Hawaii Tourism Blog

Some people might think that the term “surf tours” means that only catching waves, but if you’re looking for water sport activities in Hawaii, it can mean a whole lot more. There’s as many ways to enjoy the water as there are people in it. Therefore, you’ll find no shortage of methods to enjoy your sunny days at the beach!

Parasailing Surf Tours

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, parasailing is absolutely the best way to go. Most tours offer a variety of flight options depending on your comfort level, and if you have enough gumption, you can actually take flight from an astonishing 1200 ft in the air! Some parasailing tours combine the flight with a boat trip, snorkeling and/or scuba diving, making it that much easier to find something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Snuba Surf Tours

What’s snuba, you ask? It’s a clever way of letting you get a taste of scuba diving without all the gear or need for certification. A tour guide will take you out into the clear Hawaiian water where your air tank will float on a raft above you, following wherever you go. This affords you the opportunity to dive all the way to the bottom or splash around on the surface – whatever your comfort level may be. Boy let me tell you, you haven’t seen the real Hawaii until you’ve hung out underwater!

Jet Ski Surf Tours

If being neither in nor over the water is your method of choice, then a jet skiing tour may be the way to go. This option affords you speed, adventure AND sightseeing all rolled into one. Don’t worry if you’ve never run one before – your trusty tour guides will provide you with all the training you need.

Fishing Boat Tours

For a laid-back way to experience the ocean with the hidden potential of big excitement when you pull in that monster catch, consider taking a bottom fishing or deep sea-fishing excursion around any of the islands. This way, you not only get to see the sights and explore the marine life; you get to eat what you catch too, a true Hawaiian cultural experience!

Scuba diving, Snorkeling and Windsurfing Tours

Just because these activities are “stereotypical surf tours” doesn’t mean there isn’t a dang good reason they’re popular. There is nothing in the world like swimming with a school of fish, getting within arm’s reach of a sea turtle or bouncing over the waves as they were full of trampolines. So if none of these other options appeals to you, at least get a feel for enjoying the water in a more “traditional” way.

The whole point of playing in the surf is to give yourself adventure, excitement and relaxation, so the next time you head to Hawaii, make sure you’ve got surf tours in the books!

Taking Kona tours around the Big Island is the best way to get the true Hawaiian flavor – especially if you’re short on time. There’s no shortage of options either, making it incredibly easy to find activities that everyone will enjoy.

If you’re sticking to the west side, consider taking a snorkeling, fishing, or submarine tour out of Pawai Bay, a protected fish sanctuary and marine preserve teeming with sea life. If you’re lucky, you might even get to swim with the dolphin pods that frequent the area or catch a glimpse of whales jumping off in the distance – a sight you’ll never forget if you’re fortunate enough to see it!

If you’ve got a little more time, you won’t regret taking a full circle tour around the entire island. The Big Island is the most ecologically diverse island in Hawaii, and there is nothing quite like the experience of driving from a desert landscape into a jungle that gives way to lush, green highlands before it shifts to gorgeous beaches and sand.

Speaking of beaches and sand, the Big Island of Hawaii is home to some breathtaking black sand beaches and the even rarer green sand beach – both sights that can be had on any number of the Kona tours available.

Of course, no Big Island trip would be complete without at least glimpsing the billowing cloud of the great volcano Kilauea and viewing what is left of the town of Kalapana, a city now covered with lava from the 1990 eruption.

Last but not least, no trip to Hawaii should be done without experiencing at least one luau. Kona has two of these treasured cultural events occurring on a regular basis: The Gathering of the Kings Luau, which focuses on teaching Polynesian history and culture through historical and modern dance, and the Royal Hawaiian Luau, which is held on the former estate grounds of Hawaii’s most famous ruler, King Kamehameha.

There is no better way to understand a place than to learn about it from the people who live there, so if you’re itching to do more than just relax on the beach, taking a tour out of Kona is your best way to go!