling, sometimes into wind and chop, with no easy way to cut it short. If you do not exercise regularly, start with the Wailoa River Kayak.
Will I get wet?
Yes. Spray on the bay and paddle splash are part of it. Wear clothes that can get wet.
Can I bring my phone?
Yes, in a waterproof case. We sell them at the shop.
What if the weather is bad?
Our guides check conditions before every tour. If the bay is not safe, we do not go, and we will work with you to reschedule.