Fair Wind Big Island Ocean Guides

Welcome to Keauhou Bay, the historic and picturesque harbor that serves as the launching point for our maritime exploration of the Kona Coast. As we gather at the docks, the atmosphere is charged with the specific anticipation…

Before we clear the harbor breakwater, it is highly instructive to examine the vessel that makes this voyage possible. The modern ocean-going catamaran is a direct, technological descendant of the ancient Polynesian voyaging…

As the catamaran navigates southward along the Kona Coast, the terrestrial landscape reveals its violently beautiful origins. From the vantage point of the deep water, looking back toward the island, you are presented with a…

After voyaging several miles southward, the unforgiving, straight coastline suddenly yields to a massive, sweeping indentation. We are now approaching the northern point of Kealakekua Bay. …

As the vessel secures its mooring on the northern edge of Kealakekua Bay, a stark, unnatural structure commands our attention against the backdrop of the rugged, green-draped cliffs. It is a brilliant white, twenty-seven-foot…

The true majesty of Kealakekua Bay lies not above the surface, but immediately below it. When you descend the steps of the catamaran and plunge into the ocean, the terrestrial world instantly vanishes, replaced by an aquatic…

While the coral reef supports a vast array of fish, Kealakekua Bay is equally famous for its population of highly intelligent marine mammals. Most notably, the bay serves as a critical resting ground for the nai'a, the Hawaiian…

While the interior of Kealakekua Bay is a sheltered sanctuary, the outer edges of the bay and the adjacent coastline serve as critical intersections for much larger pelagic species. One of the most fascinating biological…

As the catamaran raises its anchor and begins the northbound journey back to Keauhou Bay, the atmosphere on deck subtly shifts. The intense physical exertion of navigating the coral reefs is replaced by a contemplative relaxation. …