You won't find many sandy beaches in Kailua-Kona, but the Big Island town does possess a charming crescent of sandy oceanfront on Kamakahonu Bay, which is enormously popular with residents and an excellent launching point for all sorts of watersports.
Visitors looking to take advantage of Kamakahonu's range of ocean activities will want to stop by the Kona Boys beach shack, where folks can rent snorkel gear, sign up for guided kayak tours, plan surf lessons or even schedule some stand-up paddle time.
"The most popular thing down there is definitely the stand-up boards," said Kona Boys co-CEO Brock Stratton. "It's one of the only spots in Kona that has a sandy beach where you can just hop on a board and get paddling right away."
On a recent visit, I joined a Kona Boys group paddleboard lesson and found myself upright in no time, gliding past the Ahuena heiau, or temple, toward a collection of small boats moored just off shore.
Our instructor was patient and full of helpful insights. He also had me paddling within 25 yards of Kailua's pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins, close enough to hear the energetic creatures breathing.
Prime real estate
A little over two years ago, Stratton and his Kona Boys partner, co-CEO Frank Carpenter, were awarded their current satellite location on the Kamakahonu Bay beachfront as part of a deal with King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel.
The hotel completed its two-year, $35 million renovation last spring, and Stratton said Kona Boys plans a beach shack refurb in the coming months, along with an upgrade of ocean activity equipment.
Headquartered a short drive south of Kailua, Kona Boys also offer a new guided kayaking tour option departing right from Kamakahonu Beach that heads north along the coastline to Pawai Bay, an excellent snorkel spot where clients are virtually alone with an outstanding collection of marine species and vibrant coral.
"They really do a great job of adding history and culture to their lessons and tours," said Tracy Kahikina, a concierge at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai who regularly sends her guests out with the company. "That knowledge and insight really sets them apart."
Visit www.konaboys.com.