Check in at the end of the finger pier. Not at a building, not at a shop, not at a shopping center. The end of the pier, where the crew in blue shirts are standing, 15 minutes before your departure time.
That single sentence saves more people more stress than anything else on this page. Here is the rest of the arrival, in order.
Where Exactly Do You Check In at Keauhou Bay?
Keauhou Bay sits at the end of Kaleiopapa Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. The finger pier runs out into the bay, and Sea Paradise Hawaii’s crew meet guests at the end of it.
Be specific about this, because Keauhou has other buildings and other businesses, and guests do occasionally turn up at the wrong one. There is no Sea Paradise check-in desk anywhere except the end of that pier. Look for blue shirts.
Arrive 15 minutes before departure. Sign your digital waivers in advance — they come with your confirmation email — and the whole thing takes a couple of minutes.
Where Do You Park?
Pier parking is limited. Free parking is available along Kaleiopapa Street, and it is a three to five minute walk down to the boat.
Build that walk into your timing. If you are aiming to be at the end of the pier 15 minutes before departure, you want to be parked twenty minutes before. Public restrooms are on the east side of Kaleiopapa Street near the parking area, which is worth knowing before you walk down.
Keauhou is quiet compared with the Kailua-Kona waterfront, and the drive down Kaleiopapa Street is short. The most common timing mistake is not the drive — it is underestimating the walk, or stopping for coffee on the way and arriving with four minutes to spare.
What Should You Bring?
All snorkel equipment is provided — mask, snorkel, fins, flotation devices, and wetsuits on the manta tours. Reef-safe mineral sunscreen is provided on board and is required. Sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate are not permitted.
Bring a swimsuit worn under comfortable clothing, a towel, sunglasses and a hat for the day tours, a rash guard if you burn easily, and a reusable water bottle. On the manta tours, add a light jacket or hoodie for the cooler return sail.
Footwear matters more than people expect. The Hoku Nui is a shoe-less vessel, so sandals or slip-ons are far easier than anything with laces.
An underwater camera is welcome. On the manta tours, disable the flash before you enter the water, and leave shark bands and neck lanyards ashore — neither is permitted.
Glass containers are not allowed on board.
What you can leave behind: towels for the manta tours are worth bringing, but you do not need to pack food or drink. Tropical breakfast and a deli-style lunch buffet are included on the Morning Snorkel Tour, light snacks on the afternoon departure, and warm drinks and chocolate after the snorkel on both manta tours. Non-alcoholic drinks are included throughout, and local brews, wine and cocktails are available for purchase on the day tours.
What Happens Once You Step Aboard?
The Hoku Nui is a 50-foot luxury sailing catamaran spaciously designed for 49 guests. Two restrooms and changing rooms, two freshwater showers, shaded seating, a galley, a full bar and two wide staircases for easier water entry.
On the day tours, a marine naturalist gives a reef briefing on the sail south, covering Hawaiian reef ecology, the cultural significance of Kealakekua Bay and responsible snorkeling. On the manta tours, the briefing covers manta behaviour and etiquette before anyone enters the water.
One requirement applies to every tour: all snorkeling guests must be confident swimmers. Non-swimmers may not enter the water. Review the health guidelines at seaparadise.com/medical/ before booking if you have any medical consideration, and every guest signs a release before boarding.
If seasickness worries you, the twin-hull catamaran design reduces the rolling motion that causes it, and guests who are usually sensitive on the water report being comfortable aboard. Choose a seat with a clear horizon view on the way out, stay hydrated, and avoid a heavy meal immediately before departure. Over-the-counter remedies taken before boarding work well if you know you are prone to it.
Keauhou Bay is the birthplace of Kamehameha III and has been the Sea Paradise Hawaii home port since 1985. Book directly at seaparadise.com so you know whose boat you are stepping onto.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where do I check in for a Sea Paradise Hawaii tour?
At the end of the finger pier at Keauhou Bay, end of Kaleiopapa Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Look for crew in blue shirts 15 minutes before departure. Do not check in at any of the buildings.
Is there parking at Keauhou Bay?
Pier parking is limited, but free parking is available along Kaleiopapa Street. Allow three to five minutes to walk down to the boat, and park about twenty minutes before your departure time.
Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?
No. Mask, snorkel, fins and flotation devices are included on every tour, and wetsuits are included on the manta ray tours. Reef-safe sunscreen is provided on board and is required.
