Swimming with Dolphins, Hawaii

We are coming to Hawaii this summer with another family. There are six kids ranging in ages 11-16 and all would like the experience of swimming with the dolphins. This has always been a dream for my son who is 15. We are visiting Kaui, Oahu and the Big Island. I would like to do it where it is more personal and not touristy. Can you recommend a sight?

On Oahu, you can try the Wild Side specialty tours on Oahu for a wild dolphin swim. They are highly recommended, not only for the swim but also for how they protect and respect the dolphins.

You can also hit either Sea Life Park or Dolphin Quest at the Kahala Mandarin for a program.

On the Big Island, there is a dolphin quest at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Sea Life Park and Dolphin quest are both touristy, although they try to be personal. The wild dolphin swims are amazing, but you are not guaranteed to actually see dolphins or that they will stick around, although generally they do.

You could also just spend a lot of time in the water on the Big Island and you might get lucky :)


I wish you the very best of luck - I've done the dolphin quest and it was perfectly awesome and amazing. I've come across a pod accidentally a couple of times too, and that was also awesome. Lisa