Kailua Beach Adventures

We had an awesome time from arriving at the start. Everyone was so kind and welcoming and explained all we needed to know thoroughly before going out. We double kayaked out to moku nui self guided but Tupre was right at the break to guide us as we got into shore that was extremely helpful. He also gave us tips on how to get back out on the water once we were ready. I give this a 10/10 experience

Highly recommended water sports tours and rental place for kayaking, bicycles, snorkeling gear and also a store for all kind of beach supplies. Amazing crew. The kayaking tour was amazing thanks to our tour guide Tomo it was a pleasure. Would surely come again. The beach area is also amazing a lot for turtles and shallow spots for snorkeling. The level for kayaking is very easy unless weather is bad.

Our trip was amazing! Mike was knowledgeable and easy going. He made sure we were comfortable every step of the way. We saw several sea turtles and the weather was absolutely beautiful! I highly recommend fitting a kayak guided tour into your visit. Ask for Mike!

We had an amazing time on the Twin Islands Kayak Tour, and highly recommend the excursion. Our guides Isaac and Brandi were fantastic. On top of keeping the trip fun, they also taught us a lot about the ecology of the local marine life, and even some geology about how the Mokes were formed. The trip itself was pretty strenuous, but we felt like we were in great hands with Isaac and Brandi. They are clearly very experienced guides who had our safety as their number one priority. They took extra care to make sure a member of our party with dietary restrictions had an appropriate lunch provided for the trip. There was so much value packed into our 5 hour tour; we snorkeled alongside sea turtles, saw whales jumping, and got lucky enough to encounter a monk sea sunbathing on one of the islands. Kailua Beach Adventures handled everything, from parking to storage lockers, showers, clean bathrooms, and areas to change clothes. The boats, snorkels, and safety equipment were in new condition and clearly well maintained. Also, they were extremely flexible with helping us reschedule our original trip when it got cancelled due to bad weather. If you’re up for a challenging adventure, this one is definitely worthwhile!

Kailua Beach Adventures gave me an outstanding retail and shopping experience. From the moment I walked in, everything was well-organized, easy to shop, and the had a welcoming presence. What truly made the experience exceptional, was the customer service; especially from an employee named Olive. Olive was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely friendly. She took the time to answer questions and helped me find exactly what I needed without ever rushing me. Her professionalism and attitude along with the rest of the employees elevated my entire experience and made the visit to a local surf shop memorable. Because of Olive and the overall quality of service, I would highly recommend KBA to anyone Kailua!

Wish there was more the 5 stars because this tour or the two islands was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. One of the biggest reasons it was as great as it was, was the two amazing guides Tommy and Brandi although they could have the titles of photographers, cheerleaders and really so much more. They truly made the experience top notch. In regards to the kayaking and islands, I will say I have kayaked many times but this was a very challenging kayak in the ocean. There was couple times I was paddling and pretty sure because of the current I wasn’t going anywhere lol. All that paddling was so worth it when we got to the island. There was a Hawaiian monk seal on the island to great us and the little hike around the island was great and Tommy did a great job with the info he provided in regards to the island. Lunch was perfect before snorkeling. I really can’t say enough, I highly recommend doing to guided tour and make sure to ask for Tommy and Brandi!

We had the best time with Tupre on the Twin Island Kayak Tour!! I highly suggest doing this if you have ever been in a kayak before. We were well taken care of from the moment we entered the shop and throughout the whole trip. Felt safe the entire time. If this is a first time I highly suggest a guide and Tupre is a good one!

Had a great time on Thanksgiving day paddling on the ocean. Justin our guide did a great job showing us all the cool stuff in the water. Even got to see a sea turtle poke his head up close to us! Super cool!

My husband and I had Justin and Tommy as our kayaking and tour guides during our honeymoon trip in Hawaii, and they were amazing. From the very beginning, they made us feel comfortable, safe, and excited for the adventure. Justin had such a calm, knowledgeable energy--he explained everything clearly and shared so many interesting facts about the area, the wildlife, and the history. Tommy brought the fun and kept the whole experience light, relaxed, and full of good vibes. Together, they were the perfect balance. They paced the tour really well, checked in with everyone often, and made sure we were always feeling good. You can tell they truly care about what they do and want every guest to have the best possible time. Our honeymoon trip wouldn't have been the same without them. We left with beautiful memories, great photos, and a really special experience we'll never forget. If you get the chance to book a tour with Justin and Tommy--do it. You won't regret it!

First time kayaking out to Chinaman's Hat was such a breeze, thanks to the awesome help of Avery giving so clear directions and advice on how we can do everything ourselves! From loading the kayak to the car, to getting our gear and even telling us where's good to kayak, the rental for my group of 4 was amazing! Definitely would recommend if you want to have an unforgettable experience doing something different from the usual touristy things here!

We did the self guided tour to The Mokes. 10 out of 10!!! Staff was so helpful and friendly. Great extras. Beach chairs, dry bags, etc. Loved the lunch choices. Delicious sandwiches. Great Vegetarian Options for my husband. Such a fun beautiful adventure. Stunning island. Mahalo KBA

This place is awesome! Has a little bit of everything! April is the best and her customer service is amazing!

Extremely misleading experience -- paid for island access, denied for no real reason We rented kayaks from Kailua Beach Adventures and specifically paid extra for landing permits to go to one of the islands. Once we were already there and ready to go, staff suddenly told us we weren't allowed to land due to "strong winds." Here's the problem: The island was not officially closed, permits were valid, and other people were still out on the water. This wasn't a public or state closure -- it was an internal decision they made after taking our money. If island access can just be taken away at their discretion, that should be clearly disclosed upfront. It wasn't. Instead, we were sold an experience we literally weren't allowed to use. I understand safety concerns, but you cannot advertise island landings, sell permits, and then deny access with zero refund or warning. At that point it feels misleading at best and dishonest at worst. We asked about a refund or credit for the permits and were basically brushed off. No accountability, no transparency, no effort to make it right. Plenty of other rental places in Kailua -- I'd recommend going literally anywhere else unless you're okay paying for things you don't actually get.

Overall, had a great experience kayaking with Kailua Beach Adventures! They had plenty of open reservations when I checked the night before, so that made planning our day much easier, especially since we were staying in Waikiki without a rental car. We rented out a double kayak as well as a dry bag for $5, which I recommend for holding anything you plan to bring with you on the kayak, including phones. You will get wet! If you're visiting an island, they also collect a fee per person, which is mandatory from the state. We did the self guided option, so no tour guide. Then, they make you watch a 12 minute video, which I recommend paying attention to because it teaches you the basics, like how to properly hold the paddle, as well as the routes to the different locations and where to dock your kayak if you go to certain locations like some of the islands ($3 per person for Flat Island) After that, they give you your life vest and your kayak, which is on a dolly. They are not allowed to have the kayaks on the beach, so you have to walk the kayak about 10 minutes out to this river area. If you are trying to kayak in the ocean, you also have to drag it across sand for a portion of it (without the dolly, so it's heavy!). At Kailua Beach, there was a lady who helped us get onto the kayak, which was super helpful since I did not want to capsize first minute into the water. From there on, we kayaked to Flat Island. At the island, there is no one to help you dock the kayak, which can be a bit frightening, but luckily the water gets shallower to the point where you can just hop out into the water once you're close by. It was a bit hard to dock the kayak on the rocks because the kayak was so heavy. The island was lovely and had some nice tide pools. We even got lucky and saw a turtle! Kayaking back to the beach, I thought there would be someone to help us dock the kayak onto the beach, but there wasn't really a designated person waiting there. Luckily, there was a guided tour right behind us, and they had 2 people who were there to help the tour group dock and they helped us dock as well because we kinda were going in circles... it was mainly stressful because the part where we took off from was filled with people swimming, so there wasn't really a good place to dock the kayak. Note that they close at 5 PM and will charge a late fee if you bring the kayak back after 5 PM so make sure to keep track of time and to factor in the time it would take to bring the kayak back to the shop. Overall, I had a lot of fun kayaking with Kailua Beach Adventures and would do it again! If you've never been kayaking before, it may be best to do a guided tour, since you get a lot more help with the process. Also be prepared to walk/drag the kayak - it's an arm workout!

We did the Twin Islands Guided Kayak Tour (5.5 hours) when we visited in January and had an awesome time. The guided tour included the kayak out and back, a short walking tour and a relaxing lunch on the Twin Islands. Lunch included a sandwich, potato chips, Oreos, bottled water, and Hawaiian Sun - all of which tasted especially delicious after the great workout we had kayaking out to the islands against the current. The company also provided snorkeling gear for anyone who wanted to snorkel at the Mokes, but we decided not to since the water looked quite choppy that day. Another perk was that we had the option to use any of their bikes or snorkel gear for the rest of the day after the tour. Several in our group decided to take the bikes out for a spin and head towards Lanikai Beach nearby, which is known for their snorkeling. The guided tour was limited to 8 people total, which was a good group cap size. There were a few other small groups already on the island when we arrived, but everyone was respectful, and it did not feel too crowded even though the beach itself wasn't very big. Special shout-out to our tour guide, Maggie! Maggie was both friendly and professional, and we felt reassured by her presence. We opted for the guided tour as it felt safer than trying to navigate by ourselves around the "danger zone" in the waters; the wind and waves did feel pretty strong as we were heading out to the Mokulua Islands, and Maggie's kayak was a helpful reference when we started to veer off-track. Her help was also much appreciated when we had to launch our kayak from shore. I recommend the Twin Islands Guided Kayak Tour and would return to Kailua Beach Adventures for more rentals next time I'm in the area.

Kailua Beach Adventures is a reputable place to have a kayaking experience at one of the most beautiful beach locations in Oahu. They have guided tours or you can have a kayak rental and DIY it. What I'd want you to know is that (1) the journey from kailua beach to lanikai beach is beautiful and (2) kayaking can be very strenuous, so plan appropriately. I did a two-hour tour along with my family and, for my needs, I felt that this was a must. When we went, our guide was Tommy and he was very helpful. I also enjoyed the lunch that they provided afterward! Consider booking ahead of time and you may be able to find discount codes on their website.

Purchased the landing pass and single kayak for four hours. Got to the store and was told we weren't able to access the main island and only able to access flat island but could still go to the beach. Once we started heading to the beach to go snorkeling and everything one of the workers told us we weren't allowed to go there either. Store refused to give us a partial refund even though we weren't able to access over half of the adventure

April was super helpful and sweet in helping with our decisions. Lots of knowledge too. Thank you so much!

a great half day trek. we did the unaccompanied tour. A great lunch. Great customer service and check out. The answered all our questions. No sea turtles on this particular trip. We may have needed to venture a little further along the beach line. Great reef for snorkeling. Nice way to spend the day on the Eastern shore of Oahu. It was reasonably priced. It was our first experience kayaking. We had previous experience in canoeing and dragon boat. We took our individual kayaks and had a great time. Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen and enjoy the sandy beach, the coral reef, and the kayaking.

Kailua beach adventures were great for our first experience with kayaking! We were trepidatious at first, but the employees were informative and kind. They got us equipped with the best double kayak, and life jackets that Kailua could provide. Overall, would come again!

Got kayaks there to do something fun on a cloudy day! Good pricing (Dec 2024): 85$ for 4h for two-person kayak, or 99$ all day. 3$ per person to get permit for an island. 5$ to rent a dry bag. One downside is that you need to roll your kayak to the beach (around 500m/1500ft/0.3m). It's on a cart, so it's not that bad. It's harder on a way back, because if you put cart too far, it would be heavier to roll. But overall - great experience and I'm glad that we did it!

if your looking for a fun laid back and personal experience in nature this is it. The team at Kailua Beach Adventures is friendly and very well organized. Our tour guide was Justin and he was fantastic!! go ahead and book it!

What an amazing experience! The 2-hour guided kayak tour with Tommy was the highlight of our trip. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made everyone feel comfortable on the water, whether you were a beginner or experienced paddler. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and the best part--we spotted a sea turtle up close! After the guided portion, we had an additional 2 hours of free time to explore on our own, which was perfect for relaxing, taking photos, and soaking in the beauty of the area at our own pace. They allow you to rent all beach gear at their shop as included in your total tour price Everything was well-organized and safe, and the equipment was top-notch. Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique and memorable outdoor adventure. Thanks again to Tommy for making it so special!

I came with my parents and sister, all beginner kayakers and Tomo and Teresa were so helpful! We did the two hour kayak excursion and saw a turtle. They helped us get great photos and videos of our adventure. With the price of the tour, you get access to beach equipment as well for free time after the tour.

Great service and great team!! Couldn't be happier with the team's help especially Marty!

We were given an E-bike that was not inspected and the power wire wasn't connected. Sadly I didn't realize it until hair way up to Diamond head I called the office and asked for our options and they told me I had to come ride back to the shop which was not very helpful I was given a new bike after riding back to the shop but I lost an hour and wasn't offered any extra time or discount I probably world not recommend them based on if you have a bike issue you are stick on your own Aloha

Our tour guide Maggie was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. She pointed out the nesting shearwater chicks, crabs, fossils, and we even saw a turtle on the island and another swimming! Overall highly recommend

Amazing guide - Isaac. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Made everyone laugh and smile. My boyfriend and I enjoyed the tour. We were able to spot a few turtles, seals, crabs, fish, and sea urchins Kayaking wasn't difficult, easy instructions. You don't need to carry a lot of items - just essentials. I give our trip 5 big booms!

Wonderful adventure. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff, great equipment and perfect beach access. Had a private guide, Tupre, who made the day very fun, educational and relaxing.

Our Kayak adventure was one of the highlights of our trip! My wife and I have some Kayak experience (like 1x a year), so by no means expert, both in our early 60's. We were staying in Waikīkī, and had KBA pick us up in a van. They were on time, and thankfully work a KBA tee shirt, as there are a lot of pickups in t(e area. The van was spacious, and the trip beautiful through the interior of O'ahu. We were dropped off at the KBA shop, where we were treated like royalty! The workers were so friendly and helpful. After reviewing the safety video (which we should have done in advance), we were given our tandem Kayak, 2 paddles, floatation devices and instructions on how to get to the beach, get the kayak in the water and where to kayak. It was a lot of information, but in actuality, it was very easy to manage. Once in the water, we ventured to Flat Island (1/4 mile, ~ 30 minute paddle) from shore. On the way, we were treated by several kite sailors, and saw a few Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. On the island, there are hundreds of wedge-tailed shearwater seabirds, who make their homes there. You can walk around the partitioned off path around the island in about 15 minutes. A good idea to have water shoes or sandals, as this is a local island... though mostly covered by sand. We then ventured to Moku Nui island. This took about 45 minutes, and with the head winds, a bit more work. We hugged the shoreline along the beautiful Lanikai beach in order to avoid the reefs and occasional breakers, then veering to the island as we got perpendicular. We beached the Kayak and I spent some time snorkeling. I saw a number of very large unicorn fish, large parrot fish, a Mahi mahi and sea turtle. Visibility was ok, but I have to say the fish there were larger than what I normally experience, which was exciting. We also got to see a Monk Seal resting there, and being protected by a park service agent. We spent about an hour on the island and head back. The launch was a bit precarious, as there were waves coming from multiple directions due to the proximity to the coast and another island. But we launched safely and now more experienced. We should have stopped on the amazingly beautiful Lanikai beach on the way back, but we're concerned about time. In the end, we would have had plenty of time, as we spent a lot of time waiting for our van back (our fault). The trip back took about an hour. We were treated by a KBA employee who helped us get out of our kayaks and get it to the beach. We carted the Kayak back to the KBA shop, and then grabbed lunch at Kalapawai Market. Lunch was included, and this was an option. I got a tsunami sandwich, which was one of the best tuna fish sandwiches I've ever had! You have other lunch choices, and could bring your lunch with you on the Kayak if you wish. We returned to the KBA shop, and spent a bit over an hour waiting got our 3:00 return. It was a long but VERY memorable day, and I would recommend. One should be comfortable in an open ocean environment to fully enjoy this experience. I can't say enough about the KBA employees who were so very friendly and helpful!

It was a crazy experience! We paddled all the way to the farthest island, and as we got closer, the waves suddenly became huge -- it was honestly scary. It was our first time kayaking, and on the way back, not far from the island, a wave flipped us and threw me out of the kayak. But we didn't panic because the video was super helpful and we knew exactly what to do. It was really convenient since it's right next to the beach, and honestly one of those experiences you just have to try. And thank you, Mahea -- you were so sweet and helpful!

Had a really enjoyable morning kayaking out to Flat Island. Our guide, Tommy provided a tour of the island and the wildlife. Got some great pictures and a little exercise. 2nd half of the day was choose your own adventure with beach time or biking.

By far this was my favorite experience in Oahu. The beach is absolutely incredible. You have to take your kayak to the water from the store (maybe 10-15 minutes) but it's so worth it. They provide everything you need to get on the water including dry bag, snorkeling gear, lunch, lockers, and knowledge of the area. Go out to the islands, it's so worth the effort. Snorkeling is also amazing in this area. It rained during my trip but that didn't stop us from being able to be out in the water.

highly recommend kailua beach adventures! they're quick communicators, pretty chill, give you styrofoam planks to put on top of your car to carry the kayaks or any materials you need, straps, water proof bags, paddles, and anything else you might need! you do have to place the kayaks/boards on the car yourself so make sure you're prepared to do that. i'm weak so i struggled a little but it's not too bad if you have a friend or two helping. i took the kayaks to secret island and had a great time kayaking there and going to the sand harbor. the price for the rentals is reasonable as well! def go here if you're looking for a great rental experience

This review is for the store only. I went in looking for some gear after heading to Kailua completely unprepared for the day. I arrived at this store looking like a sweaty mess and not the snack that I normally am. I needed, among other things, a sun shirt and some swim gear. The team inside was completely professional and so helpful. They treated me like I was a million dollar customer inside of the disgusting mess I must have looked like. They patiently showed me all of options that they had available and helped me switch between products until I had selected a few options. I couldn't be more impressed by the customer service and dedication that this team showed to treating me like a valued customer. I couldn't recommend them enough!

So fun! We kayaked for an hour & then road their hikes to Lanikai & saw 2 sea turtles with their snorkel gear. 10/10 recommend!

Amazing experience!!! First time kayaking I was a bit nervous but our guide Avery was phenomenal. Great instructor and felt at ease with her on our trip. Mind you I was a bit nervous/terrified kayaking in the open water but with her expertise and lessons before we launched were perfect. Will definitely do it again when I'm back on the island.

This was such a fun experience!! Avery our guide was great! Taught us so much and definitely made us feel comfortable for our first time on kayaks! Will for sure be back to this spot in the future!

I loved this tour. You do have to transport your kayak down to the beach on wheeled cart but it was fairly simple and just takes one person. We all helped each other out to get them in the water. We were lucky to get a relatively calm day but it can be very windy which can cause it to be a tough kayak out. Since it was calm for us, we took it slow and it was actually very easy. Upon landing, they served granola bars. On the island, they walk you around explaining about the animals and vegetation. It was informative and interesting. There is a ride pool that you get to swim in. They serve you lunch - sandwiches, chips, juice and cookies on the beach. You then get 30 minutes to an hour to snorkel or relax. I didn't see many fish but we did see a turtle that just hung out by me eating. We also spotted several turtles on our kayak back which was lucky. I really enjoyed the day. If you want to be a bit adventurous then I highly recommend them. Shoot out to my guide Brandon who was phenomenal. All the staff at the shop was very friendly. You rent the kayaks yourself but I recommend the tour.

Great kayak tour with Tupree. I enjoyed the tour around the island. Our guide made sure everyone was comfortable and no one was left behind.

This place is awesome. Monroe is the best. Had a great selection and the staff were super helpful.

Our guide Avery was friendly and knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. She was also patient and helpful to a couple members of the party that were extremely novice paddlers. Overall we had a super fun time enjoying the sea and bird sanctuary. Would definitely recommend, especially if you have some less adventurous people who still wanna partake in an enjoyable Hawaiian paddle adventure.

From the moment we walked in, Malia greeted us with the warmest aloha spirit. She was incredibly knowledgeable about all the rental options and took the time to answer all our questions with patience and a smile. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she made sure we had everything we needed for a perfect day on the water. The positive energy of this place set the tone for an amazing adventure. We had a great experience!

Did a 2 hr kayak ride with guide Quin, he was fantastic. Very beginner friendly. Did not see any sea turtles :( Would come again though!

We did our adventure through trip advisor! The kayaking and snorkeling were amazing. Make sure you get a sticker at the end, thanks Jamie and team!

We took our kids (5 and 7 years old) on the guided kayaking tour. Tupre and Kainoa were so great and patient with our kids. Their knowledge of local plants and animals was impressive. It was windy that day and they were very encouraging helping us get out to sea. The kids had a lot of fun and said "they were so nice."

Great service and friendly folks in the retail shop. Did the kayak tour to the islands with Issac and got a lot of great history and nature info. They also had delicious sandwiches, water, juices and snacks for us which was totally unexpected but needed. Overall really enjoyed our experience and would highly recommend to anyone interested in a water activity in the area!!

Go! It was an amazing outing with our talented guide Brian. He showed us around. Took us swimming. We went out to flat island and learned all about the local floral and fauna and he even jumped in the water with us. Highly recommended.

Brandon was absolutely the kindest. We had a great tour lots of information about the flat Island and Hawaii general. Mahalo

Brandon and Quin were amazing guides! I would def recommend this to beginners looking to check out the water and the island. They told a lot of history and interesting facts. Great adventure would do it again!

Very organized and professional. The kayaking to and around the small islands is beautiful. Finish off your day with a slice of Boston Bob's Pizza and a shave ice from Island Snow (Obama's favorite) which are both located in the same parking lot.

We did the two hour tour to pompoia. It was a great experience. Tommy did a great job giving a tour of the Island. He was very knowledgeable and friendly!

Everything was great! The guys were so helpful! We took forever trying to find a solution for tying it into the bed of the truck and they were so patient and helpful! We had a great time and used them all day!!

I came here with a friend, did tandem kayak for the first time and it was a great experience. You need a permit to get to the islands Mon-Sat. Sunday they don't give permits and also don't give the cart for the kayaks that day so I recommend going Mon-Sat. They'll give you something to put on your dash while you're out in the waters. They weren't sure about the conditions so my friend and I were unsure if we were going to make it to Moku Nui, but we ended up making it. Arms tired, but worth it. Shout out to Jamie and the rest of the staff for helping us out with everything!

We went on the self-guided kayak tour. Very friendly and helpful staff. Marty helped us get checked in and gave us a rundown of what to expect, very informative. The girls are so helpful and strong! Shout out to Maggie and Teresa!

Amazing location! Kailua bay is a vast calm aquamarine bay with dozens of feeding turtles. The beach is sandy and the water warm. The Kailua bay Adventure company has very knowledgeable guides who keep you safe on the paddle board or kayaks even as a beginner. The tour of the Flat island is an added bonus with nesting Wedgetailed Shearwater birds cooing mournfully. My guide Tomo was just amazing, gave detailed instructions and even took me for a little surfing on the paddle board as a last minute treat! I was thrilled! This is an experience of a lifetime! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Memories are made here at Kailua.

Maggie did a great job as our tour guide for the kayak tour (2 hours) She took lots of photos of us and made the whole day really special! I loved how organized and well thought out the tour was. The beach and island were awesome