Kayaking to Flat Island

How far is Flat Island from Kailua Beach?

About a quarter mile, which takes 20 to 35 minutes to paddle each way depending on the wind and your group.

The operator and local guides put it at a quarter mile, and one reseller says about 35 minutes each way on the guided tour, which includes regrouping and stops. It is the closest of the bay's islands, and you can see it from the beach the whole way.

What is Popoia?

A 3.7-acre state seabird sanctuary, managed by the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, where wedge-tailed shearwaters and Bulwer's petrels nest.

The shearwaters dig burrows in the ground, which is why the interior is roped off. The rock pools around the shore hold tiny red shrimp called 'opae 'ula. The island is low and flat, hence the English name, with a sandy cove on the landward side where kayaks land.

What are the rules on Flat Island?

Stay below the high-water mark, keep out of the roped-off interior, and leave before sunset: the sanctuary is closed from sunset to sunrise.

Dogs, fires, camping, tents and tarps are banned. The state issues no landing permits for Flat Island on Sundays, to give the nesting seabirds a rest, so the island tours run Monday to Saturday. The state can close the island at short notice: in 2020 it was closed under emergency rules, and kayakers who landed anyway were warned.

Is Flat Island good for beginners and kids?

Yes, on a calm morning: it is short, close to shore, and the guided tours take children 8 and over in a tandem kayak with an adult.

Everyone must be able to swim and get back onto the kayak with a life jacket on. Under-16s paddle in a double with an adult. Weight limits apply: the listing says 280 lb in a single kayak, the operator's site 250 lb, so ask if it matters; a double takes 400 lb combined. The harder part for many families is wheeling the 70 lb kayak about 15 minutes to the beach.

Want the easy version? Two hours with a guide to Flat Island, lunch included, and bikes and snorkel gear afterwards.

★ 5.0 500 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Explore the Flat Island guided kayak tour →

What do you see on Flat Island?

Seabirds, the rock pools and the view back to the Koolau mountains; green sea turtles are often seen on the way, but not guaranteed.

Guides walk the shoreline and explain the nesting birds and the geography of the bay. Guests report that the snorkelling near the island is mixed and that the turtles and the landing are the highlights. Keep at least 10 feet from turtles in the water and on land, as NOAA asks.

Which tours go to Flat Island?

The guided option of the Kailua Bay tour with lunch, the two-hour Flat Island tour and the Active Oahu Popoia tour.

Can you kayak to Flat Island on your own?

Yes: the self-guided options let you paddle there yourself, with the landing permit included.

The rules on the island are the same with or without a guide. The trade winds blow onshore, so the paddle out is usually into the wind and the ride back is easier. If the wind is strong, staying close to Flat Island is far safer than pushing on to the Mokes. More in guided vs self-guided.

Flat Island or the Mokulua Islands?

Flat Island for a short, easy paddle and a gentle landing; the Mokes for a long, strenuous trip to the islands on the postcards.

The Mokes are about 2.5 miles out, 60 to 90 minutes each way, and the guided trip there is for 13 and over. Read kayaking to the Mokulua Islands before you decide.

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