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    Catamaran Kahanu

    4.6 (14 reviews)

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    Sue L.

    Had such an awesome time on Catamaran Kahanu with Captain Lani and Jace! I booked with them because I liked that it was a family operation with fewer passengers and hence a more intimate setting. I also liked that the catamaran was small enough to back into the sea caves. The website was informative, and booking was easy. I don't generally get seasick, but took some Dramamine in advance per the recommendation of some other vacationers I had befriended. I was glad I took the advice. I would have probably gotten sick had I not. There were others on the trip who were tossing their cookies the entire time. I felt so bad for them because they missed out on some of the most breathtaking scenery ever! Na'pali Coast, man....no words. It's sooooo beautiful. The thought of taking pictures rarely crossed my mind because I was so drenched in the moment. The entire trip truly sang to my soul. The salty air, toasty sun, pods of playful dolphins (alright, porpoises) frolicking around us, chill sea turtles navigating the seas with us, waterfalls crashing into the Pacific, those glorious sea caves....there really are no words to capture this majestic experience. Captain Lani was a kind soul. He is of the sea. He built the boat himself. Jace kept us entertained with some interesting lore about our sights, as well as his adventurous life story! These guys know how to live life! They go surfing every morning before setting out on Kahanu. I'm into it. There was not one second that I didn't feel safe in their hands. There was a girl on the trip who had a fear of sharks. Jace joked that if a shark went after her, that he would jump into the ocean so that it would get him before it got her. He was joking, but I kinda believed him. I think he would! He's got that heroic vibe about him. Book with these guys. I think the trip was from 7am to 1:30pm? You're gonna wanna like the guys you're on a 6.5 hour tour with! These are your guys!

    Amazing sites
    Kent C.

    Absolutely amazing experience with a great Captain and crew!!! I recommend Catamaran Kahanu to EVERYONE! 30 years experience with the Na'Pali area we saw whales and porpoise and sone of the most beautiful scenery. Emma' knowledge of the marine life and history of the island was shared superbly. Must do! Intimate 20 person catamaran makes it very enjoyable.

    Gigi M.

    Wow.... this is the BEST boat ride of All the charters on Kauai and I've traveled with them all over the years. Why? 1) amazing motorized catamaran that is not too large.... they keep group size smallish unlike the multimillion dolllar charter companies that pack you in like Sardines on their giant boats. 2) because of the midsize of boat, the Captain is able to get you into places like reefs and sea caves that only the smaller rubber boats can normally do (he is a master at maneuvering his vessel) ... this is a major plus feature for snorkeling, swimming and upclose sight seeing of some magical land & rockscape. The big company boats can't do this. 3) since it is not one of the small rubber boats that also tout a more upclose experience you get a smooth ride... do not underestimate the importance of this! the two times I took the rubber boats I and my companions had injured backs and necks for days and weeks after. The swells and wind can make for a VERY rough ride on those other companies rubber boats but Catamaran Kahanu was fabulous and feels luxury compared to the others. 4) Family friendly.... no booze on this cruise which is perfect if you don't want to deal with obnoxious drunks and people vomiting overboard. A Simple but delicious lunch was provided. 5) This is a family (Ohana) run business. Captain got his Masters in Maritime Studies and has been a Captain for 3 or 4 decades on Kauai. His family is Indigenous to this island and the stories and knowledge they shared on their tour were nothing I've heard on any other boat tour on Kauai. This Na Pali Coast tour was absolutely Magical and I will ALWAYS use them and recommend them from now on. Hands down. PLEASE help support local family business while CHOOSING to give yourself the most Awesome Boat Experience on Kauai. Thank you Catamaran Kahanu...

    Jase R.

    Just got off the boat and so frustrated. We only have a limited amount of time here and I feel like our morning was not as good as it could be. While checking in at a hut in the parking lot compared to the buildings and cafes that other companies had we were left to find a place on some benches. Then being brought down to the boat we Quickly realized we were in trouble. The boat looked like it came off of the set of giligans island, and parked next to them were some beautiful boats that made this one look like the love bug of boats. Then getting on the boat we were told unless you are in the middle your going to get wet. And I got soaked. The only other place to sit was on a indented cooler next to a steep stairway that led to a toilet that has a broken lid and a curtain as a door with the toilet paper hanging off the cealing with rope. The ONLY saving grace was a guide that was very friendly and out going, she was pretty amazing. Other then that it was a epic fail. I would not recommend this to a family member or friend...or even an enemy. Look into other tour companies one called dolphin looked pretty amazing.

    Porpoises swimming along our boat like they knew us! I have so much footage of that!

    Today (06/18/19) could not have been any better! Graham (deck hand) was the best tour guide we have e we had. We learned so much from his positive upbeat attitude about the Nāpali coast and the wildlife. The porpoises that swam near us were so close. There were hundreds! It's like they knew the boat. We got into some of the caves, something we would not have been able to do on the larger boats. The Captain was able to maneuver back us into the waterfall! Sick! We also were able to ride closer to the shore line than some of the other boats. There was 20 people, so it's very intimate and you get to know everyone. Lunch was great with fresh pineapple grown by the Captain's family. The Captain has been doing this for 35 years and is local. His experience showed through on the trip. I am so glad we didn't take the larger, more advertised boats. I can't say enough good stuff about this day. Recommend you bring your own water (they provide other drinks) and snorkel gear. I could go on and on especially with the snorkeling but I don't want the review too long because it won't get read. Just go experience it for yourself! It will not disappoint!!

    Jason J.

    This was an AMAZING boat tour with a true Hawaiian. It's a family owned company with the wife running the introductions and the husband is the captain. We went on the lunch tour and were really impressed. It was about $40 cheaper per person than some of the other tours, and as we watched the other tours crowd more and more people on their boats we were very grateful ours was more personal and individualized. All the tours left at about the same time, and followed a similar route, but the other tours literally followed where our captain went. For example he took us right into the middle of a huge dolphin pod and let us each individually get down on the bow of the boat to get the best views. Then about 20 minutes later the other tour boats realized we had found something and came later. The lunch was fantastic. The stories and history of the island were amazing and came from a man that had lived on the island his entire life. We learned so much about the Hawaiian culture and the history of the island. They went above and beyond. It was one of my favorite things we did on our trip to Kauai. I highly recommend this tour!

    Captain drove us into a waterfall!  Very cool experience all around!

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    Ask the Community - Catamaran Kahanu

    Review Highlights - Catamaran Kahanu

    Fantastic voyage up the Na'Pali coast with Captain!

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    Holoholo Charters - Kauai family friendly boat tours

    Holoholo Charters

    (1.2k reviews)

    The sunset cruise with Holo Holo Charters down the Nāpali Coast was an unforgettable experience. We…read morebooked it to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday, and it was perfect from start to finish. Captain Max was incredible--his sense of humor kept us laughing even as the rain and mist rolled in. The two women on the crew (I wish I could remember their names) were fantastic, making sure everyone was comfortable and answering all our questions with a smile. The playlist on board was spot on, setting the perfect vibe. I wish I could find it on Spotify! Despite the weather, the views were breathtaking, and getting a little drenched just added to the adventure. The food was delicious, especially the smoked pork, salad, and fresh fruit, and my husband loved the mai tais. Even without the sunset, the whole experience was magical. After chatting with other travelers, I'm convinced we had one of the best tours available. especially after talking to a couple at our hotel pool who had paid more than we did and only got snacks limited alcohol. I can't recommend Holo Holo Charters enough, and I'm already looking forward to trying their breakfast or snorkel cruise next time. If you're looking for an amazing adventure, this is it!

    My husband and I did the sunset dinner tour to the Na Pali coast with this company a couple weeks…read moreago on 4/1/26 at 2:45pm. Price was $250 per person and we booked a couple days before the tour date. (we went at the end of March - the weather was fantastic and not too hot, also not raining). Although it was pricey, I felt like it was worth the experience and highly recommend anyone do a tour, even if it's not with this company. We got back to shore around 7-7:30pm, so total time was 5 hours ish. Pros: - the Na Pali coast is BEAUTIFUL - the views were truly a once in a life time experience for me and I saw the fullest rainbow I've ever seen - The tour guide was super informative, we learned a lot about whales, and they also taught us a lot about certain mountains and waterfalls that we passed on the Na Pali Coast (like where Kauai kings were buried). - We stopped to watch whales multiple times and it was really cool! - The 3 staff working on board the ship were extremely helpful in answering questions, providing drinks, and instructing people from a safety perspective - Safety - I felt very well taken care of the whole time. It's a barefoot cruise but people can choose to keep their shoes on if they want. They provided bags for people feeling nauseous and gave good advice when people were feeling seasick. - Food provided - it's not fine dining or anything (chicken teriyaki, salad, etc) but it does beat having to pack your own food or go hungry around dinner time. Also unlimited alcohol or nonalcoholic drinks. - The staff helped us take photos and there's a lot of great photo opportunities at the coast - Champagne toast at sunset, which was beautiful to watch out on the water - bathrooms available on board - My husband didn't feel like eating on board due to the motion sickness so they were kind enough to pack a to-go box for us! - Parking was easy and the meet up location was easy to find - we stood outside for most of the ride since it felt better than sitting inside, so we did get a bunch of sea-spray and got super wet from the 10 ft swells, but it felt really fun! Cons: - I think they need to put a huge disclaimer with statistics or something to show people how common it is for people to get seasick and vomit. I think maybe 5 people from our whole boat got really sick and either fell or vomited during the trip (can feel a little weird enjoying the beautiful view while someone smells like vomit next to you lol). They do tell you at the beginning that you can walk away and get a full refund after hearing the captain briefing during the meet up starting spot, but I don't think they really emphasize just how many people get sick. I personally felt fine but I felt really bad for people who had to gut through the five hour round trip feeling terrible. bring Dramamine!! This was definitely a highlight of my first time in Kauai, I wouldn't necessarily do it more than once due to the price, but it was a fantastic experience for the views!

    Blue Dolphin Charters - Blue Dolphin's Catamarans against the Na Pali Coast

    Blue Dolphin Charters

    (1.8k reviews)

    This was hands down one of the highlights of our trip to Kauai! We had a group of five, and I truly…read morecan't say enough good things about Capt. Kealoha, Evan, Kawika, and Aina. From the second we got on the boat, they made everyone feel welcome and were so friendly, funny, and accommodating. They took the time to engage with everyone on board, which made the whole experience feel really personal. Capt. Kealoha did an incredible job sharing the history of the Nā Pali Coast, pointing out famous movie filming locations, and explaining the history of different landmarks along the way. It made the trip so much more than just a beautiful boat ride, it felt like we were getting a personal tour of one of the most stunning places in Hawaii. When it was time to snorkel, the crew made sure everyone felt comfortable and informed before getting in the water. They even jumped in with us, which made the experience even more fun and reassuring. The two kids in our group had an absolute blast and haven't stopped talking about it! The views were unreal, the crew made the entire day so much fun, and we left talking about how glad we were that we booked with Blue Dolphin Charters. If you're visiting Kauai and thinking about doing a Nā Pali Coast tour, this is the one. I would recommend them over and over again!

    DEC2025 This was a great sunset cruise to go on. I had sent…read morecommunications before regarding some injuries and questions for shoes. They responded quickly months prior while we were still doing research for our trip. Captain Cole Jarrett and Lily ran a solid experience. Clear instructions from the beginning, information during, and stories intertwines as we traveled along the coast. We also had some waves while dodging dark clouds. We were able to squeeze ahead of it tho with a little bit of water tho still warm really. It was a bit bumpy when we had to get ahead of the storm but that's understandable. During the trip around we saw a few whales and beautiful views of the Napali coast. There was also a small dolphin and plenty of flying fish skipping across the water. Dinner included had pulled pork and teriyaki chicken. I also had a vegetarian meal which was great. It was their own mix over rice. Flavors were good tho a little dry. A gravy would've melded things but otherwise still a good mix. The food was onboard and drinks were great. Lily was running around delivering drinks and snacks. We got many drinks and cookies over the course of the cruise. It was a great experience overall, would certainly recommend.

    Napali Navigators - Na Pali Coast!

    Napali Navigators

    (11 reviews)

    Unreal guides!! This trip was the greatest. Captain Greg & copilot Caleb made everyone feel like…read morefamily. From the lunch to the snorkeling to the vast amount of information... what a home run. Greg guided us perfectly through some rough chop and we came out on the other side ready for more. Greg is 6th generation Hawaiian so ask away... he knows everything. It is unbelievable !!! Would definitely do the tour again

    Our young friend recommended this as her favorite thing to do in all of Hawaii Nei. This was her…read morethird visit because she likes to bring all her favorite visitors on this tour. After taking it myself now, I can see why! We met Captain Greg Baptiste and copilot Caleb at Kiki'aola Small Boat Harbor at 8:45 and ended about 2:45. We were supposed to end at 2:30 but got delayed by kayakers who caused boat traffic. A 6th generation Kaua'i kama'aina, Captain Greg was extremely experienced, confident, and relaxed so we felt very safe with him at the helm, even when the boat was slapping the waters and we felt like we were on a mechanical bull ride. Luckily I didn't get seasick, so it felt a like a real life Disney ride to me. However, I don't recommend this for those who get queasy. His first mate, Caleb, took turns with him at the wheel and dove in to achor us. Throughout the tour Greg educated us with fascinating facts and tales about the geography, history, and lore of the breathtaking beautiful Na Pali Coast. One of the lessons from the legend of Na Keiki a ono iwi that resonated with me was 1.Listen to your elders 2. Do not Steal 3. You are responsible for your children's actions. (Teachers, gotta love this one!!) Highlights were the open ceiling cave and iconic "Cathedral " cliffs. We stopped for about an hour or so of beautiful clear snorkeling where we got to see turtles in addition to some beautiful and large fish. They use excellent Mantis brand snorkeling gear which I really liked and will fit you for fins. After that we were very ready for lunch! They normally cater sandwiches but something happened so we assembled our own with fixings from Costco which tasted extra good at sea! The only suggestion I would have for this business is to do a better job of briefing folks about safety and how to treat the reef. Some kids in our group were sitting and stepping on the coral. Mahalo nui Capt. Greg and Crew for an incredible day trip!! Will definitely recommend this to everyone I know!

    Na Pali Catamaran - Family photo on Catamaran !

    Na Pali Catamaran

    (241 reviews)

    DRAMAMINE, y'all…read more You're choosing to do the Na'Pali coast from the North Shore, which means smaller boats, and choppier waves. I took one Dramamine, the night before. Then another, an hour before our departure. AND THE BOAT RIDE WAS GREAT. I was all smiles and adventure and breathing -in the ocean air and wind! Unlike, a few folks, who were NOT doing so well. (One or two barfed over the side, but thankfully I didn't notice. Know how your body handles boats and waves. Don't do tours like this, without proper prep. It will NOT be fun if you underestimate it.) Check-In staff was super friendly, and personal. They remembered me from my original email. Sweet. Parking was easy. Shuttles team was super friendly. The strangers we rode with, all turned out to be cool. 2 boats go out (mini-catamarans, with cover from the sun). They expertly traverse the waves, and cliffs, and the caves, giving you some amazing first-hand visuals and photos. But yeah, that boat will be a rockin', during those up-close cave moments. Spoiler: You probably won't see whales, unless you're there before May. But we DID see a cute pod of Dolphins, who cozy'd up to our boat for a while. Our boat had Casey and Spencer. They were wise beyond their years, in all things Kauai. Funny and friendly. Spencer navigated the heck out of those waves, while Casey handled the nauseous passengers with MOTHERLY CARE. Spencer was 50/50 on allowing us to snorkel, based on conditions and a previous scare, a few weeks prior. But he ultimately made the call to GET IN THE WATER. He wisely kept us on a leash (not literally), whistling at swimmers when they got too close to a reef (with waves that could wash you onto the reef). It was fun and chill. Saw a HUGE, MASSIVE KING DADDY SEA TURTLE. He did not enjoy us as much as we enjoyed him and he bounced. Followed by a JR. Turtle, who stuck around a bit longer. Tons of fish. Spencer & Casey gave us good food and hike recommendations, and everyone treated us like friends / family. Highly recommend this team if you're going out. And you already know I highly recommend some Dramamine.

    I had an amazing experience doing the Na Pali Coast tour with them. Had to reschedule the tour due…read moreto some rough weather but glad we got a better slot with calmer conditions. The captains were very informative, knowledgeable and engaging. They gave great background and history about all the spots we saw. We even saw some dolphins up close. We got to sit at the bow of the boat on the way back. They gave us snorkeling gear and allowed us to go out in the water and explore. We saw some amazing sea life and coral reefs. They gave us lunch, snacks and soda after. The ride there and back was also very smooth. I would highly recommend booking a tour with them!

    Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures - Beautiful sunrise on the way out

    Captain J’s Kauai Offshore Adventures

    (130 reviews)

    Great time. Ryan…read moreand Max were our adventure partners. Ryan was an awesome captain. He made the ride more fun than I could have ever expected. Got us under waterfalls to cool us down. He also took us in caves and shared lots of history of the Napali Coast. Max made sure we didn't feel like another annoying tourist and took a moment with each guest. Multiple times. He checked in and provided some snacks and water. Amazing time. I would recommit to anyone. Don't do the small zodiac. That looked terrible. Don't do the big catamaran unless your looking for the most leisure with a chicken wrap and a drink. If you want the best time. Checkout Captain J's and ask for Ryan and Max to be your guides.

    Captain J's Nāpali coast tour was nothing short of amazing. Originally I wanted to go on a smaller…read moreadventure raft where you sit on the side and hold on to the ropes. My husband wanted a more relaxed trip so we decided on the raft boat that had seats. Man am I glad we did! We had a choppy day on the water and it was a crazy ride out to the coast. But I felt totally capable in the hands of Nono and Jeff who were our captains. Nono knew how to ride the waves and made sure we had a safe and fun time on the water. The views of the Napali coast are breathtaking. We went on the morning ride and in hindsight, the afternoon would have had better lighting to view the Kalalau Valley, as we had the sun coming up behind the mountains once we got there. Still got some amazing shots of the cliffs. The sea was too rough to enter the cave completely but Nono still got us in enough to experience the thrill in a safe manner. We saw spinner dolphins and some bottle nose dolphins doing flips and jumping out of the water. The snorkeling was great-we even swam with a sea turtle. The crew was helpful, making sure everyone was okay with snacks and drinks. It was an adventurous day in the water!!

    Catamaran Kahanu - boatcharters - Updated July 2026

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