SEA PARADISE HISTORY
WHERE OUR ADVENTURE BEGAN.
Sea Paradise Inc. opened its doors in 1985 as one of Kona, Hawaii’s original premier scuba diving operations. Originally located on the pier at historic Keauhou Bay, Sea Paradise offered scuba diving tours to incredible dive sites in south Kona. The facility offered full scuba certification courses and carried a complete line of scuba equipment as well as a technical repair center.
SEA PARADISE
“Sea Paradise” was a custom made, 32-foot dive boat based on the popular “Radon” style boats of California. “Sea Paradise” offered comfort and convenience to its passengers, with easy access to the water from its wide swim step.
HOKUHELE
The “Hokuhele” was a 50-foot long by 22-foot wide sailing catamaran, which replaced “Sea Paradise” in 2005. “Hokuhele,” meaning “traveling star” in Hawaiian, was brought over from a popular sailing company in Maui. After a complete overhaul, “Hokuhele” began to offer true sailing and snorkel cruises to Kealakekua Bay. Already known for its scuba diving experiences at Manta Ray Village, “Hokuhele” expanded Sea Paradise’s offerings to non-snorkeling guests.
MO BETTA BOAT
“Mo Betta” was a custom-made 28-foot dive boat that offered a more personalized dive experience in 2007. “Mo Betta” was a smaller, but faster boat capable of reaching the southern-most dive destinations while providing the same comfort and convenience as the larger “Sea Paradise” dive vessel.
OUR SAILING VESSEL “HOKULANI”
Join us aboard our luxurious 45-foot sailing trimaran named, “Hokulani.” In the Hawaiian language, “Hokulani” translates to “heavenly star.” Hokulani’s spacious design allows guests a 360 degree view of the stunning Kona coastline. Shade is provided by the bimini top over the main cabin. A wide, sturdy ladder off the starboard side of the vessel allows for easy water entry and exit. This one-of-a-kind vessel is unlike any other tour boat on Hawaii Island.
2011 TSUNAMI DAMAGE
In March 2011, a tsunami generated from the horrific earthquake off the coast of Japan, completely destroyed our store located on the Keauhou Bay pier. Due to the extensive damage to the scuba center and the loss of scuba equipment, Sea Paradise effectively shut down all diving operations.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
WHERE OUR ADVENTURE BEGAN.
Sea Paradise recognizes the importance of protecting Hawaii’s ocean environment. We’re committed to incorporating the values of Hawaii Ecotourism Association’s principles of sustainable tourism within our tours. This includes:
- Providing reef-safe sunscreen aboard our vessel and educating visitors on its use on all tours
- Using environmentally-friendly, green-certified cleaners to clean gear and equipment
- Promoting dolphin SMART, Coral Reef Alliance’s West Hawaii Voluntary Standards for Marine Tourism, Manta Ray Tour Operator Guidelines
- Following all NOAA guidelines to ensure the safety of our marine life
- Implementing a recycling program and encouraging staff and guests to recycle
- Including cultural significance of each historical site during briefings
- Volunteering with local non-profit groups to protect and conserve the environment (Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Keep Puako Beautiful, and Surfrider Foundation)
- Using compostable products sourced through local vendors
- Using energy efficient appliances as well as timers on air conditioning units
- Using moorings when available or anchor in sand to reduce our carbon footprint
- Encouraging customer feedback at the end of each tour
For more information, please visit: https://www.sustainabletourismhawaii.org/
An important note:
Although sunscreens may be advertised as “reef safe,” many still contain harmful ingredients that can negatively impact the reef and ocean wildlife. We would like to encourage everyone to check their sunscreen for these harmful chemicals, and only purchase sunscreen without the following:
oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and nanoparticles
It is our responsibility to protect and preserve the reef, so we can share its beauty with generations to come. Sea Paradise offers Reef Safe sunscreen onboard. If you have any questions about your sunscreen or how to better protect the reef, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or ask a crew member on board.