Jet skiing in Waikiki can be a fun and liberating experience. Since you probably won’t bring your own jet ski, it will help to know what your options are for renting one. This article will help you find not only where to rent, but also who has the best price for those rentals!
So, where can I rent jet skis in Waikiki? Aloha Jet Skis is the best place to rent jet skis. Riding sessions are 45 minutes long, and they charge from $87-$92 for a solo rider or $65 to $68 each for tandem riders. There is also an option to tag along as an observer for about $30 per person.
All of the rental companies are made to give you a great experience, but there are some important differences that could largely affect your choice.
1. Aloha Jet Skis
As mentioned above, the best price for jet ski rentals available goes to Aloha Jet Skis. Their flat rate is comparable to the other companies in the area, but because their ride time is 15 minutes longer than the rest, they come out on top for “per minute pricing.”
This is significant because they are the only company which offers 45 minute riding periods. Their office is located on Sand Island at 1640 Sand Island Parkway, just 15 minutes from Waikiki.
Aloha Jet Skis strives to keep their fleet up to date so that customers can enjoy the latest and greatest in jet ski technology. They are currently offering the 2018 Yamaha vx model.
Riding is done in the beautiful Keehi Lagoon, a great location for your jet ski experience.
2. X-Treme Parasail (and Jet Ski Rental)
X-Treme Parasail comes in a close second for jet ski rental price. Their office is located at 1085 Ala Moana Blvd, Slip F-4, closer to the Waikiki area, about 5 minutes away. When it comes to pricing they charge $75 to $81 for solo riders and $55 to $59 for tandem riders.
Keep in mind that that is for half an hour of riding. X-Treme Parasail does offer a 10% discount if you book your session online, so you should definitely consider doing that.
One plus side to this company is that they offer a variety of other activities. If you look on their website you will find that beyond jet skiing they offer parasailing(as the name implies), fly boarding, and a Hawaii pirate ship adventure.
X-Treme Parasail was founded by Greg, Mike, and Mamie Longnecker. Greg is a big wave surfer and parasailer with over 30 years of experience. They hire only the best boat captains and instructors, so you can be sure that you will be in good hands when it comes to both safety and having a great experience.
3. H2O Sports Hawaii
A third company to consider is called H2O Sports Hawaii. Their office is located at 377 Keahole St E103. This puts it the furthest away from Waikiki at about a 20 minute drive.
Their pricing for half hour sessions ranges from $95 to $99 for a solo rider and from $63 to $69 dollars for tandem riders. These prices do put them at the more expensive end for the area, but there are benefits to choosing H2O Sports Hawaii. They have a more lenient policy on who can operate their jet skis as well as free rides for children under 5 years old. They also offer activity packages that may interest some people. More details on these topics are given below.
The Full Experience
Depending on where you decide to rent jet skis from, the length of the experience can vary anywhere from 1 and a half to about 3 hours. Each of the companies operates in a different area, so your travel time will affect the amount of jet ski time you have. All rental companies require that riders view a safety video before riding so that the riders know how to operate the vehicles. This means that even if you have no experience on a jet ski, it can still be a great activity.
Life jackets are always provided so you don’t need to worry about having your own. Transportation is generally provided from your hotel to the appropriate dock, no matter how far you may be.
Major Differences
The biggest differences between companies are probably the rules regarding who can ride and with whom. Most of the time, the driver must be at least 16 years old.
However, at H2O Sports Hawaii, children from 12 to 15 can operate the jet skis as long as there is an adult on the back of the vehicle. This is a good choice if you have some young teenagers who would enjoy the chance to drive.
As mentioned above, H2O Sports Hawaii is also a good choice if you have children under 5. They are allowed to ride tandem with an adult at no extra cost. A driver must be 18 years old to be considered an adult and be allowed to have minors(anyone under 18) ride tandem with them. Valid ID must be shown to confirm the age of drivers.
Pregnant women are not allowed to operate jet skis under any circumstances due to the risk of injury.
Aloha Jet Skis offers the longest ride time on the island at 45 minutes. All other companies have riding periods of 30 minutes.
Another expense to consider is fuel. Some companies, such as Hawaii Water Sports Center, have riders pay a surcharge for fuel. They add $2 onto the normal price.
When Can You Ride?
When planning your jet ski excursion it is important to know the operating hours of the companies. H2O Sports Hawaii and Aloha Jet Skis, as well as the other rental companies in the area, are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Sessions usually begin on the hour every hour.
Something to keep in mind is that jet skis do not operate on weekends or holidays due to state regulation in Hawaii. So if you are planning on riding during a holiday, think again.
Specialty Jet Ski Offers
When considering purchasing a jet ski excursion, you may wish to get more out of it than just riding. If you are looking for something more, consider checking out X-treme Parasail. They offer a solo jet ski and parasail combo for a price of about $125 to $129, and a tandem package for about $109 to $113.
The jet ski ride is the typical 30 minutes, and the parasail ride lifts you 500 feet up and lasts 5 minutes. For an extra $40, you can upgrade the parasail ride to 1000 feet and 11 minutes.
The age limit at X-treme Parasail is a little higher than at other companies. They require that all participants be at least 7 years old.
H2O Sports Hawaii also offers some potentially attractive packages for the thrill seeker. There are options for 600 and 800-foot parasail rides along with either tandem or solo jet ski rides.
The prices range from about $115 to $165 depending on the options you choose. H2O Sports Hawaii also offers tubing and snorkeling as activities. It is important to consider all possibilities when shopping around.
If you are not that extreme and relaxing or partying is more your thing, there are options for that too! Aloha Jet Skis offers party platform rentals to go along with the jet skis. For about $750, you can rent a platform that holds up to 6 people for 3 hours. You also get 2 jet skis for an hour and a half.
If your group is larger than that, there are party platforms that hold up to 12 people for a price of around $1200. The same time limits apply, but with the bigger group, you get 3 jet skis included.
The Best of the Rest
In all honesty there are a lot of places to find jet skis in Waikiki, I mean, come on, its Hawaii. THAT BEING SAID, the best of the jet ski locations is clearly Aloha Jet Skis. You get the longest ride for the best price. More time on the water makes it a better time, taking your tropical vacation to the next level.