Ka'anapali Parasailing was AMAZING!!
I was referred to this company by a previous tourist and am SO GRATEFUL!
So first, a few things...
*Formerly known as Maui West (so you can read those reviews too)
*Look for the big smiley face chute! (There are several other parasailing companies in the area so this is how you tell them apart!)
*Find them at the beach at the end of Whaler's Village. They have a couple umbrellas set up in the sand which is your meeting point.
*Not only did we love our Captain Dani and deckmate James, but the peeps setting it all up on the beach were SO LOVELY (shout out to the gal who knew Apple Hill!) and I also received a super fast response from whomever handles the online inquiries. Just really great customer service throughout!*
What you need to know:
*You are going to have THE BEST time and you are in good hands!
*These folks are awesome.
*Their prices are reasonable!
*Book direct! The concierge at our hotel was going to charge us like $200 more to sail with another company. I already knew that I wanted to sail with THIS company per the reco so we canceled THAT....
*You can book online for a small convenience fee, or for no fee, call or stop by their location on the beach!
*Bring CASH to tip your captain and deckhand.
*OPT FOR the Picture Package. They give you an SD card at the end with your photos.
*WEAR SUNSCREEN. Since we did a morning sail and I wasn't in my bathing suit, I forgot to apply. AND MY ARMS GOT FRIED.
*DO THE DIP!! Let me say this again... DO THE DIP! Even if you aren't wearing a bathing suit (I had on capris), you can still get your legs wet and it is just SO SO fun!!
*You do not need to bring a towel although towels are not provided either. You just don't need one, period.
*Travel light - Anything you bring aboard will be tucked at the front (bow) of the boat. This includes any and all valuables. It is perfectly fine. No one is going to touch your stuff. I had a small fanny pack with me. You can wear sunglasses or not (in the air). We did and they recommended it. Basically as long as you can look down without your glasses falling off, then you can wear them and they shouldn't fall off ;)
*Shoes are not allowed on the boat.
*Mornings may be a better time to sail, since winds tend to pick up in the afternoon.
Our Experience:
Parasailing had always been on my bucket list and I was in Maui celebrating my 50th birthday so....it seemed like the perfect time to make a memory!
We booked last minute just by walking up day of at beach location. We arrived at 9:30am and were able to secure a spot on the 10am sailing. They emailed us a waiver which we signed electronically prior to sailing. There were 10 guests on the boat, plus the captain and her deckhand (Sorry, James I have no idea what your official title is! lol) You leave your shoes on the beach near the "base camp" umbrellas and jump in a skiff which brings you to the motorboat. You then "trade places" with the guests leaving the boat.
Once everyone has boarded, they explain everything to you and off you go!
Everyone on our boat went tandem (two people at a time). Yes, some people are nervous or afraid of heights but THEY DID IT! Brava!!
The experience itself was amazing and we had a really fun group, all clapping and whooping for each other, even though moments before we were all just strangers. The music was good and you have the added benefit of a fun boat ride. I do tend to enjoy adrenaline activities but this was not that. *SPOILER ALERT* You have a little excitement as you take off but then once you are in the air, it is completely quiet and peaceful. I was not expecting that. And such a noticeable difference from the hum of the boat engine and activity. I also thought 8-10 minutes in the air didn't sound like enough but it was just the right amount. As I recommended, we did the dip at the end even though we weren't planning on it and I am SO glad we did. It was really fun. (JUST REMEMBER to keep your feet tucked back when doing so). Then they just reel you in the rest of the way and you land softly on your bum and HOORAH! you just parasailed! The entire boat trip takes about an hour and you make memories that will last FOREVER.
And, one more time for those in the back..... Dani and James were amazing hosts! What a job to have! They made it fun and comfortable for all of us.
I ENTHUSIASTICALLY recommend Ka'anapali Parasailing!
Thanks team, for a wonderful experience! Mahalo and Aloha!
Review written in July, sail date June 18 :) read more