Big Island Ocean Adventures
Small crew, big aloha — discover the Big Island’s marine world up close.
Aloha and welcome to Liquid Hawaii!
We’re a small, family-run crew who grew up on these waters and love sharing the ocean the way locals experience it — relaxed, respectful, and full of aloha. Whether you’re joining us for a guided snorkel, an unforgettable night with the manta rays, or a winter whale encounter, we keep our groups small so every guest feels like part of our ʻohana.
Book our main vessel Kai Lani by the seat (12 person max)
Get the most adventure out your Hawaiian vacation with our
Nestled in the small oceanfront community of Puakō on the Big Island, we’re just a quick drive—less than 10 minutes—from Waikoloa and the major resort areas. But once you’re out here with us, it already feels like a different world: quieter, more local, more connected to the ocean we grew up with.
At Liquid Hawaiʻi, we keep our tours small on purpose—no more than 12 guests—so you get that true, quality small-group experience. It’s the way we’d want to explore our own island: plenty of space, plenty of aloha, and guides who actually have the time to get to know you.
Come jump in with us on a Guided Snorkel Trip, join our Small-Group Manta Ray Night Snorkel, or experience whale watching the way locals do—slow, respectful, and full of awe. And if you’re looking for something more personal, our private charters let you shape the day exactly how you want it.
Trip Advisor’s Best of the Best for the last 8 years…
Excellent rating
Based on 585 reviewsVerified Manta Ray Snorkel with Bonus Whale Watching! Great experience. Staff friendly and informative. Saw many whales in addition to the Manta Ray's. They get so close it is amazing!Verified Best day ever Liquid Hawaii was a fantastic choice for our whale watching and snorkeling trip on the Big Island. It was super easy to arrange everything with the owner, Matthew, who made the whole process smooth and stress-free. The team—Captain Cole and wildlife expert Genevieve—could not have been more accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable. They truly made the experience special. We were incredibly lucky to see so much sea life, including whales, turtles, and more. Honestly, there was nothing more we could have asked for. Highly recommend Liquid Leisure for an unforgettable ocean adventure! 🌊🐋🐢Verified Great whale watching tour - shaky customer service We had a great experience - 2 whales decided to come right up to our Zodiac and play with us for 10 minutes. Our Captain Kieran seemed to have a sense of where the active whales would be ; bypassing other whales that were not too active. I would give it 5 stars but they promised to email some GoPro video clips but never did. I emailed and called them hoping to get the clips but never heard back.Verified Highly Recommended! 🙌🏼 Liquid Hawaii offers a fantastic small-group Whale Watching ocean experience on Big Island. With only six guests, the trip felt relaxed, personal, and attentive from start to finish.Captain Cole and crew member Azura were excellent - professional, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable, with a clear respect for the ocean and its wildlife. From the moment we set out, Cole’s calm, confident presence at the helm made us feel completely safe, allowing everyone to fully relax and enjoy the experience.We were blessed to see whales and dolphins, including an unforgettable breach, all approached with care and mindfulness. The boat was comfortable, and the fresh pineapple, snacks, and water were a welcome touch If you’re looking for a thoughtful, knowledgeable, well-run, eco-conscious ocean tour, Liquid Hawaii is highly recommended! 😊Verified Enjoyable whale watching We had a great experience on NYE, seeing 8-10 whales and a few dolphins. We even saw a whale breaching.Cole and crew were very knowledgeable, friendly and safe. Smaller group was awesome. Would highly recommend.Verified Snorkeling We always have a blast with Matt! Saw some cool turtles, a shark, and lots of whales. Would highly recommend them! This is our third time with Matt and every time has left us wanting another adventure.Verified incredible snorkel experience We had a great snorkel / boat trip experience with Matt! We stopped at two different spots and saw sea life like dolphins, whales sea turtles, octopus, etc! highly recommend this day trip! Matt and his crew are very kind and knowledgeable.Verified Amazing small group night snorkel I chose this manta ray night snorkel specifically because I wanted a small group, and it was perfect. We’ve done other manta snorkel trips and this was the best. There was no overcrowding, no getting kicked by 50 other people, just a relaxed and incredible time in the water. The captain and crew were super knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely fun, which made the whole night feel easy and exciting. The mantas were amazing. Truly an unforgettable experience. 🌅🤩🤿Verified Truly unforgettable day! Didn't even make it back to shore before we were discussing our next trip with Mathew and his crew at Liquid Hawaii. Keiran and Genevieve (Matts crew for our trip) made our time on the water truly unforgettable. We have a family of 10 ranging in age from 19-85 and everyone enjoyed our time on the Reef Tour. We were safe and comfortable the entire trip and all had first time experiences. This group cares deeply about the natural world they share with you and it shows. No need to look elsewhere this is THE tour company you want to spend your day with. Thank you Liquid Hawaii.Verified Incredible experience! One of the best snorkeling experiences I have ever had! We saw so many whales would highly highly recommend! The guides were incredibly knowledge of the area, marine life , and the island as a whole.
Ohana owned by “Ulua” Matt and Christi Ferino
What sets Liquid Hawaiʻi apart is simple: intimate encounters with the ocean’s wildlife and real, one-on-one attention from a crew that truly cares. Out here, you’re not just another passenger—you’re part of our ocean ʻohana for the day.
Learn more about our family story, company and sustainability on our about us page!
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The morning we spent whale watching with Liquid Hawai'i was the highlight of our trip to Kona! Our small group of 5 allowed us to move around the boat to get the best views and Cole was the best captain, taking us to the best spots for viewing whales, and educating us on the mating season for whales. Although I have had problems with sea sickness in the past, I was happily surprised to have no problems at all on the smaller boat making it a thoroughly enjoyable adventure!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with our guides Vasi and Mikena. They were knowledgeable and informative and also had some great stories. We went on a whale watching/snorkeling tour and saw dozens of whales, unfortunately a huge wind kicked up and we were not able to snorkel which was a huge attraction and disappointment for us. But it was unsafe to stay out longer with the wind getting more and more intense and the ride back to the harbor was more like surfing than riding in a zodiac, at first a little terrifying but Vasi was so expert at riding the waves that I joked we got an extra unexpected thrill ride. As we were headed in a whale appeared very close to the boat and surfaced a couple times before humping and throwing its tail and diving. It was really exciting to see so close up. We discussed options with the owner and decided on a partial refund as high winds and swells could be expected for the remainder of our trip. We paid for a 2 hour whale watching tour instead of the combo, so I felt the owner was more than fair as we were out closer to 2 3/4 hours out on the water. If I ever return to the big island I wouldn't hesitate to book with Liquid Hawaii again.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our snorkel trip was a highlight of our vacation to Hawaii! Our captain and snorkel guides were amazing and so full of knowledge about all the wildlife we were seeing. There was high surf the day of our trip so we only got to visit one snorkel spot, but it was the best snorkeling I've ever done and we so appreciated the guides making sure we were safe. To 'make up' for only getting to snorkel in one place we got to do a bit of whale watching! We even found a spot where we were able to hear a whale song! Our guides were respectful of the whales and gave them adequate space while still making sure we got to experience amazing encounters with the whales. It's also a wonderful location for anyone staying near the Westin/Mauna Kea because it's only a short drive to the dock instead of having to trek all the way down to Kona.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was by far the best whale watching experience I have had! Our captain, Kieran, was VERY patient when we were close to whales. He shut off the engine of the boat and just let us observe whale behaviors. When the boat was quiet you could also hear the whale songs. We snorkeled for over am hour which was awesome. Our crew, McKenna, was very knowledgeable about marine life and made sure to constantly check in on the snorkelers to be sure all were doing okay. I am not a strong swimmer but they had pool noodles to use which made me feel comfortable. Kieran and McKenna both have a calming presence and I felt no judgment for anyone's swimming abilities. Getting in and out of the water was easy. Loved, loved the small group experience! Would 100% recommend.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nice small family owned company. Captain Kieran and marine biologist (student) McKenna as his mate were great. Saw many whales, 1 tiger sharp, and a monk seal.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I live in Hawaii on the Big Island and I see whales occasionally from the road or beach. However, seeing a whale up close enough to feel the spray from its breath and hearing them breathe was truly an experience. We observed a mama breaching and the little one proceeded to breach 6 times in a row! We observed another mama and her baby as they approached the boat (being "mugged" in whale watching parlance). Captain Cole immediately cut the engine and we felt the spray and power of their breath as they dove underneath us. They came around and mugged us again for a 2nd time before disappearing into the deep. All of us including Captain Cole were so excited and in awe. Apparently it was the Captain's 1st time to be mugged. We were a small group of 4 plus the captain in a pontoon boat that was easily maneuverable and close to the water's surface. Conditions were perfect with little wind and flat seas. Overall, a wonderful experience that is highly recommended.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Five of us went out with Liquid Hawai'i on January 28th. We liked being in their zodiac rather than a bigger boat because we were closer to the water and it felt like a more intimate natural experience. Did not get wet at all. The crew were great and the guide knew a lot about the behavior of humpback whales. We saw a number of whales breaching, observed several whales in a "heat run", and two dolphins swam around our boat. A good experience!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. One of the top three snorkeling trips I have been on in my life. Helpful, educational, incredible wildlife. Just go.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My group had a whaley fun time with Liquid Hawai'i. We did a whale watching tour between Christmas and New Year's and were absolutely blown away by the experience. Captain Kieran was so knowledgeable about the marine biology & behavior patterns of the whales, proper etiquette for interacting with the whales, observing from a distance, and allowing them to live naturally & freely. Don't want to overpromise, but we say 19 individuals in 2 hours and followed several groups of males fighting for the attention of a female (whale bar fights, as we were told). The hydrophone segment of the tour where we got to listen to the whales' songs was truly enchanting. I cannot give this team enough praise, best in the biz by far.
Excellent rating
Based on 163 reviewsVerified We had a great experience with our guides Vasi and Mikena. They were knowledgeable and informative and also had some great stories. We went on a whale watching/snorkeling tour and saw dozens of whales, unfortunately a huge wind kicked up and we were not able to snorkel which was a huge attraction and disappointment for us. But it was unsafe to stay out longer with the wind getting more and more intense and the ride back to the harbor was more like surfing than riding in a zodiac, at first a little terrifying but Vasi was so expert at riding the waves that I joked we got an extra unexpected thrill ride. As we were headed in a whale appeared very close to the boat and surfaced a couple times before humping and throwing its tail and diving. It was really exciting to see so close up. We discussed options with the owner and decided on a partial refund as high winds and swells could be expected for the remainder of our trip. We paid for a 2 hour whale watching tour instead of the combo, so I felt the owner was more than fair as we were out closer to 2 3/4 hours out on the water. If I ever return to the big island I wouldn't hesitate to book with Liquid Hawaii again. I will post a video of the whale after editing when I get home.Verified We had a great time today with the crew! They were very nIce and informative. We saw whales and they did a good job looking and trying to find more for us to see. We would most definitely recommend this group for a water adventure in the future. Thanks for all of the information and insight. I would make sure and bring your own binoculars if you need help seeing farther away.Verified The staff were the best! We had (my spelling may be wrong) Vassi and Kiana and they really took care of me and my parents. Felt very safe due to the structured smaller group size and educated about what we were doing and the wildlife. My dad also got really sea sick and they handled it great! Recommend this company!Verified Swimming with Manta Rays is a must do. Kieran was a fantastic captain and Azure was an extremely knowledgeable first mate. They made the experience relaxing, exciting and fun. Seeing the manta rays up close and personal was something that we won't forget. If you have the chance, definitely book an excursion through Liquid Hawaii.Verified The Manta Ray Snorkeling tour was absolutely amazing! The staff was very knowledgeable, friendly and put us at ease snorkeling with the Manta Rays. It is a bucket list adventure that you will always remember.Verified Kieran and team are top notch, thoughtful and responsive. They did their best to ensure we had the best experience possible, even letting us know when waves were a little too big to enjoy our Manta ray experience. We rescheduled and had the best time watching the rays the next evening. When my wife left her sunglasses on the boat, Kieran was super helpful and responsive in helping us get them back. Even though I'm sure he was very busy! Highly recommend!Verified Ulua Matt, Capt Voss and deckhand Kyle were the best. Very educational and amazing time in the water. Don't hesitate to book a trip with Liquid Hawaii. 100/10! Memory of a life time for my daughter. Mahalo nui loa and Aloha Liquid Hawaii.Verified My Sister-in-Law found this company online and I am so glad she did. We were all a bit nervous about this, but it was a once in a life time experience. We had kids with us from 7-15 years old and they all had a great time. Their staff was great. They were funny and knowledgeable and made all of us feel at ease. One of the kids was very nervous, but they were so good with her and she had the best time. We had great luck and had 3 different rays very actively feeding and giving quite a show. I highly recommend this company, you won't regret booking this trip!Verified Matt and his crew provided an incredible manta ray snorkeling experience. They were friendly, fun, very knowledgeable about manta rays and the history of manta sightings around the Big Island. And of course they delivered an outrageously cool time floating inches above the enormous dancing mantas. Highly recommend Liquid Hawaii, particularly for anyone staying in a hotel north of Kona (eg. Fairmont), as they're the only crew that sails from a harbor near those hotels. This means you not only have a shorter drive, but you get the mantas to yourself (instead of being surrounded by a dozen other boats). Word of caution - The water can be choppy, so anyone who gets seasick might have a tough time.
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