Kona Style

Our Review: Kona Style

Kona Style has the highest average quality score of any Big Island tour provider we track: 89.4 out of 100. With only 5 tours in their catalog, they've clearly chosen to do fewer things and do them extremely well. That focused approach is paying off.

Two tours hit a perfect 100/100. The Kealakekua Snorkel and Sail takes you to the Big Island's best snorkeling destination — Kealakekua Bay's Captain Cook Monument — by sailboat rather than motorized raft, which makes for a quieter, more comfortable ride. The COMBO: Sunset and Manta Ray Snorkel chains together a sunset sail with a manta ray snorkeling session, giving you two of the island's signature experiences in a single evening. That combo format is brilliant because it eliminates the dead time between activities.

The Late Night Manta Ray Snorkel scores 99/100 and includes food and wine — an unusual touch for a snorkel tour that turns it into something closer to an evening event. The Afternoon Aliʻi Adventure (85/100) fills the daytime slot with a solid coastal sail.

The only dip in the catalog is the KONASTYLE Private Charter at 63/100, which scores lower partly because private charters are harder to evaluate consistently — the experience varies based on what the charter group requests.

Who This Operator Is Best For

Travelers who want the best single snorkel or manta ray experience available in Kona and don't need a huge menu of options. Kona Style is the operator for people who'd rather book one outstanding tour than shop through 20 mediocre ones. The sunset-plus-manta combo is the best evening activity on the Big Island, full stop.