Booking choice: The Kailua Bay kayak tour with lunch, from $115 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
A Kailua kayak day mixes paddling, a landing on lava rock, snorkelling and a walk back from the beach with a cart. The operator's own list is short: swimsuit, shoes with a back strap, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses with a retainer, a towel and a change of clothes.
The quick answer
Wear a swimsuit under a rash guard or light long-sleeve top, and water shoes with a heel strap. Bring mineral (reef-safe) sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses with a strap, water, a towel and dry clothes. The dry bag, snorkel gear and a locker are provided. Put your phone in a waterproof pouch.
What should you wear kayaking in Kailua?
A swimsuit with a rash guard or light long-sleeve top over it: you will be splashed the whole way and swim at the island.
Pick quick-dry fabrics and skip cotton, which stays wet and cold in the wind. Board shorts or swim leggings are comfortable in a sit-on-top kayak. There is no need for a wetsuit.
Kit sorted? Check dates for the Kailua Bay tour, with snorkel gear and a dry bag included.
Check dates for the Kailua Bay kayak tour with lunchWhich shoes are best?
Water shoes or sport sandals with a heel strap: the operator asks for footwear with a back strap, and the island shores are sharp rock.
Flip-flops float away when you launch and slip on wet rock. Bare feet are fine in the kayak but not on the lava and coral rubble at the landings, or on the hot sand on the walk back with the cart.
Do you need reef-safe sunscreen on Oahu?
Yes, in practice: Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate since January 1, 2021, and the operator asks for reef-safe sunscreen.
The state law bans the sale, not the use, so a visitor's own bottle is not illegal. Maui County and Hawaii County go further and allow only mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide); on Oahu, the state law is what applies. Bring a mineral sunscreen anyway: it is what local shops sell, and it is kinder to the reef you are paddling over.
What about hats and sunglasses?
Wear both, with a strap on the sunglasses and a chin cord or a hat you can tuck away, because wind and capsizes take them.
The glare off the water is strong and there is no shade on the crossing. A cap blows off in the trades more easily than a sun hat with a cord. Reapply sunscreen after every swim.
What should you pack?
Pack light: anything you take in the kayak goes in the dry bag the shop provides.
- Water, at least a litre each
- Mineral sunscreen, hat and strapped sunglasses
- Towel and a dry change of clothes, left in the locker
- Waterproof phone pouch
- A snack, if you are not taking the lunch option
- Any medication you may need on the water
Lockers ($10 at the shop, included with tours), showers and changing rooms are at the shop, and customer parking is free.
Want the gear covered? Snorkel kit, a dry bag, a locker and showers come with every option.
Explore the Kailua Bay kayak tour with lunchCan you take your phone kayaking?
Yes, in a waterproof pouch on a lanyard or inside the dry bag; leave wallets and car keys in the shop locker.
Sit-on-top kayaks are wet, and a capsize in the surf zone is common on the launch. A floating pouch keeps the phone usable for photos at the islands. Do not take drones near the sanctuaries without checking the rules first.
Is the water cold? Do you need a wetsuit?
No: the water is roughly mid-70s F in winter and about 80F in late summer.
The wind can feel cool when you are wet, especially on a winter morning, so a long-sleeve rash guard helps. For the warmest water and calmest seas, see the best time to kayak Kailua.
What should you leave behind?
Dogs, valuables, cotton clothes and anything you would mind losing in the sea.
Dogs, fires and camping are banned on the island sanctuaries. If you booked Waikiki pickup, bring your dry clothes in a small bag for the ride back.
Packed and ready? Pick your date, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Kailua Bay kayak tour with lunchFrequently asked questions
Can I wear flip-flops kayaking?
Better not: the operator asks for footwear with a back strap, and flip-flops come off in the water and on the rocks.
Is a dry bag provided?
Yes. The tours include a dry bag, and lockers and showers at the shop.
Is regular sunscreen banned in Hawaii?
Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate. Maui and Hawaii counties allow only mineral sunscreens; on Oahu the state law applies. Bring a mineral one.
Ready to book
Choose your paddle
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Kailua Bay Kayak Tour with Lunch
- Kayak, paddle, life jacket, safety briefing and island landing permits
- Snorkel gear, dry bag, locker and showers at the shop
- Guide, lunch and Waikiki pickup only when you select that option
Flat Island Guided Kayak & Snorkel
- Guided paddle to Popoia (Flat Island) and a walk on the island
- Lunch and light refreshments
- Snorkel gear, and bikes to use after the tour
