sea kayaking

Hi,
Does anyone have any personal experience and recommendations of the various seakayaking trips in Tonga?
We (husband and self) are thinking of going in July .
I spent 8 weeks in Tonga as a medical student in 1981 living with a lovely Tongan family in Nuku'alofa, and also spent a week in Vava'u. Travel was quite difficult then (no real flight schedule, limited accommodation , no real tourist infrastructure and amazing bureaucracy.) and from recent posts it looks like things haven't changed that much which is not surprising , given Tonga's remoteness and difficult geography. I do recall we hired a boat in Vava'u and did a trip to some small islands and the water was amazingly clear. I have always wanted to go back, but have never quite got around to it.I would be interested to hear if anyone has done one of these trips relatively recently and which firm they would recommend (if there is more than one) and also comparisons between Ha'apai, Vava'u and other destinations eg Yasawas, Vanuatu.
Thanks

I haven't done one of the kayaking trips in Tonga, but I used to know these outer islands very well. Vava'u is really well suited for a sea kayaking trip as the islands these trips visit are fairly diverse (considering you are in Polynesia), mainly uninhabited and (for me) the best thing of actually being in Tonga. I've seen a bit of Vanuatu, and Vava'u would make a better kayaking destination from what I saw. I haven't been to Yasawas. Ha'a'api - I don't know... the topography is more varied in Vava'u but it looks like most operators in Vava'u make a base camp on Vaka'eitu and don't get out to the really special places. Vaka'eitu itself is nice (and very sheltered), but my favourites not too far away are Foelifuka and Kenutu (if you can find a trip that includes these islands it would be worth doing).

Hi Api,
Thanks for replying. I'll see if I still have the maps I bought in Tonga (at the Friendly Islands Bookshop- I don't suppose that still exists.) and look for those islands you mention.

Foelifuka is on the far west (below Hunga). Really nice island - easy to explore with good coral off shore. When I was there (years ago) the "owner" just started allowing people to camp (it was a popular picnic spot). Kenutu is on the far east (so there is not way a kayak trip would visit both!). It is probably more interesting as the huge swells roll in and you can stand between the neighbouring islands at low tide and watch them.

Didn't kayak last I was in the Vava'u archipelago but did do business with a kayak guide-one the the most personable & able people I have ever met.

Can't remember his name but @ the time he was managing the scooter rental (in the off season) for Kurt @ Talihau resort- Kurt will know who I'm talking about.

http://talihaubeach.com/

It's much easier to fly to Vava'u now with Chatams BTW.

http://www.chathamspacific.com/

Hi there, I haven't done any of their tours but The Friendly Island Kayak Company (www.fikco.com) do kayak tours in both Haapai and Vavau and have a range of trips to choose from. Hope this helps!