Why Choose Us | Opelu Ocean Adventures Big Island Tours

At Opelu Ocean Adventures, we offer a fishing experience unlike any other on the Big Island. Here’s what sets us apart from a traditional yacht-based charter:

‍It's your turn: Our guests are distributed across multiple vessels seating one to two people, so your party's opportunity to reel in a fish is multiplied. Unlike charter boats, you’ll spend less time deciding on who's turn it is to reel in a fish and more time with the rod in your hands!
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‍Keep Your Catch: Most fishing charters on the Big Island have restrictions on what you can take, but we believe you should enjoy the rewards of your experience! Whatever you catch, and however much of it you want, we are happy to help out with taking fish with you, providing recommendations on getting it cooked at a local restaurant, or even getting it processed and shipped back home. Whatever you don’t want will be released or distributed to the local community on the island.

‍Flexible Adventures: Want to switch things up mid-tour? We can customize the experience on the fly, whether that means exploring new spots, targeting different fish, or adding a snorkel break. While some yacht charters tend to have a set route, it's easy for us to adapt to what the ocean is offering.

‍Goodbye, Seasickness: In our experience, the kayaks that we utilize incur less instances of seasickness than boats. With our stable kayaks lower on the water, anyone prone to motion discomfort may have a better experience with us than they would on a large rocking boat.

‍Eco-Friendly: Our kayaks leave a smaller environmental footprint compared to fuel-powered boats. With no emissions or fuel usage, you’ll enjoy an eco-friendly way to access and explore Hawaii’s amazing fishery.

‍Get Active: Kayak fishing adds an element of adventure and physical activity. Paddle your way across the pristine waters and get moving with one of the most rewarding and healthiest forms of exercise.

‍Light Tackle, More Fun: We trade the bulky conventional reels for lighter angling setups, turning every catch into a thrilling experience. Each strike is full of action, and you’ll have a much more engaging fight with the fish. It’s also common for the fish to quite literally pull the kayak like a sleigh ride as you reel it in, an exhilarating experience you won’t get standing on the deck of a boat.

‍Quiet & Serene: Experience the peaceful side of fishing, away from the constant hum of engines and the smell of diesel fumes. Glide silently across the water, surrounded by the sounds of nature, where the only distractions are the skim of your kayak and the tug of a fish on your line.

We take a unique approach to our kayak snorkel tours, setting ourselves apart from other options on the Big Island. Here’s how we elevate your experience to ensure you have an amazing experience in the ocean:

‍High-End Kayaks: We use Hobie pedal drive kayaks that provide a much better user experience. These top-tier vessels are safer, faster and more stable, providing an overall more enjoyable experience than other ocean kayaks. The standout feature is the pedal drive system; instead of moving the kayak forward with shoulders and arms, the pedals use our much more powerful legs, turning a strenuous activity into a much more accessible experience. The effort of paddling our kayaks is similar to hiking on a gentle trail.

‍Private Experience: We prioritize your enjoyment by taking out only one party at a time, ensuring small group sizes (4 people max). This allows you to connect deeply with your surroundings without the distractions and chaos often found in larger groups.

‍Go at Your Own Pace: Whether you wish to linger while admiring a coral reef or explore a hidden cove, you set the pace of your adventure. We’re flexible and more than happy to tailor the experience to suit your preferences.

‍Less Traveled Areas: Discover vibrant marine life in less crowded locations, giving you a more quiet and tranquil snorkeling experience.

‍Comfortable Seats: Our kayaks are equipped with comfortable, adjustable seating that sits above the hull, keeping you dry throughout your journey. Unlike traditional ocean kayaks, which can often lead to lower back pain or discomfort and have you seated in a soggy pool of water, our seats ensure all-day comfort, allowing you to relax and fully enjoy the experience.

Some considerations

While we are amazing at what we do and are confident in the beautiful experiences we provide, we’re willing to admit that there’s a couple reasons another one of the awesome outfitters on the island may be a better pick for you:

Sunshine: While we start early in the morning to beat the heat and strongest hours of the sun, there will be hours of uninterrupted sun with no shade. We do encourage the use of precautionary sun protection methods (read more here) and we like to occasionally relieve ourselves from the heat by hopping off the kayak into the cool water, but if you’re particularly sensitive to long sun exposure, we’d recommend looking into experiences that offer shade, with some charters even having cabins equipped with air conditioning!

Physical exertion: We boast that our kayaks are much easier to use than other kayaks, but we do still have to get moving! We require our guests to be in good health and at a decent fitness level. Furthermore, we require all guests to be confident ocean swimmers and confident in their upper-body strength to re-enter a kayak without footing. If you have pre-existing health conditions that aren’t cooperative with physical activity such as heart or joint issues, or are generally uninterested in mild exercise, it may be best to look for a different company that accommodates these needs.

Ocean conditions: Like other ocean-based experience providers, we are at the mercy of what the conditions the ocean is offering each day. It is uncommon, but on days that have ocean conditions unsuited for kayaking, the experience will be rescheduled if possible or canceled. We prioritize safety above all else, with guest satisfaction following. Kayaking in adverse conditions can be dangerous and doesn’t provide the enjoyable and joyful experience we offer. If your planning is rigid and cannot risk a change, we recommend looking into more stable experiences that don’t rely on ocean conditions or weather.

Catch guarantee: Just like we can’t always choose the conditions in the ocean, we have no control of the behavior of wildlife. We are confident in our high catch rates, but just like any other fishing charter, there are the rare days where the fish just aren’t biting or around. If you’re looking for an experience that can 100% guarantee what you hope for, an activity option that doesn't involve wildlife may be better for you.

Marlin: If you’re specifically looking to target marlin, we’d recommend looking at a different charter as it's not a fish we typically target or hook up very often. Read more about our target species here.

Seasickness: Based on our experience, the kayaks we use tend to cause less seasickness than boats or other kayaks. However, like any ocean activity, motion sickness can still occur. For tips on preventing it, click here.

Early Start: In order to get the most of what the ocean has to offer, we start a bit earlier than some of the other offerings you’ll see on the island. We do this to ensure cooperative ocean conditions and provide a wildlife experience that is up to our standards. Later in the day wind and heat can make ocean experiences uncomfortable, and marine wildlife activity subsides. If you’re willing to compromise these things in order to start a bit later in the day, other outfitters will have you covered.

Why Choose Us?