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Mokoliʻi Island — Kayak to Chinaman’s Hat

Mokoliʻi — Oahu’s Most Photographed Island

Mokoliʻi (meaning “little lizard” in Hawaiian) is the iconic cone-shaped island 500 yards off Kualoa Regional Park — the shortest and easiest kayak trip on Oahu.

Quick Facts

Paddle distance: ~500 yards
Paddle time: 10–15 minutes each way
Water depth: Waist-deep at high tide, knee-deep at low
Summit hike: 15 minutes, steep/rocky — closed-toe shoes required

The Legend

Hawaiian legend says the goddess Hiʻiaka (sister of Pele) slew a great moʻo (dragon). She threw its tail into the ocean, where it became Mokoliʻi. The nickname “Chinaman’s Hat” comes from its resemblance to a Chinese peasant’s conical straw hat.

Guided Kayak Tours

Enjoy Oahu's best kayaking routes with an experienced guide, or on your own terms with our pre-planned trips.

Beach Gear Rentals

Rent Kayaks and other beach gear and pick them up at our shop or get them delivered to your address

Need Kayaks Today?

We take day-of and last minute tour or rental bookings.
Call us at: (808)498-1894 or visit our shop at 134B Hamakua Dr. Kailua HI 96734

Our Most Popular Experiences

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Chinaman’s Hat Self-Guided Kayak Tour

Oahu's Best Kayaking Adventure

Experience ocean kayaking to Mokolii on our Chinaman's Hat Self-Guided Kayak Tour*. We provide everything you need to have a great and safe time out on the water. You'll get kayaks, seat backs, life vests, dry bags safety equipment, heavy duty pads, straps and private instruction before you set out on your own to experience Chinaman's Hat. Experience this one of a kind Oahu adventure with plenty of epic views. We suggest this tour for individuals who are experienced in kayaking or are comfortable kayaking in the ocean.

*We conveniently provide the kayaks and beach gear at our Kailua storefront for pickup so you can easily have a great time out on Mokoli'i after we provide you with on-site instruction, and helpful info.

4 Hours Kualoa

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$82

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Mokulua Islands Guided Kayak Tour, Kailua’s Twin Islands

Once in a lifetime kayak to Mokulua Island in Kailua

Embark on an exhilarating guided kayak tour to the Twin Islands, led by our experienced guides! As we paddle towards Moku Nui, a designated bird sanctuary and we will provide permits for this adventure. Be sure to reserve your spot in advance, as availability is limited. During this 5-hour journey, you’ll encounter a vibrant array of wildlife, including sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, tropical fish, and sea birds. If weather conditions permit, we’ll explore the island’s hidden tide pools and venture to its back side. This tour is ideal for physically active kayakers aged 13 years and older.

*We conveniently provide the kayaks and beach gear at our Kailua storefront for pickup so you can easily have a great time out in Kailua Bay after we provide you with on-site instruction, and helpful info.

5 hours Kailua, Oahu

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$239

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Kahana Rainforest River Kayak Self-Guided Tour

Best All-Around Oahu Kayak Experience

This is the Best Kayaking Experience on Oahu. This self-guided* Oahu kayak tour takes you up a calm river into the secluded Kahana valley then out into Kahana Bay for a great view of the coast and mountains. Enjoy the picturesque landscape of turquoise ocean, secluded beach, green-clad mountains and plentiful jungle of Kahana Valley. The whole place has an Amazonian like feel to it.

*No tour guide provided. You will need a 4-door vehicle (or vehicle with roof racks) to transport the equipment to the river (40-minute drive) from our storefront in Kailua. We provide foam pads and straps that fit most vehicles

4 Hours Kahana

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$82

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Beach Equipment Rentals

We help make your Oahu adventures a breeze with our kayak and beach gear rental delivery service and hand-picked self-guided tours.

Paddle in an ocean kayak out to the offshore island of Mokolii, up a mountain stream in Kahana Valley, or in the calm waters of Kailua Bay. Just visit our activity hub in Kailua and we will get you all setup to explore Oahu. We have all the beach gear you need to have a adventure on Oahu. We help make your Oahu kayaking dreams come true.

Meet us on the Windward side, we’ve got the kayaks.

Check out our rental packages

Rentals

Daily

4 Hour or Full Day Rentals

Rentals

Multi-Day

Convenient Multi-Day Rentals

Discounted Rates

Have an Adventure

Join us for an off-the-beaten-path adventure to experience some of the best kayaking on North Shore Oahu and the Windward side.

We’ve explored all over Oahu, so take advantage of our experience and sign up for one of our self-guided kayak tours. Have a real Oahu adventure, not a standard large group bus tour. We help give you everything you need to paddle your way through the most memorable experiences of your vacation.

Check out our self-guided tours

Self-Guided Kayak Tour

Rainforest River

Jungle With Great views

Scenic Calm Water Paddling

Self-Guided Kayak Tour

Chinaman's Hat

Ocean Kayak & Hike

A true Oahu Kayaking Adventure

Plan Your Oahu Kayaking Adventure

We are based out of Kailua where we have our storefront. Make a reservation with us and we will set you up with kayaks, beach gear and amazing self-guided experiences.

We provide a rental service and can suggest some of the best places to experience Oahu’s natural beauty. We also have some hand-picked self-guided experiences that are perfect if you are looking for something specific, pre-planned, and approachable but don’t have the time to do the research and extra planning that comes with a regular rental.

We offer self-guided stand-up paddle boarding or self-guided kayak tours on a secluded river in Kahana Valley and ocean kayaking to Mokolii, Chinaman’s Hat, where you can hike and see amazing views. We also offer kayaking to the Mokulua islands in Kailua Bay where you will get a permit from our team to land your kayak on the beach of the bird sanctuaries of Popoia island (Flat island) or Moku Nui, one of the Mokulua Islands (Twin Islands).

Join us for a single activity or do a multi-day rental so you can keep adventuring for your whole trip. We help make your Oahu kayaking adventures a breeze so you have more time on the water packed with priceless memories that you can take home with you.

Check out our Self-Guided Tours

Awards

Active Oahu 2022 Travelers' Choice Award

Active Oahu, LLC Wins 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for Tours and Activities

Travelers’ Choice recognizes businesses that consistently deliver great service. Active Oahu, LLC ranks among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor.

View our award press release

Testimonials

“We booked kayaks for our family to go to Mokoli’i. I was so impressed with the knowledge and responsiveness. Jared contacted me before our self guided tour and was there on time and available at pick-up. He was friendly and helpful as we navigated this most epic journey. I would 100% recommend this company to others.”

– Mindy S

“…There was great communication with the staff and they were very informative as well. We had a very enjoyable time and would definitely use Active Oahu Tours kayak rental company again!”

– Bri

“Excellent customer service from Logan. I was staying down in Waikiki and he texted me in the morning to confirm all the details before I came out!”…”Super fun morning and I recommend it to everyone interested in a great activity away from the crowds of Waikiki. I ubered out to the meeting location from Waikiki and was able to catch an Uber back easily.”

– C Bland