Build your own 4.5-hour private charter in Kona
4.5 Hours
Up to 15 people
Snorkel gear, snacks, drinks
Set your own pace on a 4.5-hour private charter with snorkeling gear and snacks included. Your schedule may change based on weather, traffic, and the situation of manta rays.
The schedule may change due to weather, traffic, and the situation of manta rays. This tour operates on the open ocean and water conditions are not always perfect.
This booking is for the whole experience, which fits up to 15 guests.
Cancellations made 7 days before scheduled tour are subject for a full refund.
Product ID: BMDQ2Q
Wear your swimsuit and put it on before departure. Bring a change of clothes, towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and a warm long-sleeve jacket or sweatshirt.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, bring medicine and take it at least an hour before the tour. The charter operates on the open ocean and water conditions are not always perfect.
You get snacks and beverages, including chips, granola bars, juice, and water.
Check-in is at Honokohau Harbor near Pavilion/Restrooms
Hang Loose Boat Tours has built a seriously loyal following on the Big Island, and it's easy to see why. Captains like Ola, Aiden, and crew members Bryce, Kiwani, and others consistently show up as highlights in reviews, praised for their humor, warmth, and genuine care for guests. Whether you're joining the daytime snorkel tour or the manta ray night experience, the energy on board is high and the staff keeps things fun without sacrificing safety or professionalism. The manta ray night snorkel is clearly a standout offering, with multiple guests calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and reporting sightings of 20 to 40 rays at a time. The daytime tours deliver too, with dolphin sightings, snorkel gear included, a light lunch of sandwiches and snacks, and crew members who go out of their way to make the experience memorable. One small practical note: the tours are non-alcoholic, and the life vests are the around-the-neck style, which some younger kids may find unfamiliar. Worth knowing before you go, but neither is a dealbreaker by any stretch. Across a wide range of reviewers, including nervous swimmers and seasoned snorkelers alike, the feedback is overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The crew's ability to make first-timers feel comfortable in the water is mentioned repeatedly, which says a lot about how they operate. If you're trying to decide how to spend a day on the Big Island, this one earns its reputation.
We did 2 tours with Hang Loose Boat Tours: (1) night manta rays and (2) snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay. Both trips were fantastic and we had the same boat captain, Jacob. The captain and crew were very welcoming, warm, and knowledgeable about the local culture and history. I would definitely book with them again!
Bebe Thomas
September 2, 2026
We did 2 tours with Hang Loose Boat Tours: (1) night manta rays and (2) snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay. Both trips were fantastic and we had the same boat captain, Jacob. The captain and crew were very welcoming, warm, and knowledgeable about the local culture and history. I would definitely book with them again!
Bebe Thomas
September 2, 2026
See giant manta rays up close under neon lights on a 2.5-hour night snorkel
Snorkel near the Captain Cook Monument and discover endemic fish
Snorkel lava arches and shallow reefs in boat-only Pawai Bay
Snorkel Kona’s night waters and look for manta rays after sunset
Search Kona's deep waters for dolphins, whales, sharks and reef life
Venture farther offshore to search Kona’s deep water for pelagic marine life