Things to do nearHonokohau Small Boat Harbor
Honokohau Small Boat Harbor is a bustling fishing and recreational marina on the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island, known for deep-sea charters, wildlife sightings, and a raw, unpolished coastal character.
Honokohau Small Boat Harbor has long been the working heart of sport fishing on the Kona Coast. The waters just offshore drop quickly into the deep blue of the Pacific, creating the kind of pelagic conditions that have made Kona one of the most celebrated big-game fishing destinations in the world. Blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, and mahi-mahi are among the species regularly brought to the dock, and the harbor's weigh station draws an informal crowd of onlookers whenever a notable catch comes in.
Beyond fishing, the harbor is a gateway to a stretch of coastline with genuine historical depth. The adjacent Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park preserves the remnants of ancient Hawaiian settlement, including large coastal fishponds that were engineered centuries ago to cultivate fish for the community. Walking the park's trails from the harbor, you pass over fields of rough pahoehoe lava before reaching these quiet, reed-lined ponds where mullet and milkfish still gather.
Wildlife is a constant presence at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. Hawaiian green sea turtles, known locally as honu, haul out on the small beach near the harbor entrance with striking regularity, and spinner dolphins are sometimes spotted in the channel just outside the breakwater. Seabirds work the water alongside the returning boats each afternoon, adding to the harbor's layered, sensory atmosphere.
For anyone spending time on the Big Island, Honokohau Small Boat Harbor offers an honest and unscripted window into coastal Hawaiian life, where ancient landscape, working boats, and remarkable wildlife all occupy the same narrow strip of shoreline.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Honokohau Small Boat Harbor
Visit in the late afternoon when charter boats return to the dock to see the day's catch weighed and displayed on the hanging scales near the harbor's fish-cleaning stations.
Try arriving early in the morning to watch the fleet head out at sunrise, when the harbor is most active and the light over the water is at its clearest.
Bring sunscreen and water, as there is little shade along the piers and the lava-rock shoreline reflects heat intensely in the midday sun.
Walk the short trail south along the coast toward Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park to find ancient fishponds and a quieter stretch of shoreline favored by nesting sea turtles.
Keep a respectful distance from the Hawaiian green sea turtles that rest on the small sandy beach near the harbor entrance, as they are protected under federal law.
Top tours & experiences near Honokohau Small Boat Harbor
2-Tank Morning Dive & Snorkel Charter in Kailua-Kona
Two-tank morning charter with 48 dive and snorkel site options
Kona Dolphin Watching & Reef Snorkeling Cruise
Speedboat reef snorkeling with grilled lunch and seasonal wildlife watching
Kailua-Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Tour
Watch Kona's wild manta rays feed beneath a shared light board
Manta Ray Night Adventure
See giant manta rays up close under neon lights on a 2.5-hour night snorkel
Snorkel Kealakekua Bay & Kona Coast 4-Hour Cruise
Cruise the Kona coast and snorkel Kealakekua Bay with lunch included
Pelagic Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour in Kona
Search Kona’s offshore waters for whales, dolphins, and diverse marine life
Humpback Whale Watch in Kailua-Kona
Hear humpback whale sounds with a marine naturalist from December through March
Afternoon Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Tour in Kona
Cruise Kona’s west coast by speedboat, then snorkel with gear included
2-Hour Whale Watching Cruise in Kailua-Kona
Family-friendly Kona Coast whale watching (December–March)
Morning 2-Tank Scuba Dive in Kailua-Kona
Dive Kona’s reefs on a 4-hour, 2-tank trip for certified or discovery divers
Snorkel Or 2-Tank Scuba Dive In Kailua-Kona
Snorkel or dive Kona reefs, then spot manta rays on a 2-tank afternoon trip
Manta Ray Night Snorkel on the Kona Coast
Snorkel or scuba dive with manta rays off the Kona Coast at night
3-Hour Kona Snorkel Sail
Sail Kona's coast and snorkel with crew support aboard a spacious catamaran
Kona 1.5-Hour Tradewind Sailing Cruise
Unwind under sail with ocean air, shaded space and marine-life viewing
Manta Ray Night Snorkel & Dive Charter in Kailua Kona
Share Kona's Nighttime Manta Site by Dive or Snorkel
Kailua-Kona 2.5-Hour Snorkeling Tour
Guided coral reef snorkeling with gear, snacks, and Kona Coast insights
Customize Your Kona 4.5-Hour Private Charter
Build your own 4.5-hour private charter in Kona
Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona
Snorkel with manta rays at night with gear and hot cocoa included
Blackwater Night Dive Charter in Kailua-Kona
Drift over deep water on a private tethered night dive
Discover Scuba Diving Lesson in Kailua-Kona
Try scuba diving in Kona with no certification required
Night Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Kailua-Kona
Float under spotlights and watch manta rays feed off the Kona Coast at night
Customize a 4-Hour Private Charter in Kailua-Kona
Build your own 4-hour private boat charter on the Kona Coast for up to 15 guests
Manta Ray Night Snorkel Cruise in Kailua-Kona
Snorkel with Kona manta rays at night from a purpose-built boat
Private Fishing & Snorkeling Charter in Kailua-Kona
Fish and snorkel on your private family charter off Kona
Night Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Kailua-Kona
Snorkel with manta rays at night off Kona with provided gear and snacks
Night Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour In Kona
Snorkel after sunset with manta rays under underwater lights
Private Sportfishing Charter In Kailua-Kona
Fish Kona’s coast on a private 43’ Viking with premium gear and a dedicated crew
Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona
Fish Kona’s deep waters with tackle and crew expertise included
Manta Ray Night Snorkel In Kailua-Kona
Snorkel with manta rays at night from Honokohau Harbor
Sunset Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour in Kailua-Kona
Look for manta rays on a sunset Kona snorkel
3.5-Hour Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Tour From Kona
Snorkel Kealakekua Bay and cruise the Kona coastline in 3.5 hours
Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Cruise From South Kona
Cruise to Kealakekua Bay and snorkel a protected marine sanctuary
Fish on a Private Charter in Kailua-Kona
Private Kona fishing charter for up to 6 on a 35-foot Bertram
Snorkel Kealakekua Bay Reef & Dolphin Cruise
Cruise to Kealakekua Bay to snorkel the reef and spot spinner dolphins
4-Hour Adventure Cruise in Kailua-Kona
Follow Kona’s offshore conditions toward reefs, caves and marine life
Kailua-Kona Sunset Cruise
Private coastal evening with island history and refreshments
Morning Coastline Guided Tour in Kailua-Kona
Explore Hawaii's coastline on a guided morning outing
Afternoon Coastline Tour in Kailua-Kona
Explore the Big Island coast in beautiful afternoon light
6-Hour Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona
Fish Hawaii waters aboard a restored sportfisher with Captain Shawn and crew
4-Hour Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona
Fish Hawaii waters aboard a restored sportfisher with Captain Shawn and crew
Double-Reef Snorkel Tour in Kailua-Kona
Snorkel two reefs in a small group while watching for Hawaii's marine life
Kealakekua Bay Dolphin Watch Snorkel Tour
Snorkel Kealakekua Bay and search for dolphins along the Kona Coast
Afternoon Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour
Explore tropical reefs with guided snorkeling instruction and fish identification
Kona Big 5 Marine Life Snorkeling Cruise
Search offshore waters and snorkel Kona's reef habitats
Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona
Cast for big game fish from a private sport-fishing yacht