Kona Boys

What Kona Boys does

Kona Boys Inc. is a privately held Hawaii-incorporated ocean activities and outfitter business founded in 1996 by Brock and Frank, operating two physical retail locations on the Big Island of Hawaii: the original Mauka Shop in Kealakekua (the company's headquarters and check-in point for kayak and snorkel tours) and the Beach Shack at Kamakahonu Bay in Kailua-Kona (an oceanfront location serving as check-in for outrigger canoe rides and stand-up paddleboard tours). The company's core service lines are guided ocean tours, equipment rentals, and retail sales of new, used, and consignment surfboards, kayaks, and private-label apparel.

The product portfolio spans guided kayak and snorkel tours in Kealakekua Bay (Morning Magic at $249.99 adult / $229.99 child for 4.5 hours, and Midday Meander at $169.99 / $129.99 for 4 hours), Wa'a Hawaiian outrigger canoe rides at $74.99 per person, stand-up paddleboard tours and lessons ($129 group / $169 private), and equipment rentals ranging from $15 snorkel belts to $49 electric bikes and weekly surfboard rentals at $174. The company also retails surfboard and kayak brands including Surftech, Firewire, Global Surf Industries, NSP, C4 Waterman, Jimmy Lewis, and Pearson Arrow.

The business is direct-to-consumer, with bookings processed through a FareHarbor-embedded booking widget on a WordPress website and on-site retail at the two physical shops. A key structural advantage is the company's status as one of only three operators authorized by the Hawaii Division of State Parks to conduct guided commercial kayak tours to the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District, providing regulatory exclusivity over a marquee Big Island destination. Interpretive guides are lifeguard-certified and trained by lineal descendants in Hawaiian history, culture, flora, and marine life, and the company maintains partnerships with conservation organizations including Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, Surfrider Foundation, and Coral Reef Alliance, plus a culinary partnership with Coffee Shack for tour meals.

Name

Kona Boys

Legal name

Kona Boys Inc.

Website

https://konaboys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kona Boys is a privately held Hawaii ocean activities and outfitter business, founded in 1996, operating two Big Island retail locations in Kealakekua and Kailua-Kona. It serves tourists with guided kayak, snorkel, outrigger canoe, and paddleboard tours, plus equipment rentals and surf retail, holding one of only three state-authorized permits to guide kayak tours to Kealakekua Bay's Captain Cook Monument.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation & Water Sports Tours

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Boat Dealers (441222)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJAJAF

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Marine & Water Experiences (Boat Tours, Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing)

SECONDARYTHAAALAB

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Adventure & Ecotourism Equipment Rental & Guiding Services

SECONDARYTHAAAIAB

Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Marine & Coastal Ecotourism (Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching)

SECONDARYCRAMAIAD

Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles)

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail

SECONDARYTHAAAIAL

Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Marine & Coastal Ecotourism (Diving, Snorkeling, Whale Watching)

Keywords

• Guided ocean tours
• Kayak rentals
• Snorkel excursions
• Water sports lessons
• Beach equipment rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Kealakekua

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Guided Tours: Revenue from guided kayak and snorkel tours, outrigger canoe rides, and paddleboard tours/lessons. Customers pay per person for guided experiences that include equipment, certified guide, and sometimes lunch.
2. Equipment Rentals: Rental revenue from surfboards, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, PFDs, and electric bikes. Rentals available by the hour, day, or week.
3. Equipment Sales: Sales of new, used, and consignment surfboards, paddleboards, and kayaks. Partners with brands including Surftech, Firewire, Global Surf Industries, NSP, C4 Waterman, Jimmy Lewis, and Pearson Arrow.
4. Merchandise: Private label gear including rash guards and apparel sold at retail locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kona Boys operates a water sports outfitter business on the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island, delivering guided ocean tours, equipment rentals, and retail sales. The company runs kayak and snorkel tours in Kealakekua Bay, traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe rides in Kailua Bay, and stand-up paddleboard tours and lessons, alongside surfboard, kayak, paddleboard, and beach gear rentals across two retail locations.

Product overview

Kona Boys is a water sports outfitter offering guided ocean tours and equipment rentals along the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island. The portfolio centers on three core service lines: guided tours (kayak and snorkel excursions at Kealakekua Bay, Wa'a Hawaiian outrigger canoe rides, and stand-up paddleboard tours/lessons), equipment rentals (surfboards, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, beach chairs, and electric bikes across two locations), and retail sales (surfboards, kayaks, and private-label Kona Boys branded apparel). The company operates from two physical locations—the Mauka Shop in Kealakekua and the Beach Shack at Kamakahonu Bay in Kailua-Kona—and uses FareHarbor for online booking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Morning Magic Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel Tour A 4.5-hour guided kayak and snorkel tour in Kealakekua Bay with certified lifeguard guides, snorkel gear, lunch from The Coffee Shack, and a visit to Captain Cook's Monument. Priced at $249.99 for adults and $229.99 for children, it is targeted at visitors to the Big Island seeking an immersive cultural and ocean experience.
• Midday Meander Kealakekua Bay Kayak and Snorkel Tour A 4-hour relaxed guided kayak and snorkel tour in Kealakekua Bay with an 11:30am check-in, including snorkel gear and a paddle across the bay's Marine Life Conservation District. Adult tickets are $169.99 and child tickets are $129.99.
• Wa'a (Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe) Rides A 1-hour traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling experience departing from Kamakahonu Bay in Kailua-Kona with cultural insights and local history. Priced at $74.99 per person, open to all ages.
• Paddleboard Tours / Lessons Stand-up paddleboard group tours and private lessons at Kamakahonu Bay lasting 1.5 hours each. Group tours are $129 and private tours are $169, available daily by reservation.
• Surfboard Rentals Surfboard rental service with options including fish, shortboard, minigun, and noserider styles in epoxy and traditional boards, including leashes, boardshorts, and wax. Rates: 24 hours $39, three days $99, weekly $174.
• Beach Shack Rentals Ocean and beach equipment rentals at the Kailua-Kona location including snorkel gear ($24), chairs and umbrellas ($19), boogie boards, PFD/snorkel belts ($15), and electric bikes ($49). Available for 1 day to 1 week durations.
• Snorkel Gear & Beach Rentals Equipment rental service providing snorkel gear, beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, surfboards, bodyboards, and paddleboards for independent ocean exploration at the Mauka Shop and Beach Shack locations.
• Surfboard Sales New, used, and consignment surfboard sales with various shapes including fish, fun boards, thrusters, guns, longboards, soft-tops, wahines, and stand-up paddleboards. Partners with brands Surftech, Firewire, Global Surf Industries, and NSP, with custom board orders through local shapers.
• Kayak Sales New and used kayak sales including single, double, and triple kayaks. Brands include Ocean Kayak Malibu II, Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro, RTM Double Kayak, and RTM Single Kayak.
• Kona Boys Private Label Apparel Branded Kona Boys merchandise including rash guards, t-shirts, boardshorts, hats, and stickers sold at the Mauka Shop and Beach Shack retail locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 species of reef fish documented in Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coffee ShackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee Shack provides all snacks and lunches for the Morning Magic Kealakekua Bay guided kayak tours. Located 1000 feet above Kealakekua Bay with arguably the best view of any restaurant on the Big Island, known for breakfasts and fresh baked breads.
• Hawai'i Wildlife FundminorOthersNon-profit organization dedicated to conservation of Hawaii's native wildlife through research and education. Kona Boys supports their mission of protecting Hawaii's fragile marine ecosystem.
• Surfrider Kona Kai EaminorOthersLocal chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a volunteer-based organization dedicated to protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches. Kona Boys partners with them in leadership of Kona's Surfrider chapter.
• Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)minorOthersOnly international organization working exclusively to save coral reefs. Provides education, tools, and inspiration to help local communities become passionate environmental stewards for the reefs.
• West Hawaii Voluntary StandardsminorOthersCommunity-developed standards for marine tourism in West Hawaii, including standards for SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling, General Boating, Wildlife Interactions, and Shoreline Activities. Kona Boys participates in implementing these standards.
• Surfrider FoundationminorOthersNational organization with mission to protect and enjoy oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Kona Boys is proud to team with this organization in leadership of Kona's Surfrider chapter.
• Defenders of WildlifeminorOthersNational leader in science-based wildlife conservation and champion of the Endangered Species Act. Kona Boys supports their Save America's Wolves campaign.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Big Island Divers: Kailua-Kona-based snorkel and dive charter operator providing guided ocean experiences out of the same harbors as Kona Boys.
• Sea Quest Hawaii: Big Island snorkel and dive tour operator offering similar ocean experiences out of Kealakekua and Kailua-Kona, competing directly for the same guided-tour tourist segment.
• Hawaiian Paddle Sports: Direct competitor offering kayak, snorkel, and paddleboard tours and rentals in the Kona area on the Big Island of Hawaii, operating from the same geographic catchment and serving the same tourist customer base.
• Snorkel Bob's: Hawaii-wide snorkel and beach equipment rental chain that overlaps directly with Kona Boys' rental stream (snorkel gear, beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards) across multiple islands.
• Fair Wind Snorkel & Diving: Big Island operator running guided snorkel and dive cruises including at Kealakekua Bay; a directly comparable competitor in guided marine experiences targeting the same visitor demographic.
• Body Glove Cruises: Big Island operator running snorkel and dolphin-watching boat tours, competing for the same guided ocean-experience tourist spend in Kona.
• Blue Dolphin Hawaii: Kona-based provider of snorkel tours, dolphin watches, and sunset cruises operating out of the same Kailua-Kona waters as Kona Boys.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantis Submarines Hawaii: Established Hawaii operator of submarine and boat-based underwater sightseeing experiences; competes for the marine-experiential tourist dollar at broader scale across the islands.
• Hawaii Forest & Trail: Big Island adventure tour company offering interpretive eco-tours across multiple ecosystems; comparable in customer base and interpretive guiding model, though focused on land-based experiences rather than ocean tours.

Regional players

• Maui Kayak Adventures: Maui-based kayak tour and rental outfitter operating in the same category but on a different Hawaiian island, useful as a regional comparable for guided ocean-experience business model performance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/konaboys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KonaBoysInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/KonaBoys
• Instagraminstagram.com/konaboys
• TikToktiktok.com/@konaboysinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kona-boys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kona Boys