Need to know
Area
Kailua
Description
Not everyone visiting Oahu will get a chance to step foot on the Mokulua Islands. Why? Because you’ll have to kayak, paddleboard, or canoe to get to them.
The Mokulua Islands (aka Na Mokulua or The Mokes) are a sea-bird sanctuary. They’re known for their picturesque white sand beaches and Queen’s Bath, a breathtaking natural tide pool.
Leaving from Kailua Beach Park, you’ll kayak out to the Mokulua Islands, where you’ll get a chance to swim in Queen’s Bath and snorkel through a coral reef inside Kailua’s turtle feeding grounds. There’s a good chance you’ll see turtles and maybe even a monk seal. The guides are really knowledgeable about the island and the marine life you’ll encounter.
Heads up, this is a very active trip. It’s best for people who are pretty fit.
Covid Specific
-
Wear a mask when inside their shop.
-
All rented kayaks and SUPs are sanitized after use.
-
Lifejackets are dried completely, then washed after each use.
-
Max 10 people in their shop at a time.
-
All rentals and tours should be booked ahead of time.
Booking
Address
Kailua Beach Adventures
130 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734
Contact Info
808-262-2555
info@kailuabeachadventures.com
DM them on Instagram @kailuakayaks
Price
$$$
-
From $187 / person
Difficulty
Moderate - you'll need to kayak for about 30 minutes each way.
Time Estimate
5 hours
Nearby
-
Kalapawai Market — 2 min walk
-
Maui Brewing Co. Kailua — 2 min drive (or 16 min walk)
-
Lanikai Pillbox Hike — 4 min drive
-
Rai Rai Ramen — 4 min drive
-
Nalu Health Bar & Cafe — 4 min drive
-
Kono’s Northshore - Kailua — 4 min drive
-
Lanikai Pillbox Hike — 5 min drive
-
Cinnamon’s — 5 min drive
-
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park — 15 min drive
-
Waikiki — 30 min drive
Kayak to the Mokes, where you’ll snorkel in a coral reef and visit Queen’s Bath. A good chance you’ll see turtles too.
Kayak and Snorkel to the Mokulua Islands
KAYAK | SNORKEL
Good to know
PHOTOS
PACKING LIST
-
Plenty of reef-safe sunscreen. You're going to get a lot of sun.
-
Change of clothes. Whatever you're wearing will definitely get wet.
-
Water shoes or footwear with a back strap that you can walk on rocks with. I got by with some flip flops, but you've got to be careful when walking along the rocks.
-
A waterproof phone pouch is nice to have, but not absolutely necessary. They'll take a bunch of photos of you throughout the tour and they'll lend you a dry bag to keep your things safe, but I kinda wish I'd had a phone pouch to take some of my own photos along the way. You can also pick one up last minute in their shop.
-
Sunglasses and a hat. I forgot my hat and was missing it the whole time.
-
If you've got a GoPro and a board mount, this would be a good time to break it out.
FOOD + DRINK
-
They provide plenty of snacks and water as well as a picnic lunch of fresh turkey sandwiches with drinks and chips.
-
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options available upon request.
AMENITIES + PERKS
-
Your guide will take pictures of you along the way and either AirDrop or email them to you.
-
Snorkeling gear provided.
-
Island landing permits. (You need a permit to kayak to The Mokes.)
-
Guides are Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certified.
-
Lockers with locks are available at their shop for anything you want to leave behind.
-
All kayaking gear (life jackets, kayaks, and paddles) is provided. You can choose between a one or two person kayak.
-
Drybags are provided for you for anything that you want to take with you, but don’t want to get wet.
-
Free parking on premise.
-
Your tour comes with 15% off anything you want to purchase from their shop (swimsuits, sunscreen, phone pouches, etc).
-
When you sign up for a tour, it includes free use of a bunch of their gear (like beach chairs, boogie boards, and bikes) until 5:30.
FYI
-
Be there at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
-
The tour will take place rain or shine.
-
Beginners are welcome, but you should be fit and adventurous. It takes about 30 minutes of kayaking to get to the island
-
You’ll need to transport the kayak on a cart to the beach (about 0.5 miles away). It’s a 5-10 minute walk.
-
Participants must be able to swim. No exceptions.
-
No tours on Sundays because Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR) doesn’t issue kayak permits on Sundays.
-
Up to 10 people.
-
Cancellation Options: You won’t be charged for cancellations / rescheduling, if you do it before 12pm the day before your tour.
-
As a bird sanctuary, there is a lot of wildlife here. Be sure to keep your distance and not disturb them.
KID STUFF
-
13 and up can join. If under 13, book a private-group tour instead.
-
Ages 13 - 16 must ride in a double kayak with a parent or guardian.
-
Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
DID YOU KNOW?
-
Locals call the Mokulua Islands “The Mokes.”
-
The 2 islands are called Moku Nui (“big island”) and Moku Iki (“little island”). Moku Nui is the one that’s open to the public.
-
Supposedly, Hawaiian Royalty used the Queen’s Bath for healing purposes. It's a natural saltwater pool that's full of healing minerals that are supposed to be great for your skin.
-
The Mokulua Islands are part of the Hawaii State Seabird Sanctuary. There are over 12 different species, including Wedge-Tailed S hearwaters, Red-Footed Bobbys, and Ruddy Turnstones. Moku Nui is home to the Great Frigatebird, a large black bird with a 7-foot wingspan.
-
They’ve been awarded Eco-Tour Guide of the year by Hawai’i Eco-Tourism Association for 2 years.
Last Updated 5 / 4 / 21
TIPS + TRICKS
-
Book an early morning tour to beat the heat (as much as you can).
-
Also if you book an early tour, then you'll be able to borrow beach chairs, boogie boards, and bikes and can spend the afternoon at Lanikai Beach.
This page may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we might earn a commission. Thanks!