Exploring Oahu: Guided Kayak Tour to Queen's Bath on Moku Nui (Kailua)

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Check-in consists of signing waivers, getting fitted with life jackets, putting items in a dry bag, and making last-minute purchases at their shop. If you forget to bring reef shoes, there are some for purchase. There'll be very little shade on this tour, so cover-up or purchase reef-safe sunscreen. I found fluorescent green floating lanyards for your eyewear... in my case, a way to protect my expensive Rx sunglasses. I saw many other guests purchasing this, including myself.

Since there are no restroom facilities until the return trip, we made sure to go before the tour started. We got shuttled to the beach where they had our kayaks ready. The best part? We only had a quick, easy walk from the parking area to launch our kayak right from Kailua Beach.

Starting Point: Kailua Beach near the River Outlet

The round-trip kayak paddle from Kailua Beach to the Nā Mokulua Islands (affectionately known as “the Mokes”) is approximately 5 miles. Depending on your paddling experience and the weather conditions — especially the wind, which can create rough, choppy waves — the journey can take anywhere from 30 minutes to about 1.5 hours each way.

Our Guides: Ikaika, Andrew, and Jeff were all so helpful with paddling instruction, assisting us on/off the kayak, and sharing their knowledge of our natural surroundings.

As we drew closer, both Moku Nui (North Mokulua) and Moku Iki came clearly into view. We braced ourselves for the real challenge: landing on the beach. The channel between the twin islands is known for unpredictable waves, as ocean swells wrap around both sides and collide, creating choppy, chaotic conditions.

We had to carefully angle the kayak straight into the beach rather than sideways to avoid getting flipped. Of course, a refreshing dip in the ocean was always a very real possibility!

Gorgeous day, even better views from the Mokes!

On this particular day, the paddle out to the Mokes was very manageable — even for those new to kayaking. Starting our tour early in the morning helped tremendously, as it allowed us to avoid the stronger afternoon winds that often pick up later in the day.

Moku Iki (the smaller of the twin islands) can be seen in the backdrop and is a designated wildlife-protected seabird sanctuary for nesting species like wedge-tailed shearwaters and Bulwer's petrels - closed to all public access.

They gave us some time to catch our breath, snack, and explore the nearby nesting area... of course, take a few selfies.

Being that it was July, we were lucky to witness the Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Hawaiian: ʻuaʻu kani) nesting on the Mokulua Islands. These seabirds typically nest here from March through December, with their chicks fledging in late autumn.

The Rewarding Hike to Queen’s Bath on the Mokes

Taking the Plunge: Cannonballing into Queen’s Bath - Mission Accomplished

Doing a cannonball into the 5 ½ - 6ft deep Queen’s Bath on Mokulua Island was a BLAST, plus refreshing! Also, if you’re brave enough to taste fresh ‘Opihi (cap-shaped marine mollusks - a local delicacy) go for it!

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Return Trip Not Yet Heading Home but to Lanikai Beach

After our paddle back, Lanikai Beach made for the perfect lunch stop. A perfect reward after a rewarding morning was our lunch at Lanikai. The tour provided us our 6-inch Subway sandwiches, chips, and a drink as we settled into the soft white sand, enjoying our meal with one of the most beautiful views in Oahu.

For some on the tour, they spent time snorkeling at Lanikai Beach. The water was exceptionally calm and crystal clear that day, with beautiful patches of reef but we had skipped the opportunity.

Conclusion: A Kayak Adventure on the Windward side of Oahu 👍👍 Two thumbs up!

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