Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the new Big Kahuna tiki tour boat was christened into service at Canalside Friday afternoon.
Buffalo Boat Tours owner Rich Hilliman made it official as he smashed a bottle of champagne on the Big Kahuna's starboard stern.
The Big Kahuna, which was built in Florida this past winter, is a custom design vessel that is 50 feet long and 14 feet wide with two outboard engines. The top speed of the vessel is around 8 knots, and it can carry up to 45 passengers. The tiki boat will serve beverages and snacks. There are also snacks available for purchase. It runs seven days a week for both public cruises and charters, with a family excursion and three adult tiki trips running daily.
This is the second generation of the tiki boat concept after the company converted an existing vessel into a tiki boat concept a few years ago. "People loved it so much that we thought we should really get the 'real deal', a real taste of a tiki boat."
Hilliman's fleet of boats includes the Spirit of Buffalo sailing ship, the Harbor Queen, and the Queen City Bike Ferry.
"When they see the skyline from the water, it's special," Hilliman says of the passengers aboard his boats along the Buffalo waterfront.
"Summer is here and let's get out and enjoy."
Another boat added to the fleet for Buffalo Boat Tours with the new Big Kahuna making its maiden voyage from Canalside Friday afternoon.
Posted by WBEN NewsRadio on Friday, May 26, 2023




