yacht club big island hawaii

Come Home to the Ocean

Experience the luxury of premium quality boats and our fun, water-loving community with hawaii boat clubs now a member of the carefree network of boats boat at any one of our 140+ clubs all included in your membership. now open in oahu, launching at ala wai harbor in honolulu.

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Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Hawaii & Our Passionate Community

Hawaii Boat Clubs is all about the experiences and memories you can make on the water! There’s nothing to compare to a day spent on the waves, whether you’re out fishing or watching the dolphins. When you become a member of Hawaii Boat Clubs you can immerse yourself in the ocean lifestyle on board a premium quality boat and relax knowing our team will take care of you! Not to mention, you will benefit from our passionate boating community through shared experiences, new connections and even some of our events on the water!

Thinking About Buying A Boat?

Join our boat club membership instead.

• Day Use Mooring Buoys
• World-Class Pelagic Fishing
• Wildlife Viewing
• Scuba & Snorkel

Explore All Of The Activities Hawaii Has to Offer!

With a Hawaii Boat Club Membership, you can get access to the best locations, training & even discounts with select vendors! 

Take the Boat Out For A Spin

Blackfin 222 cc, blackfin 252 cc, blackfin 252 dc, blackfin 272 cc.

We Are Ohana

We are the founders of Hawaii  Boat  Clubs and Ohana Boat Sales.  And, we are brothers! As a family-owned business, we understand the meaning behind ohana. We love the family-inclusive culture of Hawaii and we have made many cherished memories of our own out on the water. With the incredible natural beauty and temperate climate of Hawaii, outdoor activities like boating are an ideal way to spend family time together.  We know family is important and we will take care of you like family, too! You can be sure every boat will be cleaned and well-maintained and you will always be greeted with a smile!  We hope you love your time out on the water! 

Testimonials

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Connect with us! We can’t wait to hear from you and share what all is included in our Hawaii Boat Clubs and our premium quality Blackfin boats! If you have any questions, enter your name and email below.  We’ll be in touch!  

• (808) 444-4000
• [email protected]

Looking to Buy?

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Kona Sailing Club

Kona Sailing Club is a non-profit, ALL volunteer run sailing club.

Founded in 1980 by 13 charter members who broke away from an established but strictly social local yacht club, Kona Sailing Club was organized to be managed by and for sailors who actually get out on the water, and it has evolved into a very successful venue for organized sailing in West Hawaii.

The club is in the process of gathering old photos, documents, and other historical items in order to preserve our history.  Please submit any materials you think might be useful to Joe Dubose or Judy Funk.

On The Water

Kona Sailing Club hosts numerous events designed throughout the year, designed to offer club members and guests the opportunity to learn, compete and have fun on the water together.

• Casual Sailing Days
• Junior Program
• Wahine Regatta
• Post Racing Grillmaster Signup
• Potluck Signup
• PRO & Race Committee Volunteer Signup

Social Events

The club has an active social events calendar, including our annual Holiday Party and Summer Party.  After each casual racing event, we also get together for a club BBQ and potluck.

• Holiday Party
• Summer Party
• Movie Night Signup

Full forecast, click here .

Upcoming Events

Bud love fishing tournament 2024, board meeting, talk story with the commodore, club cleanup day, fall i series 2024.

© Kona Sailing Club, all rights reserved.     |      Website Design

Hilo Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Tennis courts, lap pool , kiddie pool, bocce court, gym, half basketball court, sand volleyball. ” in 2 reviews

“ I had the pleasure of dining in with my coworkers in celebration of administratives/secretaries day. ” in 2 reviews

“ We are at the HILO Yacht Club enjoying a jam with Todd Otake . ” in 2 reviews

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Location & Hours

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77 Laehala St

Hilo, HI 96720

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About the Business

Our Club offers Hilo`s only Oceanfront Dining, Caring Service & Aloha, Superb Athletic Facilities, Tennis, Pickle-ball, Beach Volleyball, Swimming and Social Events for its members. …

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I was invited by a member of the Hilo Rotary Club to support a fundraiser and the event was being held at the Hilo Yacht Club. It was a prestigious honor to be invited, honestly, I felt overwhelmed and unsuitable to attend. This was also my first experience at the Hilo Yacht Club and the setting was spectacular, pristine, and elegantly timeless. I had to take a few moments and savor the beauty of the land with the echoing sounds of waves cascading against the shore. The fundraiser event offered "Ono Pupus" from the Hilo Yacht Club's superb culinary team and each appetizer was prepared to perfection. I did my best to stay focused on the event and not get distracted by the ambiance, the service, and the exquisite pupus. Nonetheless, the Hilo Yacht Club is nested alongside the coast in an environment where either direction you look, all you see is nature's majesty. If you are there at the right time of the year, you'll see whales breaching as if they were, "ships passing along the night..." After experiencing the ecosphere of the land, I believe the lack of sailboats and yachts is beneficial to the sanctity of the biosphere. So much was I in awe of such subtle beauty, that words began to dance in the wind as misty raindrops drizzled upon my aura. What most would see as a monotonous moment, I was poetically inspired.

As waves come rolling in... Ai am humbled within the mist of brilliant minds

Hilo Yacht Club has been around for decades, but we only got to visit recently for the 2023 Hilo Brew Fest which was held on the grounds. It's a gorgeous and special spot and worth coming for the view alone. South of Hilo town and the airport, it's in an area we don't get to often either. The Yacht Club has no marina, it's more of a social club but works in conjunction with other yacht clubs around the world. The grounds have a large parking lot with big areas of green grass for events, as well as tennis courts, and a lap pool that overlooks the rocky coast below. Everything is kept green and well manicured, it's a lush spot. The club building itself has a bar, restaurant, and restrooms, as well as facilities outside for when using the active areas. All the staff we met were friendly and attentive to help with the event. We did not eat here, but would love to come back on a normal day to see more of the club. If you're a member of any yacht club and visit the Big Island, make sure to stop here.

Super clean facility, friendly staff providing excellent service. Pre-selected Caesar Salad (for Alzheimer's fundraising luncheon) with fresh mahi was fresh and just the right amount, not tiny and not so much that I had to leave any there. Fish was very good, very well prepared. Fellow guests who ordered the chicken sandwich took one look at our salads and declared that they should have ordered the salad. The sandwich was also freshly prepared, with a very large bun that seemed to dominate the sandwich. Dessert was a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, very good, with 2 very good chocolate chip cookies. Overall a very nice intro to the Hilo Yacht Club, with an impressive demonstration of aloha and service by the staff and management.

It's always a pleasure to visit the Yacht Club. Staff and manager are very friendly and professional. Since it is a membership club they know their people very well.

Excellent value for Sunday brunch and lunch. Love this menu, even includes GF and vegetarian options and flexibility. They are always improving the menu! Staff is so friendly and amazing. They learn and remember your name here! Whale-watching in the afternoons when it's "whale-watching season." The best and perhaps only oceanside place to eat in Hilo!

Fantastic lunch with beautiful ocean views! Started off with kalo fries which were crisp yet moist, and paired with bbq sauce and horseradish mayo. I had the poke topped with avocado which was delicious and left me wanting more. My wife had a fantastic special of the day, which was unagi over mushroom risotto. The eel was braised nicely with sauce, and the risotto was perfect with wonderful mushroom flavor. My dad always gets the Caesar salad which he says is always a winner. And the view is amazing, you can't get any closer to the ocean than this!

See all photos from Jon O. for Hilo Yacht Club

I've been looking forward to dinner at the Hilo Yacht Club and they didn't disappoint! The sweeping sunset Hilo Bay views from our table was amazing and the appetizers were even more so. I'd highly recommend making it a regular dining experience, specially if you like the intimate no rush felling. It was a Korean BBQ Steak dinner night and we mentioned that we would prefer a simple steak with no seasoning sauce and ideally with greens plus bake sweet potatoes would be even better... so they said let's check with the chef. Next thing we know, we got just what we asked for and it was delicious. Much appreciation to the entire team who made sure the experience was of the upmost pleasant ones for those of us that have dietary restrictions.

Went to the Yacht Club and had to update my review. I ordered the prime rib because they have it on the menu for the holidays. I must say that it was very good. Very tasty and cooked perfectly. I wish that they will serve this more often. If they do, then they will have one of the best prime rib dinners in Hilo!

The mighty Yacht Club is no more. It used to have the finest food in a special setting. However, the menu is a total disaster. At the very least, you would think that the deserts would be fine but alas....no. However, there are some positives since I don't want to be totally negative. There is ample parking and the employees are very nice. The bathrooms are very clean too. But back to the food. At the very least, they should have a steak plate, a simple fresh catch (which doesn't include marlin or ono since it's a rubbish fish) like Ahi because it's plentiful in Hilo, Steak and Lobster, and a tasty Kalbi dish. As for deserts, they should at least have something from Zippys for heaven's sake. It would so much better than what they offered. In conclusion, this is just a friendly suggestion to the management in order to prevent current members from quitting. It's very disappointing mainly because the Yacht club was the most upscale restaurant in Hilo. The original members must be turning over in their graves. Hopefully things will improve and the management doesn't take this review in a negative way. It's only to help them.

The food, ambiance, ocean views and friendly service was excellent! Loved the experience!

It was superbly repulsive, I simply couldn't take another bite, despite my ravenous hunger I left the restaurant immediately. Please do not go to this restaurant if you value anything, especially dignity.

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Hilo Yacht Club

Address: 77 Laehala St. Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Hours: 11am to 9pn Daily and 11am to 6pm on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday

Location: Along Oceanfront Keaukaha area of Hilo, Big Island

Parking: Guest Parking

Phone: 808-969-6663

Directions: Head towards Hilo beaches, yacht club is tucked away oceanfront on Laelaha street.

Official Website: Hilo Yacht Club

Additional Resources and Information:

Hilo Sailing - Hawaii Yacht Club

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Hilo's most exclusive private tennis and dining club. A staple steeped in rich oceanfront history with tennis. The Big Island of Hawaii is famous due to its tourist attraction activities, traditional food and much more. There are plenty of places to go and enjoy the delicious food and scenic views. There are the different regions and towns on Big Island, Hawaii, as it is the most oversized island in the United States. Hilo Town in the eastern province of Big Island Hawaii preserves the great beauty regarding the gaming, food, beaches, restaurants, and many more. The Yacht Club is a famous place on Big Island Hawaii for spending quality time with your precious company. It is located at the 77 Laehala Street in Hilo, covering the scenic vies and perfect taste of traditional food. If you want to spend some relaxing time at Hilo, you can visit the Yacht Club. They believe in the integrity of their work, which makes them more attractive to tourists. You will get a homelike atmosphere with a perfect interior and exterior creativity. All the food is fresh, and refreshing to enlighten your mood. When you enter the Yacht Club, you will get a warm welcome from team members and find them supportive throughout your stay at their place.

If you are in Hilo town, it is essential to visit the Yacht Club to enjoy the perfect food, company, and relaxing environment. Hilo Yacht Club's atmosphere is the primary thing that attracts the visitors and the delicious food. The management of Hilo Yacht Club make it a heart touching place for the visitors by giving them the ideal hospitality services. Every customer will get individual member services that help visitors order their required food according to taste. Moreover, the comfortable seating plan in the interior and exterior of the Yacht Club make it more effective. They are constantly striving to give the best services to their potential clients, making them popular among the locals and tourists. Therefore, you will get extraordinary services through friendly team members who provide the ideal services. 

Now, if we talk about the food and the aesthetic views, you will give this place a high ranking - the Hilo Yacht Club. You can enjoy the ideal dinner at the Yacht Club and the perfect service for holiday buffets and social events. Club managers ensure to appoint the executive chef to provide the best traditional and trendy foods. It will always excite the visitors to come and enjoy their meal with scenic views. Keep in mind that Hilo Yacht Club is famous for its food and excellent hospitality services. Moreover, the delicious food and beverage and the comfortable environment make the perfect combination for visitors to come and enjoy. Now, if you are on the Big Island of Hawaii, ensure to go to Hilo to spend quality time enjoying traditional food, shopping, and many other activities. Ensure to keep the Hilo Club at the top of your list when looking into residing in Hilo, Hawaii. The best compliment to owning real estate here.

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Akaka Falls State Park

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Berth and Surf: Discovering the Islands of Hawaii by Superyacht

Hawaii has long been a beacon for surfers and adventurers alike - but with chic hotels and gorgeous beaches, it's also an under-the-radar superyacht playground. Hugh Francis Anderson travels to the Aloha State to catch a few waves.

An endless depth of crystal-clear water lies beneath me, the westerly breeze and warming sun feel almost meditative, and in the distance a humpback whale calf breaches, its flukes rising high into the air before it submerges once again. I’m sitting on a surfboard on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Waiting for a wave has never been this enchanting.

The ocean and the archipelago of Hawaii are inextricably linked. The first settlers are thought to have travelled more than 2,000 nautical miles from the Marquesas Islands in hand-carved canoes to discover its volcanic shores. And it was these settlers who fashioned the first hardwood surfboards that were documented by the Royal Navy's Lieutenant James King in 1779 (the earliest written account of surfing). Two hundred and forty years later its cerulean waters are still a Mecca for professional surfers and first-timers alike. And its location above a volcanic hotspot within the tropical waters of the central Pacific makes it a yachting paradise too.

“Hawaii is a really fun place to sail to,” says Jacob Kahiapo, Hawaiian captain of Sea Ray SLX 400 The Entertainer . “Between California and New Zealand , and Australia and Chile , there’s no better place to stop, enjoy and hang out.” With abundant stretches of isolated beach and rich marine life, providing fantastic diving and sportfishing, the 50th and newest US state has plenty to tempt superyachts to its shores. Its position, more than 2,000 nautical miles from San Francisco, means it requires an adventurous mindset, but 126-metre Octopus , 119-metre Motor Yacht A and 56-metre Asahi have all been spotted here in recent years. Created from volcanic debris that expanded and rose out of the ocean, there are eight large islands and more than 100 smaller islands, islets and atolls to explore by boat. However, I set out to discover the top three for any surfing-inclined superyacht visitor: Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.

Sailing and surfing exist in perfect harmony on the most populated of Hawaii’s islands, Oahu, which is home to both Waikiki Yacht Club and Hawaii Yacht Club. Its less-developed leeward coast hosts the 330-slip Ko Olina Marina (the most sophisticated superyacht set-up in Hawaii) and the Four Seasons Resort Oahu, which opened in 2016. The tropical retreat sits next to a cultural preserve called Lanikuhonua, which was once a holiday home for the island’s royalty, and the surrounding lagoons act as refuge for albatrosses and Hawaiian monk seals.

Oahu may be set up for superyachts and high-profile guests but it also has a rawer side. As I arrive at Haleiwa on the famed North Shore, the fantasy Hawaii that has been depicted in surf sportswear ad campaigns for decades comes to life. The Beach Boys’ Surfin’ USA plays on repeat in my head, surfboards lie propped against rustic homes and the northerly breeze rustles the palm trees that dot the roads. It would be impossible to come here and not try surfing. So, on nearby Haleiwa Beach I meet the Big Wave World Champion, Makua Rothman, and throw myself into the water. With a gentle 30-centimetre swell, I catch my first wave, and then another and another. Rothman cheers wildly, explaining that nothing gives him greater pleasure than sharing his Aloha (positive energy) with others. And I feel the positivity again and again as I stand tall on the 3.5-metre foam board. There’s a magic to riding a wave, a tranquillity that builds to a feeling of unadulterated exhilaration.

The less populated island of Maui is dominated by the West Maui Mountains to the north-west and Haleakalā Volcano to the south-east. Along the west coast at Launiupoko Beach Park, I meet Zane Kekoa Schweitzer, a young waterman (which is surfing jargon for all-round watersports athlete – a grown-up waterbaby) and passionate conservationist. Twice crowned Ultimate Waterman champion – a decathlon of the ocean that includes surfing, longboarding and breath- holding trials – Schweitzer tells me more about the role surfing plays in Hawaii. While we gaze out to sea, with the island of Lanai in the distance, he explains that surfing was a way to connect with the ocean and became a ritualistic art form long before a sport. I notice, listening to other surfers, that they are all aiming for creativity, not performance, on the water.

Schweitzer and I dive into the ocean, carefully avoiding contact with the reef below, and paddle out. “I now get to share what I love the most: the passion that the ocean and nature can bring into our lives,” says Schweitzer as we wait for the next set of waves to roll in. “Once we get in the water we start to see the ocean differently and it really does allow us to be present.” As if by magic, a green turtle surfaces within touching distance of us, unfazed by our presence as if we belong here, too.

After our surf, I travel to the north coast to witness the truly wild side of Hawaii – the Jaws break at Peahi. When the swell rises at this surfers’ paradise, crowds flock to the Peahi cliffs, only accessible by four-wheel drive, to watch the spectacle. I’m fortunate to catch it on a day where there are swells in the region of 20 metres and it’s truly mesmerising to watch men and women towed out by jet skis to take on what looks like an avalanche of water rising from the ocean. The crowd gasps when a rider successfully rides one of the waves double the size of a house.

Away from the rough and tumble, Maui offers more than a touch of luxury. This is especially true at the neoclassical-style Four Seasons Resort Maui, where celebrities including Lea Michele and Paris Hilton have been spotted among the fountains and sunbathing cabanas. Overlooking the pristine Wailea Beach, the palm-tree studded hideaway even has an in-house chiropractor on offer if you have overdone things on the water. The waters off the golden sands of Wailea Beach also have some of the best anchorages in Maui. “The west side of all the islands have a lot of lee, so there are many, many great spots for anchorage,” says Kahiapo. “The sand is thick and deep at 12 metres so yachts can anchor very easily.”

In contrast to the sloping shelves of Wailea Beach, my final destination, Hawaii Island or Big Island, is home to some of the most starkly diverse scenery in Hawaii. The primary reason for this is Kīlauea, Hawaii’s most active volcano, which last erupted just over a year ago. The island is a favourite stop-off for Mike Hein, former captain of 42-metre McMullen & Wing Mea Culpa . “It has some of the world’s bluest water and there’s some amazing fishing east of the Big Island, too,” he says.

As I make my way back along its western shore I see evidence of volcanic activity all around. The island’s far north is covered by dense tropical jungle and waterfalls but on the west side, barren lava fields and dark volcanic rock dominate the landscape. The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is an oasis of verdant manicured lawns and palm tree groves in the otherworldly tundra. It may be 30 minutes from the nearest superyacht anchorage at Kailua- Kona, but its spa, featuring traditional wooden pavilions in its tropical gardens, is worth the effort thanks to its locally inspired treatments. Its Lomi Lomi massage, for example, is a sacred healing technique passed down by kupuna (elders). As such, each therapist has a unique technique, using palms and forearms for a full body massage.

The best way to appreciate this island is from the air, so I set out by helicopter from Kona Airport. We fly over the neat rows of the Kona coffee plantations, gaze into the steaming mouth of the Kīlauea Volcano, continue along the sheer cliffs of the Hamakua coastline and fly deep into Kohala Forest Reserve, home to the 790-metre Waihilau Falls. When returning along the west coast, we spot a pod of dolphins and a few humpback whales with their calves breaching nearby. Hawaii's warm waters attract whales by the thousands to mate and give birth. Watching them from above is an experience like no other.

It is in these waters that my surfing journey culminates. A short drive south of Hualalai at Kahaluu Bay I meet Wesley Moore, founder of Kona Town Surf Adventures. “What makes Kahaluu Beach ideal for surf lessons is the wide-open bay and its ability to provide waves for all skill levels,” he says. “Kahaluu’s inside reef produces soft rolling waves that make it easy for first-timers. The more comfortable the surfer gets, the further outside the break they’re able to go and test their skill level.” From 30-centimetre beginner swells to 2.5-metre waves, Kahaluu Bay has it all. And it is here that I ecstatically catch my final waves. Heeding the advice of my surfing gurus, I take a moment to rest on my board and look out to sea.

Hawaii is a state of vivid contrasts – volcanic cliffs melt into golden sand beaches and laidback hippy surfers rub shoulders with designer-clad celebrities. There are few locations that offer superyachts a sense of natural adventure in such close proximity to world-renowned resorts. And if you’ve ever had a desire to surf, there’s no greater place to do so – trust me.

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Attractions

• Rainbow Falls
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Thurston Lava Tube
• Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
• Liliuokalani Gardens
• Kona (Kailua-Kona)
• Kealakekua Bay
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• Best food & culinary tours in Big Island of Hawaii
• Family-friendly things to do in Big Island of Hawaii.
• Rainy day activities in Big Island of Hawaii
• Senior-friendly tours, activities and things to do in Big Island of Hawaii
• The Top 10 Big Island of Hawaii Tours and Activities of 2024
• The best tours and activities for culture lovers in Big Island of Hawaii
• Things to do in Big Island of Hawaii this summer
• Top Day Trips from Big Island of Hawaii
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• Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise from Waikoloa

Discover the Big Island’s vibrant underwater world on this glass-bottom boat cruise on Anaeho’omalu Bay. From Waikoloa, near Kona, board a comfortable 26-foot (7.9-meter) boat... Read More

• Glass-bottom Boat Reef Tour

Our tours depart from the Kailua-Kona pier on the Big Island of Hawaii. Discover the beauty of Kona's underwater world aboard Marian, a 36-foot (10-meter), custom-designed glass-bottom boat.... Read More

• Kona-Kohala Coast Sunset Sail by Catamaran from Waikoloa

Explore the Waikoloa and Kohala-Kona coastline aboard The Spirit of Aloha, a 54-foot sailing catamaran. Catch the moment the sun slips below the horizon. You... Read More

• Afternoon Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument

A three hour tour you won't want to miss! Set Sail down the Majestic Kona Coastline with breathtaking views of landscaped ledges of ancient lava flows. As you... Read More

• Atlantis Submarine Kona - Hawaii Island

Discover our world beneath the waves with Atlantis Submarines Kona! Our battery-powered vessels are the world’s most technologically advanced passenger submarines. A special added bonus... Read More

• Premium Kona Coast Morning Snorkel

Adventure down the Southern Kona Coast on our fleet of covered boats for everyone’s comfort. Snorkel the pristine Puʻuhonua O Honaunau (The Place of Refuge)... Read More

• Sunset Sail Experience at Kona from Honokohau

Explore the beautiful Kona coastline from while aboard the Honi Olani, a 53-foot sailing catamaran. Catch the moment the sun slips below the horizon...you may... Read More

Historical Dinner Cruise to Kealakekua Bay

Set sail on the west coast of Hawaii Island for a 3-hour cruise to Captain Cook’s Monument for dinner, as a local historian shares stories... Read More

Whale Watching Tour: Whales guaranteed in Kona Waikoloa

See whales guaranteed or cruise again free! Available daily when in-season, DECEMBER through APRIL, Whales Guaranteed: If you don't see whales on any of our... Read More

Sunset Manta Ray Tour in Kailua-Kona

Join us on a fun and exciting sunset Manta Ray Tour. Voted a top 10 activity to experience in your lifetime. We will check you... Read More

Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour from Kona

The manta ray night snorkel was voted "One of the Top 10 Things To Do in Your Life" by the Travel Channel! Experience the Kona... Read More

Deluxe Morning Snorkeling Adventure

Take in the Big Island of Hawai’i as you haven’t before, and snorkel at two of South Kona’s most precious treasures –Pu’uhonua O Honaunau and Kealakekua... Read More

Deluxe Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument

Set Sail down the Majestic Kona Coastline with breathtaking views of landscaped ledges of ancient lava flows. As you arrive at the "World Famous Captain Cook Monument"... Read More

Private Charter: Customizable Big Island Boat Adventure

Are you looking to relax with your family or friends? Our modern powered catamaran is designed for open ocean conditions that will allow our passengers... Read More

Kealakekua Bay Captain Cook Snorkel Exclusive

With the world-renowned and historic destination of Kealakekua Bay just minutes from our point of departure, the Captain Cook Exclusive is a personal, exciting, and... Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given to customers' questions.

Q: What are the best options for Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours?

A: According to verified reviews on Cool Hawaii and TripAdvisor, the best Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours are:

Q: What are the best kid-friendly options for Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours Activities?

A: According to verified reviews on Cool Hawaii and TripAdvisor, the best kid-friendly Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours are:

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Q: Which Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours have Instant Confirmation?

A: Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours with Instant Confirmation include:

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Q: Which Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours have Free Cancellation?

A: Big Island of Hawaii Boat Tours with Free Cancellation (in most cases up to 24 hours in advance of your activity date, check the specific activity page) include:

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Q: Got any more Big Island of Hawaii trip ideas?

A: We sure do. Check out our curated lists of hand-picked Big Island of Hawaii Activities.

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Q: What are the most popular styles of Tours and Activities in Big Island of Hawaii?

A: Based on our sales data over the past year, the most popular styles of tours and activities in Big Island of Hawaii are:

• Big Island of Hawaii Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours
• Big Island of Hawaii Tours & Sightseeing
• Big Island of Hawaii Snorkeling
• Big Island of Hawaii Outdoor Activities

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Popular Big Island of Hawaii Attractions

• Banyan Drive
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Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use, and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You.

We use Your Personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Interpretation and Definitions

Interpretation The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions.

The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural.

Definitions For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

• You  means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable. Under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), You can be referred to as the Data Subject or as the User as you are the individual using the Service.
• Company  (referred to as either “the Company”, “We”, “Us” or “Our” in this Agreement) refers to Cool Hawaii, [ADDRESS]. For the purpose of the GDPR, the Company is the Data Controller.
• Affiliate  means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where “control” means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest, or other securities entitled to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority.
• Account  means a unique account created for You to access our Service or parts of our Service.
• Website  refers to Cool Hawaii, accessible from https://www.coolhawaii.com.
• Service  refers to the Website.
• Country  refers to: United States of America
• Service Provider  means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Company. It refers to third-party companies or individuals employed by the Company to facilitate the Service, to provide the Service on behalf of the Company, to perform services related to the Service, or to assist the Company in analyzing how the Service is used. For the purpose of the GDPR, Service Providers are considered Data Processors.
• Third-party Social Media Service  refers to any website or any social network website through which a User can log in or create an account to use the Service.
• Facebook Fan Page  is a public profile named Cool Hawaii specifically created by the Company on the Facebook social network.
• Personal Data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. For the purposes of GDPR, Personal Data means any information relating to You such as a name, an identification number, location data, online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity. For the purposes of the CCPA, Personal Data means any information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with You.
• Cookies  are small files that are placed on Your computer, mobile device, or any other device by a website, containing the details of Your browsing history on that website among its many uses.
• Device  means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone, or a digital tablet.
• Usage Data  refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
• Data Controller , for the purposes of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), refers to the Company as the legal person which alone or jointly with others determines the purposes and means of the processing of Personal Data.
• Do Not Track  (DNT) is a concept that has been promoted by US regulatory authorities, in particular the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for the Internet industry to develop and implement a mechanism for allowing Internet users to control the tracking of their online activities across websites.
• Business , for the purpose of the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), refers to the Company as the legal entity that collects Consumers’ personal information and determines the purposes and means of the processing of Consumers’ personal information, or on behalf of which such information is collected and that alone, or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of consumers’ personal information, that does business in the State of California.
• Consumer , for the purpose of the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), means a natural person who is a California resident. A resident, as defined in the law, includes (1) every individual who is in the USA for other than a temporary or transitory purpose, and (2) every individual who is domiciled in the USA who is outside the USA for a temporary or transitory purpose.
• Sale , for the purpose of the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), means selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating orally, in writing, or by electronic or other means, a Consumer’s Personal Information to another business or a third party for monetary or other valuable consideration.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of data collected.

Personal Data While using Our Service, We may ask You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify You. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:

• Email address
• First name and last name
• Phone number
• City, State/Province, ZIP/Postal code, Country

Usage Data Usage Data is collected automatically when using the Service.

Usage Data may include information such as Your Device’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that You visit, the time and date of Your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

When You access the Service by or through a mobile device, We may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device You use, Your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of Your mobile device, Your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser You use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

We may also collect information that Your browser sends whenever You visit our Service or when You access the Service by or through a mobile device.

Information from Third-Party Social Media Services The Company allows You to create an account and log in to use the Service through the following Third-party Social Media Services:

If You decide to register through or otherwise grant us access to a Third-Party Social Media Service, We may collect Personal data that is already associated with Your Third-Party Social Media Service’s account, such as Your name, Your email address, Your activities or Your contact list associated with that account.

You may also have the option of sharing additional information with the Company through Your Third-Party Social Media Service’s account. If You choose to provide such information and Personal Data, during registration or otherwise, You are giving the Company permission to use, share, and store it in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy.

Tracking Technologies and Cookies

We use Cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on Our Service and store certain information. Tracking technologies used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze Our Service.

You can instruct Your browser to refuse all Cookies or to indicate when a Cookie is being sent. However, if You do not accept Cookies, You may not be able to use some parts of our Service.

Cookies can be “Persistent” or “Session” Cookies. Persistent Cookies remain on your personal computer or mobile device when You go offline, while Session Cookies are deleted as soon as You close your web browser. Learn more about cookies in Wodu’s  “What Are Cookies”  article.

We use both session and persistent Cookies for the purposes set out below:

• Necessary / Essential Cookies Type: Session Cookies Administered by: Us Purpose: These Cookies are essential to provide You with services available through the Website and to enable You to use some of its features. They help to authenticate users and prevent fraudulent use of user accounts. Without these Cookies, the services that You have asked for cannot be provided, and We only use these Cookies to provide You with those services.
• Cookies Policy / Notice Acceptance Cookies Type: Persistent Cookies Administered by: Us Purpose: These Cookies identify if users have accepted the use of cookies on the Website.
• Functionality Cookies Type: Persistent Cookies Administered by: Us Purpose: These Cookies allow us to remember choices You make when You use the Website, such as remembering your login details or language preference. The purpose of these Cookies is to provide You with a more personal experience and to avoid You having to re-enter your preferences every time You use the Website.
• Tracking and Performance Cookies Type: Persistent Cookies Administered by: Third-Parties Purpose: These Cookies are used to track information about traffic to the Website and how users use the Website. The information gathered via these Cookies may directly or indirectly identify you as an individual visitor. This is because the information collected is typically linked to a pseudonymous identifier associated with the device you use to access the Website. We may also use these Cookies to test new advertisements, pages, features, or new functionality of the Website to see how our users react to them.

For more information about the cookies we use and your choices regarding cookies, please visit our Cookie Policy .

Use of Your Personal Data

The Company may use Personal Data for the following purposes:

• To provide and maintain our Service , including to monitor the usage of our Service.
• To manage Your Account:  to manage Your registration as a user of the Service. The Personal Data You provide can give You access to different functionalities of the Service that are available to You as a registered user.
• For the performance of a contract:  the development, compliance and undertaking of the purchase contract for the products, items or services You have purchased or of any other contract with Us through the Service.
• To contact You:  To contact You by email, telephone calls, SMS, or other equivalent forms of electronic communication, such as a mobile application’s push notifications regarding updates or informative communications related to the functionalities, products or contracted services, including the security updates, when necessary or reasonable for their implementation.
• To provide You  with news, special offers and general information about other goods, services and events which we offer that are similar to those that you have already purchased or enquired about unless You have opted not to receive such information.
• To manage Your requests:  To attend and manage Your requests to Us.

We may share your personal information in the following situations:

• With Service Providers:  We may share Your personal information with Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service, to advertise on third party websites to You after You visited our Service, for payment processing, to contact You.
• For Business transfers:  We may share or transfer Your personal information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of Company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.
• With Affiliates:  We may share Your information with Our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy. Affiliates include Our parent company and any other subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other companies that We control or that are under common control with Us.
• With Business partners:  We may share Your information with Our business partners to offer You certain products, services or promotions.
• With other users:  when You share personal information or otherwise interact in the public areas with other users, such information may be viewed by all users and may be publicly distributed outside. If You interact with other users or register through a Third-Party Social Media Service, Your contacts on the Third-Party Social Media Service may see Your name, profile, pictures and description of Your activity. Similarly, other users will be able to view descriptions of Your activity, communicate with You and view Your profile.

Retention of Your Personal Data

The Company will retain Your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use Your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.

The Company will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of Our Service, or We are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods.

Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your information, including Personal Data, is processed at the Company’s operating offices and in any other places where the parties involved in the processing are located. It means that this information may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of Your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from Your jurisdiction.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by Your submission of such information represents Your agreement to that transfer.

The Company will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that Your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of Your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of Your data and other personal information.

Disclosure of Your Personal Data

Business Transactions If the Company is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, Your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before Your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

Law enforcement Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to disclose Your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

Other legal requirements The Company may disclose Your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with a legal obligation
• Protect and defend the rights or property of the Company
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• Protect the personal safety of Users of the Service or the public
• Protect against legal liability

Security of Your Personal Data

The security of Your Personal Data is important to Us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect Your Personal Data, We cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Detailed Information on the Processing of Your Personal Data

Service Providers have access to Your Personal Data only to perform their tasks on Our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

Analytics We may use third-party Service providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.

• Google Analytics Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network. You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity. For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page:  https://policies. google .com/privacy?hl=en .

Email Marketing We may use Your Personal Data to contact You with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials, and other information that may be of interest to You. You may opt-out of receiving any, or all, of these communications from Us by following the unsubscribe link or instructions provided in any email We send or by contacting Us.

Behavioral Remarketing The Company uses remarketing services to advertise on third party websites to You after You visited our Service. We and Our third-party vendors use cookies to inform, optimize, and serve ads based on Your past visits to our Service.

• Google Ads (AdWords) Google Ads (AdWords) remarketing service is provided by Google Inc. You can opt-out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising and customize the Google Display Network ads by visiting the Google Ads Settings page:  http://www.google.com/settings/ads . Google also recommends installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on –  https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout  – for your web browser. Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on provides visitors with the ability to prevent their data from being collected and used by Google Analytics. For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page:  https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en .
• Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads) Remarketing Bing Ads remarketing service is provided by Microsoft Inc. You can opt-out of Bing Ads interest-based ads by following their instructions:  https://advertise.bingads.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/policies/personalized-ads . You can learn more about the privacy practices and policies of Microsoft by visiting their Privacy Policy page:  https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/PrivacyStatement .
• Twitter Twitter remarketing service is provided by Twitter Inc. You can opt-out from Twitter’s interest-based ads by following their instructions:  https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170405 . You can learn more about the privacy practices and policies of Twitter by visiting their Privacy Policy page:  https://twitter.com/privacy .
• Facebook Facebook remarketing service is provided by Facebook Inc. You can learn more about interest-based advertising from Facebook by visiting this page:  https://www.facebook.com/help /1649686938 37950 . To opt-out from Facebook’s interest-based ads, follow these instructions from Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/help /5681374933 02217 . Facebook adheres to the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioural Advertising established by the Digital Advertising Alliance. You can also opt-out from Facebook and other participating companies through the Digital Advertising Alliance in the USA  http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ , the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada in Canada  http://youradchoices.ca/  or the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance in Europe  http://www.youronlinechoices.eu/ , or opt-out using your mobile device settings. For more information on the privacy practices of Facebook, please visit Facebook’s Data Policy:  https://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation .
• AdRoll AdRoll remarketing service is provided by Semantic Sugar, Inc. You can opt-out of AdRoll remarketing by visiting this AdRoll Advertising Preferences web page:  http://info.evidon.com/pub_info/573?v=1&nt=1&nw=false . For more information on the privacy practices of AdRoll, please visit the AdRoll Privacy Policy web page:  http://www.adroll.com/about/privacy
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Images of Old Hawaiʻi

April 21, 2015 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Hilo Yacht Club

While the Club’s website suggests it formed in 1913, the January 20, 1897 issue of Pacific Commercial Advertiser noted, “The past week has recorded another innovation in Hilo the organization of the Hilo Yacht Club …”

It will “aim to encourage aquatic sports and athletics. The initiatory meeting was held on Saturday evening, the 9th (1897)… Within five days the membership roll included 75 names…”

The original site of the Club was the CC Kennedy home built before 1900 and situated near Reeds Bay. The Club maintained a small boat house and several boats to support the lively interest in competitive rowing. During the early years the Club entered rowing competitions in both Hilo and Honolulu against Honolulu rowing crews.

By 1919 the growth and success of the Club prompted members to begin a drive to replace the Kennedy house. Likewise, members concerned with the potential liability from the Club’s indebtedness wanted the protection of the corporation and incorporation was accomplished on December 18, 1919.

Then, expansion took place.

“Architect Davis of the firm Ripley & Davis is preparing plans for the Hilo Yacht Club building, which is to be erected on the Cocoanut Island side of the Hilo Wharf. There is much enthusiasm among the members of the newly formed club and all are anxious to get into their club quarters.” (Star-bulletin, August 16, 1913)

On September 10, 1937 the Yacht Club’s lease came up for renewal. Charles C Pietsch, a prominent Honolulu realtor, outbid the Yacht Club trustees after spirited bidding.

The Inter-Island Steamship Company, the Hilo Hotel and Doris Duke Cromwell were among the possible interested parties.

By April 1938, the community learned that a group of Hilo businessmen headed by Senator WH “Doc” Hill, a Yacht Club member, was negotiating a lease from Pietsch for the purpose of building the Naniloa Hotel.

Having lost the lease, the Hilo Yacht Club, in 1939, moved, again, relocated and renovated the Keaukaha home of Frank Harlocker, on 2.84-acres. (Wilson)

Frank Arakawa, county architect, was hired to draw up plans and specifications for a combination dance pavilion and badminton court, a bar room, alterations to the former Harlocker home and a swimming pool and bathhouse.

The Clubhouse included the new pavilion and the former Harlocker home. The remodeled home included a reception room, dining room, kitchen, ladies’ dressing room, and men’s smoking room.

In 1939 the Club membership included: 106-resident members, 21-lady members, two-junior members, four-life members, one-honorary member and 66-nonresident members.

Just before 7 am on April 1, 1946 a devastating tsunami hit the Island of Hawaiʻi; the water rose up to the level of the steps. Staff was able to escape by the back roads the tsunami washed away all buildings on the site of the Yacht Club.

A bathhouse was quickly rebuilt at the swimming pool, and by July the swimming pool was reopened. The Clubhouse was not so easily restored. The Yacht Club made arrangements with the Girl Scouts to use their clubhouse (until 1949 when the present clubhouse was completed.)

I recently attended a function at the Hilo Yacht Club; unlike prior days (with a ‘boathouse’ and ‘several boats,’) there were no boats in sight.

It seems the mission of organizing a ‘social club’ promoting ‘other’ pastimes is being fulfilled.

The club website notes, “The recreational focal point of the Club is the spacious ocean view pool enjoyed throughout the year. For those who prefer outdoor sports, the club maintains three tennis courts, a black sand volleyball court and a new Fitness Center.”

A recent Club newsletter notes current membership includes: 511-resident members, 38-allied members, 20-honorary members and 55-nonresident members (624-total.) (Lots of information and images from Hilo Yacht Club.)

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Better Sailing

Living on a Boat in Hawaii: What you Need to Know (Best Liveaboard Marinas, Costs, etc)

The Hawaiian Islands have some of the world’s best sailing opportunities. It’s among the top destinations for sailors and offers many activities and amazing places to explore. For liveaboards, life can be cheap in Hawaii in comparison with the other US States. For example, throughout the year, Waikiki provides consistent wind and a generally tranquil bay for sailing and powerboating. Everyone enjoys scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming in the crystal-clear water off their boat. It truly is the lifestyle of a lifetime! On the other hand, there are a limited number of slips and moorings accessible in Hawaii. So, let’s speak about the liveaboard life in Hawaii, follow me!

Information about Living Aboard in Hawaii

You are not allowed to live aboard a boat in Hawaii or even on an offshore mooring. But, this does not apply to all marinas and locations. Furthermore, some marinas allow you to stay 90 or 120 days in marinas and harbors in Hawaii. In that situation, you can liveaboard using the facilities there. But, you’ll have to pay a lot of money per week to stay there. You can, however, live onboard if you travel from one marina to the next and stay for a specific amount of time. For example, if you owe a 50 feet boat you will be paying around $400 per week. These are in addition to the card fee for bathrooms and more for shore power. In addition, there are certain restrictions on mooring vessels utilized for living aboard in small boat harbors other than Ala Wai and Keehi.

Keep in mind that a lot of harbors don’t even have the aforementioned facilities. But, the yacht harbor in Ala Wai does. If you belong to a yacht club, you can stay on their moorings in Lahaina as a guest. You will still be charged, but it is a lovely environment. Even if you are in a mooring area, you will be charged for the overall length of your vessel rather than the deck length. And, even if moorings are not available, you will be charged for anchorage. And, this may put your boat on the rocks with a slight breeze.

Note that according to the Hawaiian department of land and natural resources, the department may permit the operator of a vessel to moor the vessel and liveaboard. This applies for a period that doesn’t exceed thirty days at any one small boat harbor during the calendar year. Moreover, the operator applies for and receives a living aboard permission. This allows the designated individuals to dwell onboard the operator’s vessel.

Small boat harbors are built, operated, and maintained primarily to provide public recreational boating opportunities and to promote the fishing sector. To achieve these goals, an application for a living aboard permit must be reviewed. Also, the department may request additional information to determine the effect or likelihood of the permit’s issuance on the most efficient use of small boat harbor facilities for recreational boating activities. The department will not provide a permit to live aboard a vessel unless the application and supporting evidence clearly show that doing so is not in the public interest or otherwise illegal.

>>Also Read: Best Time to Sail to Hawaii

Costs of Living Aboard in Hawaii

The fees for a marina slip determine a lot. You still have to pay for things like energy, the internet, etc. It’s important to note that as the space is limited when living aboard, you have to be a bit of a minimalist to live full time aboard a boat. Maintenance, insurance, and other steady costs are also important to keep in mind. For example, outside of Honolulu, a monthly fee of $610 is charged for a 35′ slip. You also have to pay for electricity. As a matter of fact, the closer you get to Honolulu, the more expensive it will be.

Don’t forget to check beforehand so as to see if there are any mooring possibilities without long waitlists. It may be difficult to get things to work out if there’s a 6-month waitlist. On Oahu, long-term mooring isn’t recommended. Most harbors have long waiting lists. Also, the locations you might be able to get into aren’t the safest for your belongings due to criminality. You will have a better chance on the outer islands. Although Hawaii is expensive, it is not significantly more so than other states on the mainland. Some of them already have a poor reputation for the cost of living. In other words, what you need for the liveaboard life in Hawaii is a decent budget and a spacious vessel. This, of course, will depend on your needs and crew.

Facilities and Liveaboard Life in Hawaii

In general, it’s not so easy to be a liveaboard in Hawaii. This is because the facilities are mostly nonexistent, a private marina is a far better choice if space is available. Also, most goods are extremely expensive. On top of that, the currents, wind, and waves in the channels can be dangerous at times. So, unless you have a very solid heavy displacement cruiser, you may find yourself waiting to cross. And, based on the disappearance of offshore moorings, more things have only gotten more expensive and less welcoming. Keep in mind that criminality in Hawaii is also increasing dramatically.

Ala Moana Marina is a marina in Ala Moana, Hawaii. It is close to all of Waikiki’s bustle, Ala Moana’s massive retail area, and downtown, and the rent is more than reasonable. There appears to be a community of people who live on their boats and mingle with one another, sitting on piers with their beverages to watch sunsets, assisting one another with repairs, and so on. The marina’s rules required that the boat be a “sailable” boat, which meant that you had to take it out of your slip at least once a year.

Some sailors state that even if the Hawaiian Islands have hundreds of miles of shoreline many areas are the most boat-hostile places they’ve never been. Even for the boating community, it’s pricey there, and the boating laws are far too restrictive. Many boaters end up selling their boats and settling down on land. However, it’s a wonderful location to be if you can afford it and don’t mind the restrictions but be prepared for dealing with difficulties. Lastly, hurricanes and bad weather are also common in the Hawaiian Islands.

>>Also Read: Living on a Boat in California: What you Need to Know

Best Marinas in Hawaii

Ala wai yacht harbor.

The Ala Wai Yacht Harbor is the largest and most well-known harbor. Despite the fact that obtaining a permanent slip can take anywhere from two to three years, the harbor provides a 120-day interim permit. It can also fit some rather large yachts and is relatively inexpensive. This, however, depends on the size of your boat. A 40-foot sail yacht, for example, would cost $15.63 per day. The representatives can provide you with an estimate for any size boat over the phone.

The Ala Wai Harbor is the finish line of the world-famous Transpac sailing event, which takes place every two years from Los Angeles to Honolulu. There is a big canal that is easy to navigate and is close to all of Honolulu’s attractions. The Waikiki Yacht Club and the Hawaii Yacht Club are two private yacht clubs in Honolulu. Both offer permanent slips for boats of all sizes. These clubs are located directly across the street from the Ala Wai Harbor. The wait for regular members of either club can range from two to ten years, but temporary slips are possible.

Kewalo Harbor

Honolulu’s Kewalo Harbor is another wonderful option. Kewalo Harbor is located in Honolulu’s Kaka’ako district, where new and gorgeous apartments are being built. The length of the slips varies between 40 and 100 feet. Three loading docks, electricity, water, vehicle parking, and facilities are available to both members and visitors. It would be quite easy to live in a condo across the street and have a boat slip at Kewalos. After a day on the beach, Ward town has a plethora of stores and excellent eateries to choose from. You’d still head straight out the huge channel and up to Diamond Head to take advantage of everything Waikiki has to offer.

Ko Olina Marina

The full-service 342-slip Ko Olina Marina, located on Oahu’s picturesque leeward shore, contains state-of-the-art Bellingham floating docks and the Ko Olina Activity Building. The first marina built in Hawaii in almost 30 years, and the only one intended to fulfill the needs of world-class megayachts, opened in 2000. The marina received the Marina Dock Age magazine’s “Marina of the Year Award” in 2008.

Honokohau Harbor

Between the Kona Airport and the town of Kailua-Kona sits Honokohau Harbor. Grander Alley, located just beyond the harbor, offers world-class sportfishing. This is a fantastic tiny boat harbor. There is plenty of free parking. Restrooms are clean and there are plenty of facilities.This is where dive boats, snorkeling cruises, fishing charters, and other activities depart from. Two boat launches are available. The harbor has two sides. On one side, there’s a dive shop, as well as locations to have a drink or a bite to eat.

Kaneohe Yacht Club

The Kaneohe Yacht Club was founded in 1924. Its goal was to encourage and promote a love of sailing, powerboating, and other maritime sports via competitive, recreational, and social events. They offer first-class harbor facilities, clubhouse, and other amenities. Moreover, they create a refuge on Windward Oahu for boating enthusiasts. All these encourage good seamanship, education, and an overall attitude of excellence.

Outside of Honolulu

You have a couple of different possibilities if you choose to round the island and leave Honolulu. Ko’olina Marina is located in Kapolei on the west side of the island. This is a liveaboard marina with water, electricity, cable television hookup, phone, laundry and washroom facilities. There’s also a picnic area with grill, and a secured entrance. A 160-foot floating fuel dock with a pump out station offers both diesel and gasoline. There is a $2.50 per foot per day guest charge, as well as a permanent slip waiting list. Ko’olina is an excellent site to dock your boat. This is because there are many activities and shops around it.

Haleiwa Harbor is a tiny boat harbor on the North Shore. This is the most difficult harbor to get a long-term slip in. Because it is the only safe harbor on the North Shore, the waiting period is around 10 years. Many boaters sail up to Waimea Bay in the summer and anchor on the sand. They cook on their boats and stay for days at a time just to swim and kayak in the gorgeous lake. It’s quite pleasant and serene, and I would recommend it to any cruiser. If you plan on staying for several days, a small dingy can be useful for getting groceries or going to supper in Haleiwa town.

Another alternative is to purchase a home that has a boat slip. The Makani Kai Marina is one of the greatest communities. Big 2-3 bedroom suites with Kaneohe Bay views, large lanais, a pool, clubhouse, and a private marina are available in these condos. Because the units are exceptionally unusual and rarely appear on the market, they sell for between $700,000 and $800,000 depending on size and view and include your own boat slip. This marina has large docks, and the world-class Kaneohe sandbar is easily accessible from the canal.

The townhome apartments at Gateway Peninsula at West Marina, Hawaii Kai, also include boat slips. There are 3 bedroom/2 bath homes with access to Koko Marina and close proximity to Honolulu. All these start in the high $800s. You may take your boat to some of the fantastic eateries along the river, such as Kona Brewing Company or Assaggio’s Italian, or go shopping at Costco. If you want to have a motorboat right outside your door, there are a variety of single-family house alternatives on the canal. Although there are certain size restrictions, it is still a fantastic alternative for the avid powerboater.

>>Also Read: Best Sailing Destinations in Hawaii

Living on a Boat in Hawaii – The Bottom Line

So, living aboard your boat is feasible in Hawaii but you will probably encounter some difficulties. This is due to the State’s laws, expensive slip rates, not so many liveaboard communities, and inclement weather. However, if you have decided that you want to liveaboard in Hawaii you can do it. You just have to plan and organize yourself and your boat ahead of time, do some research and contact the marinas of your preference. Keep in mind that a standard mooring permit, as well as additional permission, is required to reside aboard a boat, resulting in a higher rent charge. Proposed legislation that would increase slip rental prices might have a significant impact on the Ala Wai Harbor’s unique and colorful community of boat owners. And, this includes individuals who live aboard their vessels full time.

I hope that this article has helped you find out whether or not you want to liveaboard in Hawaii. It is totally feasible and it can also be a unique experience if you choose the right marina and location. I wish you all luck with your research!

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Yacht Life on Oahu – Where to Keep Your Boat?

• By Hawai'i Life

July 25, 2017

The Hawaiian Islands offer some of the best sailing in the world. As an avid skipper myself (and by avid I mean completely addicted to sailing), and being around boats my entire life, it was something that drew me to Oahu and made it my permanent home. Waikiki offers steady wind and a relatively calm bay for sailing and power boating all year. Diving, snorkeling, and swimming off your boat in the crystal-clear water is something everyone loves to do. It really is living the dream lifestyle! However, with the limited slips and moorings available on Oahu, let’s talk about where you can keep your boat when you live on Oahu.

Ala Wai Yacht Harbor

The largest and most well-known harbor is the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor located at 1651 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815. Even though the wait for a permeant slip can be 2 to several years, the harbor offers a temporary permit for 120 days a year. It is also relatively inexpensive depending on the size of your boat and can accommodate some pretty large vessels. For example, a 40-foot sail yacht would cost $15.63 per day. The representatives can easily quote you on any size boat via their direct phone line at: (808) 973-9727

Bondi Tram anchored for some swimming and diving in Waikiki

The Ala Wai Harbor is the end point of the world famous Transpac sailing race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, which takes place every two years. It was just completed this year with the last yacht arriving in Honolulu on July 21st, 2017. There is a large channel that is easy to maneuver and is close to everything Honolulu has to offer.

There are two private yacht clubs in Honolulu: the Waikiki Yacht Club and the Hawaii Yacht Club. Both offer permanent slips for all different sized yachts. These clubs are located right next to the Ala Wai Harbor. As a regular member of either club, the wait can be anywhere from 2 to 10 years, but temporary slips are available. Both clubs have restaurants, bars, and a lot of ocean activities to participate in such as canoe paddling, Cal 20 races, and sailing lessons. Hawaii Yacht club hosts the weekly Friday night “Beer Can” sail yacht races, with live music to follow at each club. I frequent at both clubs weekly, and they are highly enjoyable, filled with great people that love to spend time sailing or power boating.

50-foot temp slip in Ala Wai Yacht Harbor

Kewalo Harbor

Kewalo Harbor is another excellent option located at 1125 Ala Moana Blvd. B-1 Honolulu, HI 96814. Kewalo Harbor is in the Kaka’ako District of Honolulu where new and beautifully build condominiums are going up. See my other blog on “Living in Kaka’ako.”   Slips range from 40 to 100 feet. Both members and visitors have access to three loading docks, electricity, water, vehicle parking and restrooms. Living across the street in a condo and having your boat slip in Kewalos would be very convenient. Ward village offers a ton of shops and great restaurants to eat at after a day on the ocean. You would still go right out the large channel and head for diamond head to enjoy all Waikiki has to offer.

Diamond Head and the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor

Outside Honolulu

If you choose to circle the island and leave Honolulu, you have a few other options.  On the west side, there is Ko’olina Marina located at 92-100 Waipahe Pl, Kapolei, HI 96707. This is a live aboard marina that has access to water, electricity, cable television hookup, telephone, laundry and restroom facilities, picnic area with barbecue and gated entry to the Marina. There is a 160-foot floating fuel dock offering both diesel and gasoline with a pump out station. Guest rates are $2.50 per foot per day as well as a waiting list for permanent slips. Surrounded by hotels, golf courses, and restaurants, Ko’olina is a great place to park your yacht. The snorkeling on the west side is phenomenal, and dolphins are known to swim very close to shore every day giving you the opportunity to see these beautiful animals. There are a lot of properties to choose from if you are thinking of buying a home in Ko’olina. Townhouses on the golf courses, villas, condominiums and single family homes, most offering two or three bedrooms are all inside this gated community and minutes from the marina.

The small boat harbor on the North Shore is called Haleiwa Harbor. This is actually the toughest harbor to secure a long-term slip. The wait time is 8-20 years as it is the only safe harbor on the North Shore. During the summer months, many boaters sail up to Waimea Bay and anchor on the sand. They grill off their boats and sleep over for days at a time to just swim and kayak in the beautiful water. I have personally done this, and it is so relaxing, peaceful, and I highly recommend it to any cruiser. If you are staying for many days, it helps to have a small dingy to go into shore to get supplies or go to dinner in Haleiwa town.

Another option is buying a property that comes with a boat slip. One of my favorite gated communities is the Makani Kai Marina located at 45-995 Wailele Rd, Kaneohe 96744. These condos offer large 2-3 bedroom units with Kaneohe Bay Views, large lanais, a pool, clubhouse and a private Marina. As the units are extremely rare and hardly come on the market, when they do, they range from $700k-$800k depending on the size and view and come with your own boat slip. Large slips are available in this marina and the world-class Kaneohe sandbar is easy to access from the channel.

Hawaii Kai Slips

Gateway Peninsula located in West Marina, Hawaii Kai, offers boat slips with their townhome units. 3 bedroom/2 baths range in the high $800k and offer access to Koko Marina and are located very close to Honolulu. You can take your powerboat to some of the great restaurants such as Kona brewing company or Assaggio’s Italian, or do your weekly shopping at Costco from the waterway. There are lots of single family home options on the waterway if you wish to have a power boat sitting outside your door. Size restrictions do matter, but it’s another great option for the avid power boater.

Racing in Honolulu

All in all, here on Oahu we have a great sailing and power yachting community. There is nothing better than a great day out on the ocean. Contact me if you have more questions about the boating life on Oahu , or if you plan to move to the islands with or without your yacht. Also, I must add, if you are wondering how to get your boat here, I deliver yachts from the mainland if you prefer to have her sailed over!

Posted on July 25, 2017 in Lifestyle , Oahu , Oceanfront , Beach Villas at Ko Olina , Big Island , boat , Condos , For Sale , Hawaii , Hawaii Yacht Club , ko'olina marina , sailing , Transpac , Waikiki , waikiki yacht club , yacht

Hawai'i Life

You can email me at companyblog@hawaiilife.com or via phone at (800) 370-3848 .

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My gosh Ashley you are so knowledgeable. I want to go sailing with you.

Leiola Augustine

July 31, 2017

What a well written article Ashely! You’ve got just enough information to keep the dream alive without overwhelming the reader. I’ll be sure to reference this article in the future. Costco via boat!?!?! Incredible…..

Fannie Cline

August 8, 2017

Great in-depth overview of options Ashley! Mahalo!

Yacht charter Monaco

August 23, 2017

Hey Ashley Bailey, Nice blog. The yachts are very beautiful nad the information you shared is very nice. If you want you can also visit Superyacht charter Monaco .

Alan McConnell

November 20, 2017

Great article, Ashley. I wish only to point out that Keehi Small Boat State) harbor and Keehi Sailing club (private) are at 4 Sand Island Access Road, near HNL airport. The former typically has temporary offshore mooring most of the time, and some temporary slips are sometimes available.

Waianae also has a recreational harbor in the north-west side of Oahu, as does Kailua to the east. If you’re active duty or retired military or DOT, Rainbow Marina may be a good choice.

You’re correct that permanent slips often have extraordinary waiting lists. Services available at most harbors are adequate, though state harbors tend to be “no frills”. Few harbors monitor marine channels, so be prepared for cell phone communications. Sailing conditions are great year around, but Fishing and Diving are better planned elsewhere. Especially the former. But if you’re in to surfing, beach bummin’, or any number of other ocean activities, Hawaii has them all.

Finally, don’t expect locals or the state or local government to extend much aid to sailors. For some reason, they seem to actively discourage pleasure boaters in the islands.

Aloha nui loa, Alan

Emily goodall

May 22, 2019

Please don’t mislead people about the yachting scene out here. I too have been a lifelong boater having spent many years circumnavigating the world. My home base has always been Hawaii and I can tell you from first-hand experience this is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a premier sailing location. First of all the channels between the islands are some of the roughest in the world, at times, and can be very dangerous for anyone who is not thoroughly experienced with rough-water sailing . . . In fact only the most experienced should consider venturing out into the channels. Secondly, there is little in the way of good viable anchorage’s here in Hawaii. Most of the anchorages here are exposed to t the open ocean and can sometimes be very dangerous. Sailors who anchor on their own ground tackle in offshore anchorage’s here have to be alert all the time for changing weather conditions. Thirdly, the small boat harbor situation in the state of Hawaii is in absolute chaos. The DLNR and DOBOR, the state agencies who are responsible for managing our Harbor have completely & utterly failed the boating community here. You can expect to wait, sometimes, up to 10 years to get a permanent mooring here in Hawaii. Boaters here pay heavily for the bungling of these State agencies. Sadly what could be a premier boating environment, turns out to be very disappointing.

September 9, 2019

Hello! I am trying to sail to Hawaii and live somewhere around the north shore , is this possible ? Would like to be in a mooring field, or what’s best ?

Alex Gojile

June 23, 2020

Good article Can we get an update version?

Joe Kennedy

January 6, 2022

Great article Ashley!

I would love to live on a 35-38′ power yacht in Hawaii and am open to both renting or buying.

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Festival, ahoy! A dozen things to know about St. Paul's Minnesota Yacht Club

I t's the biggest music festival launched in the Twin Cities in 12 years. It's expecting more than 30,000 musicheads per day. And it's being produced by the same company that puts on Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits fests.

There's a lot to learn about the Minnesota Yacht Club — especially for deprived Twin Cities music lovers who haven't been to a big, nationally promoted festival like this since Live Nation's ill-fated River's Edge Music Festival on the same site in 2012.

With its inaugural voyage scheduled Friday and Saturday at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, the river-themed event features a Gen-X-nostalgic all-rock lineup led by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette, Gwen Stefani, Black Crowes, the Offspring, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Hold Steady and a dozen more acts. New Orleans' soul-funk troupe Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are the only non-rock act on the bill, and they actually rock harder than most of them.

Here are some pointers, talking points and pointed opinions going into this weekend's mega-bash.

1. Saturday's single-day tickets are sold out. Even though they just played in town last year , the Chili Peppers' day as headliners quickly proved more popular than Morissette's. However, two-day general admission festival passes (now $255) and one-day Friday tickets ($135) were still available at press time via minnesotayachtclub.com .

A profits-generating trademark of promoter C3 Presents and other big festivals, there's also a wide array of VIP, platinum and "GA+" options, ranging from $285-$925 for single-day and $255-$1,395 for two-day. Those priciest options come with things like front-of-stage viewing access, express entry, lounges, free booze and back rubs from St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. Or maybe we read that latter item wrong?

2. No, it's not a "yacht rock" festival. There actually has been a lot of confusion about this. The event's name is simply a fun spin on its riverside location and the relative irony of someone having a yacht in Minnesota. It has nothing to do with the genre of music associated with breezy and cheesy '70s-'80s hitmakers like Toto, Seals & Crofts and Christopher Cross. How fun would it have been to see one of those acts sandwiched between the Hold Steady and Offspring, though?

3. Boats actually are part of the experience. "Riverboat VIP" ticket holders ($825) can lounge in air-conditioning on the Jonathan Padelford and even take a 60-minute cruise on the paddleboat during the fest. Why anyone would want to go to a music fest to set sail for South St. Paul, we're not sure, but it's a unique idea for a festival.

4. The company behind it is in the festival business. C3 got its start with the hugely successful Austin City Limits Music Festival in the early 2000s before turning Lollapalooza into a one-weekend Chicago event. Live Nation bought a 51% stake in the company in 2014 but mostly leaves C3 to do its own thing when it comes to festivals. Other fests in its portfolio include Boston Calling, Atlanta's Shaky Knees and New York's Governors Ball — all steeped in unique branding and preparations for each city.

"We've been talking to the city well over a year now and working with them on the logistical plans," C3 promoter Tim Sweetwood said of MYC.

5. There will be only two stages (and no overlapping performances). While many festivals require fans to make tough decisions and Iditarod-like treks between competing stages — OK, maybe that's being a little dramatic — the setup at MYC in its first year features just two stages with alternating music that never runs concurrently. Dubbed the Skipper Stage and Crow's Nest Stage, they are only about a quarter-mile apart, too.

6. Gwen Stefani's appearance is the rarest among the top names. Last seen in town making a surprise appearance with husband Blake Shelton at the TC Summer Jam in 2022 , the former No Doubt singer and ex-coach on NBC's "The Voice" has not been performing a lot of late; just a handful of fly-in gigs this summer.

In the solo gigs she has done in 2024, Stefani has been revisiting many songs from No Doubt (with whom she reunited at Coachella fest in April ), including "Don't Speak," "Just a Girl" and "Hella Good."

7. The lineup isn't entirely a nostalgia trip. All these aforementioned acts make it look exclusively like a '90s and early '00s throwback fest, but there are actually modern stars and buzzmakers on the lineup.

Texas slinger Gary Clark Jr. has been the most thrilling blues-rock guitarist on tour over the past decade . Harmonious Seattle rockers the Head and the Heart have racked up a swath of radio hits and TV/film placement with songs like "Lost in My Mind." Twangy singer Morgan Wade has made a couple of well-reviewed records with Jason Isbell's guitarist Sadler Vaden as her producer. Indie-rocker Michigander is a critical favorite.

The Twin Cities' own pop-rock darlings Hippo Campus have become a big draw , too, recently playing New York's Governors Ball festival and selling out the Armory in Minneapolis.

8. There's good local representation. In addition to Hippo Campus, we'll see hard-charging local faves Gully Boys help kick off the fest Friday ahead of viral sensations Durry . On Saturday, fuzz-rocky kids Bugsy play before a fun afternoon twofer with Soul Asylum and the semi-local Hold Steady. As rock-only lineups go — musical diversity is not Yacht Club's strong suit — these are some of the state's most relevant acts present or past playing live in 2024.

9. The list of items you're allowed to bring in is short. Leave the chairs, coolers and umbrellas at home. Only small fanny packs, clutch purses, emptied hydration packs or small clear bags are allowed in. Other permissible items include: phones, baby strollers, blankets/towels, binoculars, reusable water bottles, non-aerosol sunscreen (3.4 ounce max) and Frisbees. For our sake, though, please don't bring any Frisbees.

10. There's a longer list of alternative transportation options. Coming from Austin, Texas, a city with notorious traffic problems, C3 makes a point of encouraging biking, ride-sharing and public transit options at all its festivals.

There's a designated rideshare dropoff site (Uber, Lyft, taxi) near the Wabasha Street entrance at 49 E. Fillmore Av. Bike lots are located at both that entrance and the second set of gates along W. Water Street (bring your own lock). For light rail, the Green Line's Central Station is a half-mile walk away. Ample public bus route stops also can be mapped out via metrotransit.org .

11. Harriet Island isn't really an island, and it isn't all that hard to get to. You wouldn't know it from the maps on the festival's website — or if you're one of those uppity Minneapolitans who never visit the other Twin City — but you can approach the park from the southwest side of the river as well as the downtown side. There are assorted parking options over there, too.

That said, the 15- to 20-minute walk across the Wabasha Street Bridge from downtown parking sites can be quite lovely if it's not sweltering heat. You can handle it, Minneapolis peeps.

12. This is just a start. "It's sort of a slow burn to start," C3′s Sweetwood said, promising expansion in the years to come. "We'll try to give it a little more color and better branding, the kind of things we have a good feel for at C3, being primarily a festival producer."

Friday lineup (in order, 12:45-10:30 p.m.): Harbor and Home, Gully Boys, Michigander, Morgan Wade, Durry, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Head and the Heart, Gwen Stefani, Black Crowes, Alanis Morissette.

Saturday (1-10:30 p.m.): Nico Vega, Bugsy, Wilderado, Soul Asylum, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Hippo Campus, the Hold Steady, the Offspring, Gary Clark Jr., Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Tickets: $135-$925 Fri. only, $255-$1,395 two-day.

Website: minnesotayachtclubfestival.com .

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