We've decided to do one "paid for" snorkeling trip while in Hawaii. I've narrowed it down to two. Either the Molokini snorkel trip from Maui or the Kealakekua Bay snorkel trip from the BI..Does anyone have an opinion as to which is better?
Thanks!

We prefered the BI snorkeling spot you mentioned to Molokini. We kayaked to the Cpt. Cook monument rather than used the chartered boat. The bay is teaming with fish as well as eel and octopus. We were a bit disapointed with our snorkeling at Molokini, we thought the marine life from the shore spots on Maui were just as good or better, but it could have just been an off day.

Thanks for your response. We are considering the kayak trip. Did you go it alone or with one of the guided kayak tours? How does this compare in cost to one of the snorkel excursions by boat? Also, we are not experienced kayakers, would this be difficult for us to do? We live down south, and here we have pirogues...lol. We can paddle a pirogue with the best of them!

I'd recommend Kealakekua Bay too, the bay is protected so it isn't rough. There are wild dolphins in the bay and it is amazing to see them swimming and jumping into the air. We rented our kayak from Kona Boys, they were excellent. They also do guided tours, but we did fine on our own. I think the kayak was about $40 to rent for the day. Kealakekua Bay was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
http://www.konaboys.com

I think we rented from the same place. We went on our own. They rent both single and tandems, they are the sit upon type and are very stable in the water. The bay is protected and usually calm. Even without experience you should do fine. It is about a mile to the monument from where you launch your kayak. Some members of our group left a little later than we did and found themselves snorkeling with a a school of spinner dolphins.
If you have not already done so, purchase a copy of "The Big Island Reveled". It is by far the best guide book on the B.I. They also have a web sight that lists phone numbers and e-mail for many of the companies listed in the book. http://www.wizardpub.com/
The Fair Wind II costs about $80 for a 4 hour morning cruise which includes lunch and about 2 hours of snorkeling. I've heard this is a lot of fun.

I can only comment on kealakakua Bay but would think it would be hard to beat. We went on the Fairwinds tour boat out of S. Kona and were extremely pleased. In fact, my 7 yr. old daughter enjoyed the boat / snorkel trip better than the Dolphin Qwest experience. They have a web site www.fairwind or winds.com. For approx. $40 you get a great boat ride, water slide, and gear. Either way, enjoy!

Dolphins! I'm going to BI, Maui and Lanai for honeymoon in October...what do you all estimate is the best time of day to have a chance at seeing the dolphins during a snorkel trip?

I was diving in Maui in December. We went to Molokini and I found it to be overcrowded with divers, so I can't imagine what it would be like just to snorkle, probably even more so. This kayak trip sounds great...sorry I missed it!

The molokini trip is a real bummer. we chose a samll boat, leaving earliest but still the place looked like Times Square with people thrashing about. The best snorkeling we had on Maui was from shore, at the "red gate" north of the ritz. You just pull off the road and then walk in- a short even way- to a very nondiscrepit beach. (I think the bay is actually a marine snctuary.) It is shallow to the mouth of the bay and then there is a shop drop off but lots of turtles (along the edge of the drop), eels and fish-absolutely wonderful. I had two kids along and it was calm and safe and we were in the water for hours. I also loved Kealakekua bay on the big island. Again we went to the beach which is very small and very rocky. The snorkeling is better on the very far side of the bay near the captain cook monument- and not as good near the beach. You can swim to the monument but it was a little far with kids. I would absolutely recommend renting a kayak as the best possible solution. You rent them on the road from Kona- lots of places and put them in before you actually get to the bay -it is pretty well marked . The dolphins are most likely to be active in the morning-which is before most of the boat trips arrive. The snorkeling from shore is so great and easy there is really no reason to ever take a snorkeling trip from a boat. Even if you have never snorkeled you can try it out in knee deep water and see lots of things. You can rent equip[ment quite easily and inexpensively all over the islands- you don't need to pay $75 or more for a trip with hordes of people. Finally, if you are going to the bay go a little further down to the National park. In the city of refuge there is a small beach where lots of turtles gather. but you can't swim from the beach-*(actually you can't leave anything on the beach since it is a religious site) However if you gaze accrosss the channel you will see a canoe club. When you leave the park entrance in your car turn left and go past the canoe club. on the left is the ocean and a picnic table. Park and then find the telephone pole and with your back to it walk toward the ocean. There is a little seat carved in the lava rock at the edge. If you snorkel out from there you will see wonderful coral and fish. You can also then swim accross the channel and swim with many many turtles. Just watch for boats- and the current is a little strong in the channel. This was a very special place. good luck to all.