Go Sailing on the Deep Blue Sea

No fossil fuels. Just you and nature.

Salty Adventures on the Kohala Coast!

Take a sailing tour through the marine sanctuary in the Kohala region of the Big Island — and feel good about it, too. Kohala Blue Sail Hawaii operates the first and only renewably powered electric charter vessel in the entire island chain. The Dolce Vita is a fully electric 34′ catamaran that charges from solar, wind and propeller regeneration and for safety they carry a diesel generator that runs with biofuel (though it is seldom used). This means no oil and gas emissions into the water, no noxious fumes, no reliance on fossil fuels and best of all, it’s virtually silent.A day on the water just hits differently when all you hear are waves lapping the on the hulls as dolphins and whales glide past your vessel.

Price Shared: $235 per person | Price Private: Starting from $1295 | Duration: 3 hours | Rated: Easy.

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About the Tour
Three tours are offered daily; Morning adventures begin when the water is usually calm and glassy, great for snorkeling and welcoming the day. Midday charters are also great snorkeling as the sun shines straight into the water, showcasing the region’s enchantingly unique shade of oceanic Kohala blue. This is also when a breeze can pick up for some incredible sailing action. There is no better way to end the day than adrift on a silent catamaran, watching the sun set on an epic panorama of 5 Hawaiian volcanoes, and you may even witness the phenomenal Kona Green Flash aboard their sunset cruise. But honestly? Whenever you hop on this electric sailing catamaran off the coast of Hawai’i Island, you know it’s good times ahead.

Glide Over Protected Waters

Nab a front row seat to whale watching.

A trip with ecotourism company Kohala Blue Sail Hawaii gets you out on the open ocean for snorkeling, fishing, playing in the water, and just plain fun. Diesel engines on most sailboats are loud and stinky. Rather than the wind rushing through halyards and lines, you’re hearing the roar of an engine and breathing its fumes. Not so with Kohala Blue — their boat is virtually silent as well as renewable, it’s just the elements and you!

You’re also traveling through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, a nationally-designated whale habitat since 1992. Between November and April every year, about half of the humpback whales in the north Pacific migrate from Alaska to Hawaiʻi to give birth, nurse, and breed through these waters. Historic lava flows extend far into the ocean creating a shallow refuge for the thousands of whales that make the 3000 mile journey. Want to hear those whale songs up close? During the season, the crew will drop a hydrophone into the water so you can listen in real time to  the conversation between kohola— the Hawaiian word for whale.

Departing from Kawaihae Harbor has several advantages. Not only do you begin your adventure within the sanctuary itself, but this smaller harbor with fewer boats means far less congestion on the water than areas farther south. Some days youʻll luck out and be the only boat out on the water for miles around.

What You Might See

Whales aren’t the only species that come out to play in the shallow waters. Even in the summer months, you’re bound to come face-to-face with exotic sea creatures. Hawaiian spinner dolphins use the water as their playground. They range from about four-and-a-half to six-and-a-half feet long and spend all night hunting underwater to depths up to a thousand feet below sea level. Come daybreak, they’re often ready to rest in the shallow coastal waters where there’s less chance of a surprise attack from predators, while providing a place for young dolphins to socialize and play. They’re called spinner dolphins for a reason. These playful mammals can often be seen launching themselves out of the water and making up to seven full turns before falling back into the ocean.

History of the Company | Living a Sweet Life on the Dolce Vita

In early 2022 the original diesel-based drivetrain of the Dolce Vita suffered catastrophic failures and presented Kohala Blue with the opportunity to completely re-power the vessel. Looking  forward to the health of the planet, and of the marine environment and its inhabitants, the choice to go electric was clear. The project was ambitious and challenging but the results are undeniably incredible. Since December 2022, the catamaran has been propelled with two electric motors charged by completely off-grid and renewable energy. This is the most environmentally-friendly tour boat in Hawaiian waters and what you’ll notice most is the peace. Silent electric propulsion equals a serene day on the water.

 

Logistics of the Tour

Kawaihae Harbor is about a 45-minute scenic ride from Pacific 19, straight up the coast. Complete your online waiver beforehand and arrive 10 minutes early for a seamless start. As you approach the harbor on Highway 270, take the first left into Kawaihae South Harbor, Gate 1, and then another quick left into Gate 13. Follow the road around past the boats and park near the boat ramp where the Dolce Vita and her crew will be waiting for you.

DIESEL ENGINES ON MOST SAILBOATS TEND TO ALTER THE EXPERIENCE.