Question 1

What is the "Timeshare Activity Kiosk Bait" scam in Kona?

Accepted Answer

Street-level kiosks along Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona offer free or heavily discounted activity vouchers — snorkel gear, whale watching, or helicopter tours — in exchange for attending a "short 90-minute resort presentation." The presentation is a high-pressure timeshare sales session that routinely runs three to five hours. Sales agents are trained to isolate couples, wear down resistance through extended back-and-forth with managers, and pressure visitors into signing financial commitments on the spot. Victims frequently report losing an entire vacation day. Book all activities directly through tour operators or your hotel concierge. Decline any offer that requires attending a presentation. If you accept a freebie, know the presentation will be far longer than advertised and legally binding contracts may be presented.

Question 2

What is the "Unlicensed Manta Ray Night Dive Operator" scam in Kona?

Accepted Answer

Kona's manta ray night snorkel and dive sites off the Kohala Coast — particularly the site known as "Manta Heaven" near the Sheraton Kona — attract dozens of tour boats nightly. Unlicensed operators without valid Coast Guard permits or Hawaii DLNR commercial use authorizations have been documented running trips at cut-rate prices. Customers of operators like the now-documented "Neptune Charlies/Manta Ray Dives" reported unlicensed vessels, broken safety equipment, and no recourse when seeking refunds because the company was unregistered. One operator (Big Island Mantas) was reported to Kona Police for theft. Book only with operators who are on the Manta Ray Operators Association of Hawaii's community standards list and who display valid Coast Guard and DLNR permits. Legitimate operators charge $80–130 per person. Check reviews on TripAdvisor and Google within the last 90 days, and confirm the company has a verifiable physical address and phone number before payment.

Question 3

What is the "Volcano Tour Operator Overcharge and Cancellation Refusal" scam in Kona?

Accepted Answer

Budget volcano tour operators targeting visitors wanting to see Kilauea or active lava flows at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have been reported for misrepresenting what their tours include, charging premium prices for van transport that drops visitors at the park entrance (which costs $35 per vehicle and is publicly accessible), and refusing refunds when volcanic activity doesn't cooperate. Some operators book tours weeks in advance without clear cancellation policies during periods when lava is not actively flowing. Drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park independently — it is a standard 95-mile drive from Kailua-Kona on Highway 11 and costs $35 per vehicle at the gate (good for 7 days). If booking a guided tour, confirm exactly what is included beyond park admission, verify the operator is a permitted NPS concessionaire, and book only with operators who have transparent cancellation policies tied to volcanic activity.

Question 4

What is the "Manta Ray Tour Bait-and-Switch" scam in Kona?

Accepted Answer

Some operators at Kailua Pier advertise guaranteed manta ray sightings on night snorkel tours, then deliver a rushed experience far from the primary manta aggregation site near Garden Eel Cove. Budget operators may lack proper underwater lighting rigs that attract mantas and use vessels not suited for night conditions. Book through established operators based at Kailua Pier. Ask specifically whether the tour goes to Garden Eel Cove and verify the vessel has submersible lighting. Check TripAdvisor reviews for recent manta sighting rates before booking.

Question 5

What is the "Helicopter Tour Hidden Fees and Seat Upgrade Pressure" scam in Kona?

Accepted Answer

Big Island helicopter tour operators departing from Kona Airport and Hilo Airport have been reported for quoting base prices and then adding mandatory fees at check-in — including "fuel surcharges," "door removal fees," and front-seat upgrade charges of $50–$150 demanded after tourists have already traveled to the helipad. In documented cases, customers were charged $80 more per person than their booking confirmation stated, and operators refused refunds because the tour was about to depart. Get a written itemized price confirmation by email before traveling to the helipad. Pay with a credit card that offers dispute protection. Ask specifically about fuel surcharges, seat assignment fees, and door-off fees at the time of booking, not at check-in. If surprise fees are demanded at the helipad, you have the right to cancel and dispute the charge with your card issuer.

Tour & Activity Scams in Kona

Timeshare Activity Kiosk Bait

Unlicensed Manta Ray Night Dive Operator

Volcano Tour Operator Overcharge and Cancellation Refusal

Manta Ray Tour Bait-and-Switch

Helicopter Tour Hidden Fees and Seat Upgrade Pressure

Experienced a scam here?