Kona Sunset Cruise: A 90-Minute Sunset Sail From Honokōhau Harbor

The Kona side is the dry, sunny side of the island, and on most evenings the sun sets straight into open ocean. A Kona sunset cruise is the easiest way to enjoy it: no snorkel gear, no early alarm, just ninety minutes on the water with a drink as the sky changes color. This sunset sail leaves from Honokōhau Harbor, a few minutes north of town, with a full bar and light bites on board.

This page covers what the sail is like, what it costs, when to check in, and when the Waikoloa beach departure makes more sense.

Why this made our list

Sunset cruises are everywhere in Kona, and plenty of them are fine. We picked this one for the length and the feel. Ninety minutes is the right amount of time: long enough to get out on the water, settle in and watch the whole sunset, short enough that dinner is still on the table afterward. It is a relaxed sail, not a party boat.

The second reason is the harbor. Honokōhau sits just north of Kailua-Kona, off the main highway on the way to the airport, so it is easy to reach from town, Keauhou and the hotels along Aliʻi Drive. Check-in is in the late afternoon, which fits around a beach day.

The third is the value for families. Kids 4 to 12 are half price, under-4s sail free, and the trip holds a 4.9 rating over 965 reviews.

Why this operator

We compared the big dinner cruises, the small six-passenger charters and the sunset sails in between. The dinner cruises usually run longer and cost more, and you can spend part of the sunset in a buffet line. The small charters are lovely but priced by the boat. This crew sits in the middle: a proper sail with a bar and light bites at a fair per-person price, from both Kona and Waikoloa. If you are staying on the Kohala Coast, their beach departure from ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay saves you the drive to Kona.

What the Kona sunset cruise is like

The sail runs about 1.5 hours. Here is how it goes.

1. Sign your waiver. You get an email with an online waiver; every guest signs it within a day of the sail, and parents sign for anyone 17 and under.
2. Check in at Honokōhau Harbor. Go to slip 38 in the outer basin and check in at the boat 20 minutes before departure: 4:40 pm in winter, 5:10 pm in summer.
3. Out of the harbor. The boat heads out along the Kona coast. Stow your bag in the covered area and find your spot.
4. Drinks and bites. The bar opens and light bites come around as the light turns gold.
5. Sunset. The sun drops into the Pacific. On a clear night with a flat horizon, watch the last sliver for the green flash.
6. Back after dark. The boat returns to the harbor after the sun is down. Your return time depends on the season’s sunset, so check the sunset time for your date.

Prices and what you get

Adults 13 and up are $139, children 4 to 12 are $69.50, and children under 4 sail free, all before tax and booking fees. That covers the 1.5-hour sail, a full bar and light bites on board, and covered space to keep your things dry. A tip for the crew is appreciated.

Staying in Waikoloa? The second option on this page is the same crew’s sunset sail from the beach at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay, also 1.5 hours, on a catamaran with shaded seating, front nets for anyone who wants the spray and restrooms on board. Beach check-in is at 4:15 pm, and it holds a 4.9 rating over 864 reviews.

Who it’s for (and who should skip it)

Couples, honeymooners, families with kids of any age, friends celebrating, and anyone who wants an easy evening on the water without getting wet. It is also a good gentle first boat trip for nervous sailors. Because it is short and timed to the evening, it fits around almost any day: a morning on the Kohala beaches, an afternoon at a Kona coffee farm, then the sail. Families like that the kids are back at the harbor not long after dark, and couples like that dinner in town is still an option afterward.

Skip it if you want to snorkel or see wildlife up close; a morning trip like the Kealakekua Bay Zodiac tour or, at night, the manta ray night snorkel is the better pick. Skip it if you want a sit-down dinner on the water; this is light bites, not a meal.

Where to check in and how to get there

Honokōhau Harbor is just north of Kailua-Kona, off the main highway on the way to the Kona airport. Turn onto Kealakehe Parkway into the harbor and follow the directions in your confirmation to the outer basin and slip 38. Check in at the boat 20 minutes before departure.

If you are staying at Waikoloa, about 30 minutes north of Kona, book the ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay departure instead and walk onto the beach. Our Big Island areas map shows where each harbor sits.

Best time to go

Time of day. It is a sunset sail, so the time is set for you: check in at 4:40 pm in winter or 5:10 pm in summer.

Time of year. It runs year round, and Kona sunsets are good in every season. From December through April, humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters, and you may spot blows or a breach on the way out. Book it early in your trip; if the weather turns, you have time to rebook. For how the seasons compare, see our best time to visit the Big Island guide.

Local tips before you book

• Sign the waiver the day you get it. It is required for every guest, and it is easy to forget.
• Bring a layer. The ride back after dark is cooler than you expect.
• Leave the spray sunscreen at home. Lotion only on board.
• Wear slip-off shoes. Easy on, easy off, and nothing you mind getting sandy.
• Book dinner for after. You are back at the harbor shortly after sunset, with time to eat in Kailua-Kona.
• Stay up north? The Waikoloa beach departure skips the drive and the harbor parking.

The verdict

For an easy, beautiful evening on the Kona side, book this sunset sail. Ninety minutes, a full bar and light bites, a crew with a 4.9 rating, and the sun going down over open ocean. Sign the waiver, bring a jacket for the ride home, and book dinner for afterward. If you are staying in Waikoloa, take the beach departure from ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay instead.