About Ocean Rider
Our Mission & Vision

About Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm Kona Hawaii | Tours & Sales


A family run business incorporated in 1998, Ocean Rider, Inc. is known as the “The Seahorse Farm in Kona”.

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2023 - Top 10%We used our life savings to start and operate this one-of-a-kind aqua-farm. In July of 1999 our cutting edge technology and hard work paid off with the sales of our first farm raised Mustang seahorses.

Ocean Rider has relied on the sales of farm-raised pet seahorses to operate the farm ever since. Ocean Rider has avoided venture capital style funding and now captivity breeds over 25 species of seahorses which you can see up close and personal on our seahorse tours. Our living gene bank is also on display on in our aquarium room!

Research and development continues on new species every day. We hope to have all 34 species breeding on our farm soon! Not only are we helping to save the seahorse from extinction and the ocean they live in but we offer you the opportunity to help by choosing farm raised fish over wild caught fish whenever possible. Join us on our Kona Seahorse tours and find out how you can get more involved in protecting our ocean and waterways around the world.

Ocean Rider’s Vision Statement

To inspire ocean awareness by saving the endangered seahorses from extinction through education and propagation.


Ocean Rider’s Mission Statement

To eliminate the need to take wild seahorses off the reefs by providing home and public aquariums with healthy, eco-friendly, hand raised, domesticated seahorse pairs to be kept as pets for many years to come.

Ocean Rider, Inc. is an organic Hawaiian-based aqua-farm that follows strict good farming practices in raising seahorses and other aquatic life.

Ocean Rider does not discharge seawater into the ocean.

The larval rearing, nursery, and grow-out systems are supplied with a high flow of pristine ocean water that is pumped into our closed facility. This pristine class AA Hawaii oceanic water is pumped into our facility by the Natural Energy Lab. This unlimited water supply water comes from one pipeline that is 125 feet deep and a second pipeline that is 2000 feet deep allowing us to dial in any water temperature we want. This water is considered to be the cleanest in the world as Hawaii is the most isolated island chain in the world. This water is then filtered through large industrial filters down to .1 microns and then passed through an ultraviolet light ensuring that our water remains pristine when it is flowed through our production facility.

  • Ocean Rider enforces a strict bio-security program to maintain a pathogen free farm since 1998.
  • Ocean Rider cultures our seahorses with top quality organic live and frozen feeds that are not fish meal based.
  • Ocean Rider maintains our seahorses in very low density to ensure optimum rearing conditions thus ensuring high health conditions.
  • Ocean Rider provides a certificate of Authenticity and High Health from the State of Hawaii for all our seahorses.
  • Ocean Rider does not sell seahorses within the State of Hawaii to ensure that there are no accidental releases into the local Hawaii waters by pet owners.
  • Ocean Rider does not use any chemotheraputics such as antibiotics at any stage during the culture of our seahorses and other marine livestock, nor do we endorse the use of any type of chemotheraputics.
  • Ocean Rider has been breeding seahorse since 1998 using selective breeding techniques to produce high quality seahorses with unique proprietary traits and colors. We do not genetically modify our livestock.
  • The Ocean Rider seahorse populations are raised from genetically diverse broodstock population raised entirely in a closed environment.
  • Ocean Rider follows American Zoological Standards set for breeding facilities.
  • Ocean Rider is a privately owned family company.
  • Ocean Rider is a member of the following organizations:
    • World Wildlife Fund
    • Nature Conservancy
    • National Geographic
    • Keaholoe Point Tenants Association
    • Hawaii Aquaculture Association
    • World Aquaculture Association
    • Specialty Coffee Association of America
    • Friends of Kona

The above can be certified as true by the following individuals who have visited the ocean rider facility in detail:

Dr. James Brock
Dr. Bruce Carlson
Dr. James Wyban

The Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm Staff / Team
Learn more about the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm’s Staff & Team members »

Seahorse Farm Tours

73-4388 Ilikai Place
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(The Big Island)

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Seahorse Club  Message Boards

America's Only Seahorse Aqua-Farm and One of Hawaii's Most Popular Attractions

Ocean Rider seahorse farm is a consistent Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award Winner and "Top 10 Things To Do" Kona, Hawaii attraction. Our "Magical Seahorse Tours" are educational and fun for the whole family.

Tour tickets are available for Purchase On-Line. Space is limited and subject to availability.

small seahorse Ocean Rider, Inc. is an Organic Hawaiian-Based Seahorse Aqua-Farm & Aquarium that Follows Strict Good Farming Practices in Raising Seahorses and Other Aquatic Life.

Seahorse Hawaii Foundation

Inspiring ocean awareness by saving the endangered seahorse and sea dragons around the world from extinction through conservation, research, propagation, and education.

Help us save the seahorse and the coral reefs they live in with a tax deductible contribution to the Seahorse Hawaii Foundation. You will be helping to protect and propagate over 25 species of endangered seahorses, sea dragons and friends.

Make A Tax-Deductible Donation Today!

A Different Kind of Farm (Video) »

Ocean Rider Kona Hawaii

Ocean Rider Kona Hawaii
Seahorse Aqua-Farm & Tours

73-4388 Ilikai Place

Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740

Map & Directions


808-329-6840

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