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    Catamaran Kahanu

    4.6 (14 reviews)

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    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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    Review Highlights - Catamaran Kahanu

    Fantastic voyage up the Na'Pali coast with Captain!

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    Holoholo Charters

    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!

    Makana Charters - Both of our boats entering multiple sea caves

    Makana Charters

    (404 reviews)

    While vacation planning for Kauai, one of the things I wanted to do was see the Na Pali Coast. I…read morewas scared to hike as I'm not physically fit for that and helicopter rides were a no for me. So I opted for a boat tour! I chose makana charters because of how detailed they were in their information as different tours tour the coast in different areas. With this tour, included lunch and snorkeling. What I didn't want was a fancy lunch because what I'm really there for is to see the Na Pali Coast and everything else was just an extra for me. The lunch was very simple which I like especially because it can get very nauseous. I wanted to do the snorkeling part, but I also wanted my husband to do it, but he's not a confident swimmer so I stayed with him and watched people snorkel which was totally fine. We did the early morning tour and it was beautiful! The weather was perfect! Our tour guides went around us as we were enjoying the way to the coast and asked us where we were from. They also showed us the forbidden island and told us some history of the island and how certain areas locals would camp but a permit would be needed. They also tried to get into caves as deep as they can go and also showed us where Mary J Blige recorded her music video for everything. We also saw some dolphins going and come back from the coast! The coast was just as magical and beautiful!

    Honestly, if you've never seen the Napali Coast, then any boat tour would be considered phenomenal…read more Its a breathtaking view. This was my second excursion, over 15 years apart. Some positives about this tour includes: free parking by their main stop, an emcee that was quite hilarious, a boat captain that made the boat ride at 15 knots super fun, and some history lessons along with the tour. So what was wrong? The area where we were snorkeling was quite bland. We only saw a few fish and didnt see a turtle until after we all got on the boat. After only about 30 min of snorkeling around I was bored (they give you an hour). At the beginning of the tour we were told that if you feel sick at anytime, to let them know and they'll have some remedies. Well...when I came back on the boat after snorkeling, I started feeling woozy. It was mainly because the boat was anchored and started swaying. I did take Dramamine an hour before the trip so that helped a little. I told one of the crew members how I was feeling and her suggestion was, "I would stand in the back so noone will see you get sick. Also, I wouldn't go in the bathroom because the enclosed space will make you feel worse." Not the remedies I was expecting. haha. I did not take her advice. Instead I stayed standing in the front and looked at the horizon as everyone else was enjoying their sandwiches and chips. The captain, at least, gave me a little piece of mind by telling me he'll have us back on shore in 50 minutes. So I stood there, feeling like I was on a speed boat, jumping with every big wave, wind blowing my hair and salty water on my face. Surprisingly, I felt better after that ride back. But I felt a whole lot better being on land.

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

    Blue Dolphin Charters

    (1.8k reviews)

    We had an absolutely incredible experience with Blue Dolphin Charters! From the moment we stepped…read moreon board, the crew operated like a well-oiled machine. They were organized, professional, and genuinely seemed to love what they do. We traveled the morning of July 9th (for credit to our crew). We did the breakfast/lunch snorkel and Nāpali coast catamaran. What stood out most was how well they cared for everyone on the boat. They were constantly checking in to make sure guests were comfortable, helping people safely up and down the stairs, serving food and drinks, and making the entire experience feel like an all-inclusive resort on the water. Every crew member was kind, upbeat, and made you feel like they were truly happy you were there. Our captain was fantastic--he was fun, knowledgeable, and full of interesting information about the Nā Pali Coast. We never felt rushed, and they even stopped so everyone could take photos of the breathtaking scenery. We traveled with our 15-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, and both had an amazing time. There were also several younger children on board, and the crew was wonderful with them as well. The boat was clean, spacious, and easy to move around, which made the trip comfortable for everyone. The food was delicious, and the entire day exceeded our expectations. As if the stunning coastline wasn't enough, we were lucky enough to see two different pods of dolphins swimming alongside the boat--an unforgettable experience! The biggest compliment I can give? The next morning my 10-year-old daughter asked if we could book another trip because she loved it that much. If you're considering a Nā Pali Coast tour, don't hesitate--book with Blue Dolphin Charters. It was worth every penny, and the views are truly once-in-a-lifetime.

    My husband and I did the Deluxe Nā Pali Snorkel & Sunset Tour on 06/14/26 at 1:00 p.m., and we had…read moresuch a great time! The catamaran was big, clean, and really nice. We passed by a Captain Andy's catamaran during the tour, and ours honestly looked better. Ours even had a second deck, while theirs didn't, which gave everyone more space to spread out and take pictures without feeling crowded. The four crew members were all helpful and friendly. The food was also surprisingly delicious and honestly, it was even better than the food we had at the luau we went to! Overall, it was an awesome experience, and we'd definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kauai.

    Kauai Sea Tours - No better place in the world, Sailing the NaPali Coast!

    Kauai Sea Tours

    (1.2k reviews)

    This was my second time doing this raft trip, and I would recommend it to any adventure seeker! We…read morehad a fabulous ride and saw multiple pods of dolphins during our morning trip. We also saw turtles and seals, and others in our group spotted a ray. The views of the coast and marine life were absolutely beautiful. The front of the boat The ride out was calm and relaxing. We made multiple stops to look for animals and listen to our captain share interesting facts about the land and its history. We also stopped to snorkel and enjoyed breakfast sandwiches. We were able to go into a few sea caves and even went under a small waterfall. On the way back, our captain gave us a much more adventurous ride! It's definitely not for the faint of heart. We were jamming to music, jumping waves, and getting completely sprayed with water. If you get motion sick I would take their recommendation to medicate and medicate again after you eat! Such a fun experience from start to finish!

    Our Napali Coast Snorkel Tour with Kauai Sea Tours on the Imiloa Express, Captain Josh, crew…read moremembers Aaron & Kai was the highlight of our trip! We appreciated them sharing their knowledge and deep history of the Napali Coast. Our whole family including our 4 year old enjoyed the snorkeling experience and even got to see dolphins! The crew members handle a disgruntled family professionally! We've been on many snorkel tours and this one was by far the best!

    Napali Navigators - Na Pali Coast!

    Napali Navigators

    (13 reviews)

    If you're looking for the ultimate Nā Pali Coast experience, I can't recommend Napali Navigators…read moreenough. We took their Nā Pali Coast Tour and Snorkel Excursion, and it was hands down the best excursion I've ever been on. Captain Greg was an exceptionally skilled captain who made us feel safe and confident throughout the trip. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating information about Hawaiian culture, the geology of the Nā Pali Coast, the marine life, and so much more. His passion for Hawaii was evident and made the experience even more meaningful. Captain Greg went above and beyond to make sure everyone had an unforgettable experience. He made a special effort to locate a pod of spinner dolphins and expertly positioned the boat so every passenger had an amazing view. It was truly incredible to watch them in their natural habitat. The Nā Pali Coast itself is breathtaking beyond words. Towering emerald-green mountains, cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear turquoise water, and dramatic sea cliffs create scenery that simply has to be seen to be believed. The entire crew was friendly, professional, attentive, and highly skilled. From start to finish, everything was well organized, and they made everyone feel welcome and comfortable. This tour exceeded every expectation I had. If you're visiting Kauai, this is an absolute must-do. It was truly the highlight of our trip and the best excursion I've ever experienced. Thank you, Captain Greg and the entire Napali Navigators crew, for an unforgettable day!

    What a great experience! Captain Greg and Caleb were very professional and experienced sailors…read more Water got a little choppy but never felt like they weren't in control. Very knowledgeable of the sites and where the turtles and dolphins were. Saw some baby dolphins on this trip. The cave was amazing and the scenery along the Napali Coast is surreal. Soft drinks, water, and some Subway sandwiches were provided. Snorkeling was amazing as well. Great job guys!!

    Na Pali Catamaran - Family photo on Catamaran !

    Na Pali Catamaran

    (243 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.

    My family of 5 had a tour booked. We got out on the boat and there was a mechanical issue. We…read morefloated around for an hour while they tried to figure it out before being told we had to go back for the mechanic to look at it. After another 30 minute wait it was cancelled completely. We did get a refund but were not offered to be fit in to another tour. Between the time out on the boat, the drive there and the drive back we wasted a full day of our vacation. The captain on the boat was heard telling the other one that he was told this happened the previous day but they got it working. Since this was a known issue they should have cancelled it or fixed the problem before we wasted our time. We could have planned another activity instead of just wasting the day.

    Catamaran Kahanu - boatcharters - Updated August 2026

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