12 Oahu Kayak Tours Worth Booking

1.Kailua Bay, Oahu: Epic Kayak and Snorkel to Islands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,311 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $114Our pick

Paddle from Kailua Beach to Flat Island or the Mokulua Islands on a guided or self-guided trip. You’ll get kayaks, snorkeling gear, lockers, showers, permits, and lunch. Guides such as Mike, Evelyn, Alex, and Tupre are praised for safety help and local stories, but expect a real workout.

“Staff was welcoming and helpful in ensuring we got the information we needed to have a safe and fun day. The food vouchers provided through the package included very tasty freshly made sandwiches from a Deli down the street, Huge quarter-pan pizza slices, or a Hawaiian plate lunch. The value was great, and we ended up saving some of the food for the next day's adventures, as the amount of food was too much to finish on the day of our adventure.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Kailua 2-Hour Guided Kayaking Excursion, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 442 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $199

Meet guides such as Hopoe, Mike, Brandon, or Braden in Kailua, then paddle to Popoia, also called Flat Island, with views of Lanikai and the Ko’olau Mountains. The two-hour trip includes gear, lunch, and later access to snorkel equipment, bikes, and boogie boards.

“Ben was an amazing guide and teacher. Our First time kayaking and he made it so simple for us. He was also very knowledgeable”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Kailua Twin Islands Guided Kayak Tour, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 379 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $275

Paddle from Kailua to the Mokulua Islands with a naturalist guide such as Tommy, Austin, Mike, or Will. You’ll visit a seabird sanctuary, walk to Queen’s Bath, snorkel, swim, and eat lunch on the beach. The five-hour trip suits fit kayakers who want scenery, wildlife, and a real workout.

“Great tour experience and Tommy was a great guide! Be prepared to kayak against the wind heading out but worth it!! The eoc tour and snorkeling were fun. Easier ride back in. Recommend water shoes with strong soles for walking around the island. Definitely Italy recommend this!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Self-Guided Kayaking Discovery in Kailua, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 249 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $110

Rent a single or double kayak in Kailua and set your own route to Lanikai Beach, Flat Island, or the Mokulua Islands. Your package includes permits, snorkel gear, a dry bag, beach equipment, and bikes for ages 13 and up. Expect about five hours, plus a short walk to the water.

“Great experience! We grabbed lunch from the deli right down the road (delicious!!). It’s a short walk to the canal by the bridge. The water is shallow enough that you can walk to kayak to the beach. We stopped at the beach first and snorkeled. Tons of beautiful fish! Then we braved it out to the islands. We were fighting a lot of wind and waves, but it was 100% worth it! Rode the waves right into the beach on the Mokes. On the way back we stopped at flat island to look at the tide pools and saw a lot of bird nests in the holes of the rock.…”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Lunar Legends Night Stand up Paddle Kayak Water Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 141 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Spend about 90 minutes paddling or floating through the Polynesian Cultural Center after dark. Your storyteller-guide shares legends from Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, and New Zealand as LED-lit boards pass waterfalls and quiet village settings. Stand-up boards are standard; request a kayak ahead.

“So fun. Our tour guys were amazing. One said it was his first time to lead the tour. He fell off his board which made me feel at ease in case I fell. lol. Highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Kayak, Snorkel, and Surf with Turtles in Honolulu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · from $200

Join local guides Shane and Neil for about three hours on the water off Waikiki. Kayak or stand-up paddle over coral reef, snorkel at Turtle Canyon and a shipwreck, then receive beginner-friendly surf instruction. Hotel pickup, gear, water, snacks, and groups of up to five are included.

“My daughter and son were able to surf standing up for the first time in their lives. We then went kayaking to swim with sea turtles and local, colorful fish. Guides were helpful and encouraging.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Mokulua Islands Guided Kayak and Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 46 reviews · 5 hours · from $269

Paddle across Kailua Bay with a certified lifeguard guide, land on Moku Nui, snorkel near turtle feeding grounds, and enjoy lunch by the sea. Guides such as Tupre, Ben, and Tommy add local stories and patient coaching, while the small eight-person group keeps the day personal.

“Great activity, highly recommend for anyone looking to get a guided experience for the Na Mokulua islands. We were lucky enough to be visited by a hawaiian monk seal and I kayaked right past a sea turtle on our way out!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Kailua Guided Kayak Excursion with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · 2h 30m · from $196

Paddle calm Kailua waters with an English-speaking guide, visit nesting seabirds on Popoi’a Island, explore tide pools, look for green sea turtles, and collect marine plastics. The $196 price also includes lunch, parking, snorkel gear, bikes, beach chairs, and full-day access to Kailua Beach Adventures facilities.

“It was wonderful, and that’s a lot thanks to Topre! He was a very friendly, adaptable and fun to be around guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Kaneohe Self-Guided Sandbar Kayaking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 17 reviews · 4 hours - 570 minutes · from $96

Pick up a kayak in Kailua, learn how to secure it to a four-door car, then choose a longer reef route from Waiahole or a shorter harbor launch. Paddle to Kaneohe Sandbar, snorkel near coral, and keep your kayak close with the provided leash.

“Personnel très gentil et professionnel qui aide à mettre le canoë sur le véhicule. Matériel de bonne qualité, nous avons pu aller sur le banc de sable dans la baie, faire de la plongée à plusieurs endroits et voir des tortues, c’était magnifique ! Je recommande !!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Mokulua Islands Self-Guided Kayak Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 4 hours · from $89

Pick up a kayak, dry bag, snorkel gear, safety equipment, and island landing permit at Active Oahu in Kailua. Drive the kayak to Kailua Beach, paddle to Moku Nui, look for turtles and monk seals, then explore on foot and swim in Queen’s Bath. This self-guided outing lasts four hours.

“WE LOVED IT!! We would 100% go again, we were offered the best secret little tips for things to do and explore. Will come again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Kaneohe Bay Coral Reef Kayaking Rental

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 4 hours · from $85

Pick up a kayak, snorkel gear, leashes, and dry bags from Active Oahu Tours in Kailua, then drive 20 minutes to Kaneohe Bay. Paddle independently to coral reefs, swim, snorkel, and search for Hawaiian green sea turtles, with no guide setting your pace.

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Mokoliʻi Kayak Rental and Self-Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews · 4 hours · from $82Best value

Pick up a two-person ocean kayak and safety gear in Kailua, drive 30 minutes to the launch area, then paddle to Mokoliʻi, also called Chinaman’s Hat. Explore the islet on foot, with no guide and no set group pace. Bring water shoes, sunscreen, and courage for slippery sections.

“Hidden fees was not a hour and guides were rude”

Check availability →Read our full review