kayak Chinaman's Hat vs. Mokulua Islands

Question

We want to rent a kayak and go to Chinaman's Hat or Mokulua Islands. We would rather not have to put the kayak on our car and drive 20 minutes if possible, but the option for Mokulua Islands seems to be Kailua beach adventures where you can use a cart to walk it over and launch from Kailua beach park. The problem with that seems to be we'd have to walk that all the way to Lanikai beach to launch if we want to avoid a 3 hour round trip kayak to get to Mokulua Islands.

Recommendations and any info related to this would be very helpful.

Thank you

Answer

If your main goal is convenience and minimizing transport, Chinaman’s Hat (Mokoli’i) is a great option. It’s located off the coast near Kualoa, and many local shops offer kayak rentals that include easy beach launch right near the site. The round trip is shorter than Mokulua Islands, making it more manageable for a half-day excursion without needing to load the kayak on your car.

The Mokulua Islands are iconic and beautiful but require more planning and effort. Launching from Kailua Beach Park is popular, but you need to account for the extra distance if you want a shorter paddle—walking the kayak to Lanikai Beach is common to reduce the round-trip paddle time, but it still involves handling the kayak over sand and possible carting equipment for several minutes. Weather and ocean conditions also matter more on this route, as currents can be strong, especially in February and winter months.

Recommendations:

If you want an easy, quick, and scenic kayak trip, go for Chinaman’s Hat with a local rental near the launch area. Expect a 1–2 hour outing depending on your pace.
If you really want the Mokulua Islands experience, consider either launching from Lanikai Beach to reduce paddle time or book a guided tour where the company provides transport and setup.
Always check wind, tide, and current conditions before heading out, as both locations can be affected by strong offshore winds or choppy water.
Bring water, sunscreen, and a dry bag; both trips are typically sunny, but you may get splashed.

Overall, for convenience and minimal setup, Chinaman’s Hat is the better choice. If your priority is the iconic view and you are willing to manage the extra logistics, Mokulua Islands are rewarding but more effort-intensive.