4-Hour Self-Guided Kayak Tour to Mokoli'i, Oahu
Self-guided kayak to Mokoli'i (Chinaman’s Hat) with gear and a quick safety demo
Duration
4 Hours
Includes
Kayak gear, Dry bag
Highlights
Paddle at your own pace to Mokoli'i (Chinaman’s Hat) and choose to snorkel near the base or hike for views of Oahu’s east side. Start with gear pickup in Kailua, then drive about 30 minutes to launch from Kualoa Regional Park.
- Pick up your kayak and equipment at the Kailua storefront
- Get a quick demo and safety talk before you head out
- Drive about 30 minutes to Kualoa Regional Park to launch
- Paddle across the ocean to Mokoli'i (Chinaman’s Hat)
- Choose to snorkel at the base or hike toward the top
What's Included
- Life jackets
- Seatbacks
- Paddles
- Safety equipment
- 15L dry bag rental
Things to know
You need a 4-door car to transport the kayak. The final part of the hike includes a more technical rocky climb.
Cancellation Policy
Notify more than 48 hours in advance for a 100% refund. You will be charged the full amount if you cancel within 48 hours of activity start time. If the operator cancels due to hazardous weather, you can reschedule or get a refund. Re-scheduled tours cannot receive refunds.
FAQs
Yes. You need a 4-door car to transport the kayak after pickup.
Arrive 15 minutes before your booking time.
Wear sunscreen. Bring or wear water shoes or athletic shoes if you plan to hike around on Mokoli’i (Chinaman’s Hat).
More about Kualoa Regional Park
Kualoa Regional Park sits along one of the most photographed stretches of Oahu's windward coast, where emerald cliffs tumble down to a calm turquoise bay and the iconic silhouette of Mokoliʻi, better known as Chinaman's Hat, rises just offshore. This grassy beachfront park is the launch point for the Chinaman's Hat self-guided kayak tour, and it is hard to imagine a more scenic place to push off from. With sweeping views of the Koʻolau Range behind you and the small conical island ahead, Kualoa Regional Park feels like a postcard come to life, and it gives paddlers an unhurried, low-key place to gear up before heading out onto the water.
From the shoreline at Kualoa Regional Park, the paddle out to Mokoliʻi is short and protected, making it approachable even for first-time kayakers. You will glide over clear, shallow water where the sandy bottom is often visible, with reef fish darting beneath the hull and sea turtles occasionally surfacing nearby. As you move away from Kualoa Regional Park, the island grows from a distant pyramid into a textured rock cloaked in greenery, and once you reach its sheltered side you can pull the kayak up onto a small beach, wade in the shallows, and take in the view back toward the mainland. The contrast between the wide grassy lawns of the park and the rugged little islet offshore is part of what makes this experience memorable.
This self-guided adventure is ideal for couples looking for a romantic outing, families with older kids, and travelers who want to explore at their own pace rather than follow a group. Photographers love the angles from the water, and anyone curious about Oahu's legends will appreciate paddling beside an island steeped in Hawaiian storytelling. If you want a flexible, scenic, and genuinely local way to spend a morning on the windward side, launching from Kualoa Regional Park toward Chinaman's Hat is hard to beat.
