Alii Ocean Tours

Wish I could give these guys 10 stars. First class service from the time we left the dock till we returned.
I have a fear of the water and Sharky and Captain Danny talked me through it and literally held my hand till I felt safe enough to go out on my own.
Swam with a pod of 15 spinner Dolphins for an hour which was amazing, then took us 3 miles off shore to show us a pod of pilot whales which swam around and under our boat! Their knowledge of where to find sea wildlife was excellent.
Saw several humpback whales and more Dolphins once we got to Captain Cooks cove for snorkelling. Truly an incredible day.

This snorkeling outing to swim with wild spinner dolphins and to view the coral at the Captain Cook Monument was perfect! Granted, good weather and good luck in finding two pods of spinner dolphins added to this great adventure. The crew was amazing — thoughtful, knowledgeable, and respectful. Captain Danny knows how to spot sea creatures and to guide the boat so you can intercept the dolphins. Plenty of drinks (non-​alcoholic) and good sandwiches. Would highly recommend.

The tour was excellent! We were able to swim with dolphins and snorkel at the Captain Cook monument. Amazing sights! Felt a bit rushed at the dolphin part of the tour, but otherwise flawless: o) They provided towels, snorkel gear, and food.

Just got off the boat with Danny and Sharkey and our family had a truly wonderful experience. Starting with a delicious continental breakfast (and a large sea turtle popped up to say hello) we knew we were in for a special top quality excursion. The information, experience, caring and friendly nature from Danny and Sharkey was genuine. We swam with the Dolphins and it was exhilarating. Then off to Captain cooks to snorkel and enjoy an delicious lunch. Watched for whales on the return trip and pulled into the harbor with cooling towels and ginger cookies and jhawaiiam candy. Loved it all. Thank you Alii !

This was an awesome morning snorkel adventure!
First off the boat is great! It is a smaller boat that can fit 20 guests, which is so nice and has a more intimate feel. You can spread out on the boat and enjoy the views.
There were 8 people in total on our trip and we loved the crew Danny and Sharkey. They were very friendly, helping us onboard, serving us breakfast and lunch, and telling us about the whales, dolphins, and fish in the bay.
We swam with the spinner Dolphins in the morning. We swam with at least 20 of them and at one point I could have almost reached out and touched one. Danny and Sharkey helped position our boat so we could have the most time with the Dolphins and have the best experience. It was very cool. The snorkel equipment they provided was great!
Then we headed to the Captain Cook snorkel area and we swam with so many different fish! It was by far the best snorkeling experience I have had in Hawaii.
Then we got back on board and ate a lunch of sandwiches, veggies, fruit, and chips. We were very hungry after the snorkel and swim with the Dolphins!
We headed back to the pier and kept a look out for whales and other sea creatures. The tour ended with ginger snap cookies, chocolate caramel sweets, and a cold lavender towel.
Book this tour when you are staying on the big Island, you won’t regret it!

What a great snorkeling experience! We did the 8am-​12. Check in is between 7:30 — 7:45am. Get there early because it’s challenging to find the slip. When you board they have a nice light breakfast of pastries and fruit laid out, talk safety, give you your equipment and then go off to track down whales and dolphins. What I thought made this company really special is their staff. From making sure you have comfortable equipment to towels to sunscreen (they provide everything), they really make every effort to make sure their guests are happy. When we found dolphins there was was staff on the boat and someone in the water so when we were trying to swim with the dolphins they could direct us. It worked and it was awesome! Then we headed to Captain Cook monument and snorkeled in the reefs for over an hour. Such a great spot! Staff showed us fish charts so could knew exactly what fish we saw. They laid out a nice light lunch of small sandwiches, chips and fruit which was great because you certainly work up an appetite. Back and forth everyone kept an eye out for whales and when they were spotted the captain quickly maneuvered the boat so we could see them. It was such an enjoyable adventure! Recommended for families, kids and couples.

Stop now & book your tour. Seriously. Phil & Sharkey are the best. They’ve truly thought out this experience. I personally don’t want to be crammed on a boat with 50 people. We had 21 & there was plenty of room. Great for all ages.
We swam with dolphins– my young daughters were just thrilled.
Stumbled across a few more pods & a couple of whales.
Snorkeled at Captain cook
Plentiful food & drink
Great taking a fresh water shower when you get out!
Thank you for a magical experience

The dolphin tour was the highlight of my trip. This group did an awesome job. The food was great, the staff was exceptional and the whole experience was amazing! I highly recommend this tour. We were pampered the whole trip!!! ~The Honolulu Girls

We had the most amazing experience on this trip.
It started out early with an amazing breakfast and the most welcoming Crew ever. This by far and away, was the best snorkel trip I have had on the Big Island.
Captain Danny was informative and a great guide through out our entire trip. I have never seen more dolphins in all my life. The experience can only be described as 5 star! Sharky made sure I got the best view and steered me to the best dolphin experience I have had to date .
If you want a more personalized experience, with the luxury of personal touches — BOOK THIS BOAT– you will not be disappointed.
A six diamond experience awaits you!

Wow as in 5+ star wow! Danny and Sharky are the team you want. Almost 4 hours went by in a snap. Spinner dolphin pods greeted us on the way south to start the day. Pod after pod. Into the water with Sharky where he led the way as the pods swam to us. Could almost reach out and touch! Two pods of Bottle nose Dolphins on the way down and back. Got to «Cook’s» ahead of the big boat crowds and had the reef almost to ourselves for an hour! A fresh water hose down, then chilled out in the bay feeling our «Mana» recharge. Way back ran into a pod of five «false killer whiles. Plenty of munchies all day long and lots of drinks to stay hydrated. Forget the diet for once and get that Aloha sprit going. Ali’i ocean tours will be on our list for our next trip to the Big Island. Seriously 5+ stars!

Can I give ten stars??? Because this company deserves it! This was honestly the best ocean charter I’ve ever experienced!
We had a group of 6 and a half (our lil 20 month old squirt) that went out on an ocean tour and dolphin snorkel. It all started with a very warm welcome from the front desk. The lady I spoke with (who’s name escapes me) was friendly and full of information. She answered all questions with details and a happy demeanor. We were ready to go!
Mother Nature certainly dealt us a kind hand with perfect weather, but our crew took full advantage of it. Phil and Danny were delightful as we headed out to the dock and due to being early for our reservation we were able to get right out on the boat. There were pastries and fresh island fruit waiting for us. After a few instructions we were off. The boat can accommodate over 30 but they keep it to smaller groups to maximize comfort and fun. They were quick to offer drinks and great with everyone, including our little dude.
We boated around for a while in pursuit of dolphins with no luck — you never know with Mother Nature what to expect (our previous attempts on other charters were not fruitful). But, we got lucky and came upon a giant pod! There had to be 30+!! It was a completely unforgettable experience. The guys gave us tips and told us what wasn’t allowed and it all enhanced our time in the water.
After frolicking in the waves for almost an hour with awesome spinner Dolphins, they took us to a remote beach with white sand. Such a treat in Kona where mostly its rocky!
We returned to the boat where sandwiches were waiting, hand maid with delightful Hawaii rolls. They had turkey and salami with pesto on the side. There was also more fruit, chips, and dip-​able veggies.
I want to also mention how great the guys were the whole time. Friendly, personable and very knowledgable!
We certainly had our fill of everything by the time we headed back to the dock. The guys had a few extra treats for us to enjoy on the way back — like cool lavender towels to cool off out in the hot sun and caramel Mac turtles to get the last salt water taste out.
I can’t imagine a thing to improve. Everything was beyond perfect!!! Thank you guys for such a special experience for our group!

This company is fairly new, but they know how to do everything right. My sister and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We saw plenty of dolphins on our exclusion, even had many of them swim within a few feet of us. We then headed to Cooks bay to snorkel and saw tons of fish and other coral dwellers.
Danny and Sharky work really had to make sure you have fun and are well taken care of.
I really recommend the 7:30 am trip and to get there on time. If everyone is ready to go, they will get you on the water ahead of the other boats’ 8:00 departure. We were able to do that so had the Dolphins all to ourselves for the first 20 minutes.
It was an amazing experience. These guys deserve 10 stars!

Alii Ocean Tours — *friendly, accommodating, fun, organized, amazing tour.
Four Season Concierge Kona — ask for Kristine Kozuki she recommended this snorkeling/​dolphin tour and we booked it right away because the Four Seasons Kona always has great recommendations and feedback!
I was thrilled because I have never snorkeled with dolphins and snorkeled on the Big Island.
Captain Danny and Phil were friendly and helpful by providing towels/​sunscreen/​snorkeling gears/​paddle board/​floatation devices (noodles, vest).
All you had to do is show up and be ready to experience something you’ll never forget!
Alii Ocean tour help accomplished that!
Kealakekua Bay– They position the boat as close as to the Dolphins so we could get an under water shot as well as be mystified by these beautiful creatures. It was so amazing! You could hear the Dolphins talk/​sing/​play with each other. One of the best moment was when the baby dolphin jumped out of the water doing dolphin flips. That’s one for the books!
After the bay we headed to Captain Cook monument — Keahou Bay — I cannot stress enough that the water was so turquoise and blue. The water was so clear we saw many Hawaiian fishes, these fishes that you may not see on the other islands. It was magical. The corals and reef glowed bright from the rays of the sun that when you snorkeled you could see the vibrant colors as if you were watching HD.
The food that Alii ocean provided was delicious! They had yummy pastries/​fruit/​Pierre/​water/​soda/​juice for breakfast. For lunch, we had tasty sandwiches on Hawaiian bread (omg the best!!) salami/​turkey/​veggies– along side fruits/​veggies/​Hawaiian chips — omg ginger cookies! The right amount after snorkeling.
The ride to and from was very steady. We had a baby on board and he even got a nap in going back to the harbor.
5 Stars ***** I would do 10 Stars if I could! No exaggeration, customer service was excellent exceeding all standards in this tour. Instead of hot towels they provided a cooling towel for us from all the heat and sun to cool us off on the ride back!
You could tell they also had great teamwork because we left the boat as if we just started! It was organized and clean. I am very happy with this tour and I highly recommend this tour to anyone and everyone.

My husband and I booked the Morning Dolphin Experience/​Reef Snorkel tour with Ali’i Ocean tours. We have gone on many snorkel and dive boat trips over the years, and our morning with Ali’i Ocean Tours was far and away our best tour. The boat is beautiful and very comfortable. The crew is friendly and provided excellent customer service. It was a first class experience from start to finish… fresh fruit and pastries for breakfast, wonderful sandwiches, chips, veggies etc for lunch. They even provide towels, snorkel gear and sun screen.
They even had a stand up paddle board on the boat, and they encouraged my my husband to give it a try.
I honestly can’t think of one negative thing about the trip. Highly recommended!