Kayaking in Oahu

Whether you fancy kayaking Oahu's best beaches, sharing the waters with huge sea turtles, snorkelling or a combination of activities, this post has something for you.

Pack your bags and enjoy all there is to see and do on Oahu, hey, but don't forget to book a kayak tour.

If you are interested in kayaking around Oahu, have experience, but don't have the necessary equipment to do it, join this sea and land excursion or maybe it would be better to say ocean and land.

Whatever you want to call it, the important thing is that the island's professional guides will show you how to get around Oahu by kayak and on foot.

The tour will start by walking around Kaneohe Bay, also known as Chinaman's Hat. A half hour walk from the meeting point at Kualoa Regional Park, you will explore the ocean with your kayak previously handed out by the guides.

It's up to you how long you spend in the ocean. Often participants spend 1 hour walking and 2 hours in the ocean, but it is up to you how long you spend on this excursion.

To get to know the island, it is recommended that you walk along the trails of the Koolau mountain range. Your guide will have indicated the points of interest for stops. Take control of the adventure and take to the sea with your paddles.

Practical information

• What to expect on this tour: an excursion in groups of up to 15 people. After receiving all the necessary equipment to enjoy your combined land and sea adventure, you will hike around the Chinaman Hat with panoramic views of the Koolau Range and then dive into the waters with your kayak.
• Route: The group will depart from Kualoa Regional Park, 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, to Mocoli Island where you will begin your self-guided tour.
• Duration: 3 hours.
• Price: from €80.
• Suitable for: children and adults from 0 years old, as long as they can walk at a moderate pace or their parents/guardians/companions are willing to carry them during the tour.
• Recommended if: your physical condition is moderate. You enjoy the combination of beach and mountain. You know how to swim and want to meet sea turtles. To increase your chances of getting your picture postcard with these magnificent reptiles, list this activity as one of your things to do on Oahu in June, just when the tide has gone out and the turtles are resting on the shore.

Why tour just one island when you can visit 3 islands by kayak? That's what this tour offers, a great way to experience Hawaii's waters. This type of tour is suitable for beginners and experts alike as you can choose between a self-guided tour or a tour with a professional guide.

During the tour of Kailua Bay you can use a kayak or surfboard, and let's not forget the adventure of snorkelling in Oahu's marine life.

With a bit of luck you'll encounter sea turtles, so keep an eye out for them, as this tour is one of the best nature tours in and around Oahu.

Either option selected will include a light lunch on the beach before heading to the Mokulua Island bird sanctuary or snorkelling at Lanikai Beach.

Practical info

• What to expect on this tour: a tour of the sanctuaries of Kailua Bay. A professional guide - if you have chosen this option. If you prefer the self-guided tour, you will receive a self-guiding session to start your adventure on your own. Use of snorkel, surfboards, bicycles, picnic lunch on the beach with drinks included. In addition, lockers and showers are often provided by the operators.
• Route: You will be allowed to disembark at any of the three points usually covered by this tour, namely: Mokulua Islands, Kailua Beach Park and Lanikai Beach.
• Duration: 5 hours.
• Where to meet: 130 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734.
• Price: from €112.
• Suitable for: people over 5 years old who can sit in a kayak. Children under the age of 15 are not allowed to travel alone. They must be accompanied by an adult in a double kayak.
• Recommended if: You want to explore Mokulua Islands, Kailua Beach Park and Lanikai Beach, some of Oahu's best beaches at your leisure; while encountering sea turtles and enjoying a delicious lunch.
• Please note: tour operators work during office hours (09:00 to 17:00 hours). You will need to return the kayak and accessories before the tour closes. I recommend that you book the activity before noon to enjoy the full 5 hours, without pressure.

Looking for a kayaking excursion after sunset? Here's an alternative way to kayak in Oahu at night.

This unique tour will take you and a small group - up to 12 people are accepted - to a place where you can immerse yourself in Polynesian culture, while relaxing and enjoying a serene and safe aquatic environment under the moonlight.

Unlike other excursions, the controlled space of this kayak tour stands out on the list of things to do on Oahu with kids as the space meets 5 s':

• No waves.
• No sharks.
• No risks.
• No crowds.
• No sun.

This is a fantastic experience that combines culture, nature and fun. It's easy to see why so many visitors to Hawaii rate the activity as one of the most interesting things to do in the islands.

Practical info

• What to expect on this tour: a local guide from the Polynesian Cultural Centre will share stories, legends and myths about this culture, while you visit this controlled space aboard your kayak. It's a movie-like experience to have the chance to admire marine life in this way. The multicoloured landscape is enhanced by LED lights and the marine life feels closer than ever.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• Price: from €105.
• Suitable for: people over 5 years old who can sit in a kayak.
• Recommended if: you want to avoid the crowds of normal day kayak tours, prefer a controlled environment and if you are travelling with children.

I recommend this tour as the first choice if you are travelling in a group of 5 to 10 people. Not only will you be able to paddle your kayak, snorkel or walk along the best beaches in Hawaii, but the tour includes:

• Personalised attention: the groups are small and the charm of privacy is synonymous with adapting to your tastes.
• A complete tour of the island: more than twenty stops including beaches, viewpoints, restaurants and shops.
• Private transport.
• Professional guide: only locals are hired to guide tourists through the city.

In addition to kayaking, snorkelling, walking around the island, indulging in good food at trendy foodies and the cocktails that tourists love so much, you'll enjoy pineapple like never before.

The tour passes through Kamehameha Hwy Dole Plantation where you can munch on Dole Whip pineapple ice cream while riding the pineapple train or maybe you'll decide to get lost in the pineapple maze- come on, not even SpongeBob SquarePants in his Bikini Bottom house honours the fruit.

On the other hand, if you visit the island between December and March, you'll have the chance to see the surfers skimming the waves at Turtle Bay Beach. You might even be tempted to take surfing lessons when you see the spectacle. Oahu in winter is a surfer's paradise.

I recommend choosing this tour as one of your top 10 things to do on Oahu in December, when the fierce North Shore of Oahu competition finds the world's best surfers in its waters.

Practical info

• What to expect on this tour: A fabulous excursion where you will take your kayak around the most important sites in the area. There are 21 sites of interest on Oahu. This plan is the ultimate, you'll tour the entire island with the guidance of local experts. You won't miss a single curiosity.
• Route: The starting point is common for this type of tour, in Hanauma Bay. Afterwards, the route may vary depending on the day chosen (half day or full day).
• Duration: 6 or 12 hours.
• Where to meet: Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96825-2005.
• Price: from €580. Prices vary according to dates, group size and time chosen.
• Suitable for: All ages.
• Recommended if: You appreciate privacy, are interested in travelling comfortably and with flexible schedules.
• Important: the tour does NOT include entrance fees to attractions, parks or meals.

If you're an extreme traveller who prefers to discover Oahu on your own, you have the option of cruising the Mokulua Islands after renting a kayak for the day.

Tour operators' offices are usually open between 08:00 hours and 16:30 hours, which is the time available to explore the beaches, visit the turtles and see the local marine life.

Important: before renting your kayak consider that you will need a vehicle. Your chosen operator will be able to show you around Oahu, but this is a self-guided tour.

How much does it cost to rent a kayak on my own?

You can rent a kayak for one person from €59. Tandems for two people can be rented from €75.

• Arrival time: try to arrive at your meeting point 30 minutes before the booked time.
• Consider the weight limit: single kayak users must not exceed 125kg, double kayaks are allowed up to 180kg.
• Wheelchair access: these types of tours are not usually wheelchair accessible.
• Swimming skills are required: all people using kayaks, paddles or snorkels must be able to swim, it is not necessary to be an expert but a minimum of knowledge - and practice - in the water is required.
• Language: Please note that the tours are offered in English.
• Best time of the year to see sea turtles in Oahu: although you have the chance to see sea turtles in this area all year round, between the months of May and August the chances of seeing them increase. At this time of year the tide is out, and humans and turtles share a common hobby: sunbathing on the shore of the beach.