We say there are no accidents in life, and proving that true, the Universe led us to Blue Soul Maui and the kind hearted Charlie to help with the dispersal of my sister's ashes. From our first contact, we felt it was 'right', and Charlie's care and thoughtfulness made a difficult day so beautiful. Every detail was thought of, so we could simply focus on the heartfelt day. We were truly blessed with the gift of Kimokeo Kapahulehua's beautiful soul, who as a true Hawaiian wisdom keeper did the blessings and prayers both onshore and out in the outrigger with us. The words 'spiritual experience' seem inadequate for what we felt. We can't thank Charlie and Kimokeo enough for bringing my sister's celebration of her life to full circle. read more

I requseted information about burial at sea information for myself. I received no response for requested information.

Long over due review. We could not have asked for a better way to send off Mom and Dad! Vene was just wonderful. We met him on the beach and he explained what we would be doing. He gave thanks to the East, West and ocean. We then took the outrigger into the water while singing in Hawaiian. Vene also said a prayer at the spot we laid the ashes into the water. He gave us time to say what we wanted to about my parents, and we said some more prayers in Hawaiian. I'm not at all spiritual, but this was simply beautiful We then laid the fresh flowers on the water, paddled around them and came back in to shore. It was suggested to go out in the morning for calmer water. Listen to what they suggest. Later that day, the white caps picked up and the kite surfers came out. We had a lovely, glassy paddle out and back. 'Until We Meet Again'. Mahalo read more

"Hōkūleʻa A "Hōkūleʻa means "Star of Gladness" or "Glad Star", a term often used to describe a burial at sea ceremony in Hawaiian traditions. It is a way of honoring and respecting the deceased by returning them to the ocean, which holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in Hawaiian Culture. Blue Soul Maui is dedicated to honoring the "Hōkūleʻa tradition for at-sea burials in Hawaiian culture. If someone is looking to have a "Hōkūleʻa ceremony for a loved one, it is important to work with experienced and reputable providers who understand and respect the cultural significance and customs associated with this practice. Charlie, Vene (our officiant) and the rest of the crew at Blue Soul Maui do just that with a respectful and meaningful "Hōkūleʻa ceremony for your loved one. Mahalo and aloha to them for their dedication to honoring Hawaiian traditions and helping families during such important and emotional moments. Mahalo for honoring our Hawaiian traditions as we laid our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunty to rest in the place of her birth, Maui. read more

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Had the most amazing day of whale watching with Charlie -- even though it was really early in the season. The paddling is no joke, but the hard work was ENTIRELY worth it when Charlie got us right out there among 15 or so whales. Absolute magic. read more

Blue Soul Maui - Whales! - Hiking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Went out with the guys today and had the best time couldn't recommend them more just good guys that give a great service

This is an experience our family will treasure forever. We cannot imagine a better send off for our mother and Nana. Our group ranged in age from 10 to 76. Perfect for all 13 of us. The day was beautiful and Charlie's team was wonderful. Spiritual, and so respectful of a life well lived. Thank you, Charlie read more

My family and I are truly grateful to Charlie and Vene for creating a peaceful ceremony as we honored my father's wishes to have his ashes scattered in the waters of Maui. Charlie spent time learning about our family, designing a tribute that would be fitting and inclusive of the adults and the children. Vene led us through the ceremony with inspiration, love and compassion. It was perfect! Thank you read more

If you are looking for a company to spread your loved one's ashes in Maui Charlie and Vene at Blue Soul Maui is EXACTLY what you want. I HIGHLY recommend them..The ceremony is participatory and paddling out made it all that more poignant. The prayers and ceremony were beyond beautiful. Thank you for making my Chris's sendoff special. The ocean is where he always found his peace and happiness , it was a special place for him and now he is part of it. I couldn't have asked for a more lovely and reverent ceremony. I know he was watching from above with a smile on his face....He found his peace , now I must find mine. I can't thank you enough for taking care of us and making Chris's Aloha more than I or he could've dreamed of. P.S. glad we caught a wave on the way back in...Chris would've appreciated that ... A million Thank You's/Mahalo from the depths of my heart... read more

Our family had the best time learning to surf with Charlie. He's very knowledgeable, patient and so much fun. Our kids were confident enough to go try on their own a couple days later! Whatever adventure your vacation is calling for, you'll be happy with your time spent with Blue Soul. Mahalo Charlie! read more

Blue Soul Maui - Hiking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Many of the experiences that were a part of our cruise and destination wedding vacation were supposedly "authentic". The way I define an authentic experience is how it makes me feel or how it changes my perception. The outrigger canoe experience was not just authentic, it was a true showing of how the Island natives view their environment and their relationship to paradise. Each day, I think of the little things I can do in our every day lives that can preserve it. Also, even after our trip was over, our guide gave us advice and a ride back to the ship. Except for my nieces wedding, when we talk about our 2-week Hawaii vacation, the outrigger canoe experience with Blue Soul Maui Tours is the first thing we speak of. read more

Thank you Charlie, for an excellent morning! My boy will forever be stoked and has certainly racked up a little more wave cred You're the best! read more

We used Blue Soul for a Road to Hana excursion. Communication with Charlie was easy and friendly. He asked questions and gave us great info to help plan our day. Vene was our guide and the entire day was such a treat and a highlight of our trip. I would love to get back and book surf lessons for the boys, or do an outrigger day with them next. Blue Soul is too-notch and will give you the experience you hope for. Thanks Charlie and Vene. read more

We cannot speak highly enough about Charlie and Vene! They performed our mothers ash scattering and it was the most beautiful and perfect ceremony we could ever have imagined. Down to every single detail the traditional outrigger was beautifully decorated with care. The way they honored our every wish with no rush just calm and laid back. The Hawaiian blessings/chants along with blowing the conch first on beach while asking for blessings to spread our moms ashes in the aina, then also before we laid her in the water, were all exactly as we wanted. Traditional, honoring the mana of Hawaii, different from any other service I've been to, so personable, no rushing, no going through the motions everything was done with so much aloha bringing much peace to our hearts. Erasing the pain we felt and replacing it with love and happiness and such a treasured memory to hold on to forever. They gave me my mom back. Now when I look at her picture all I feel is love and peace. No more pain, I can't thank them enough for this beautiful gift of aloha. Next time we're back in Maui definitely going to hit them up for whale watching or surfing. Also to note that we brought our 2 year old and he loved it. So it's a great choice if you have kids. And all the video and pictures he took were just perfect. My husband did as well and looking back there way no need. Charlie captured everything we needed then even made us a slide show after. read more

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Peaceful, serene and spiritual are only a few of the adjectives I could use to describe the experience of spreading my husband's ashes with all 4 kids and one grandkid. The chanting took you to a different place emotionally and affirmed the respect for the ocean and the Hawaiian people. It's only been 2 days, but I can already tell this experience has changed our lives positively. Charlie and his crew are first class in every way. read more

We could not have had a nicer sendoff for our mother/grandmother, with so much respect and care. Charlie and Vene helped us personally through the sorrow, by connecting us to the cycle of life and the beauty of the ocean, and of course all the flowers that were provided. Setting up the service was easily done, which I appreciated. I recommend Blue Soul Maui. read more

If you ever happen to find yourself in Maui, look no further than Blue Soul Maui for all your adventures! While on our vacation in Maui, I had the lucky opportunity to take surfing lessons and go canoeing with Charlie. Both these experiences were easily highlights of our trip! Charlie is absolutely exceptional and provides a truly authentic experience with unmatched passion, training and service. He goes above and beyond to ensure your experience is excellent and personalized, evening capturing the best moments! Blue Soul Maui is truly a must when visiting the island, and I would recommend this to all friends and family! From being able to surf my first wave, to coming within feet of whales, Charlie provides experiences that are unforgettable. Mahalo Charlie and Blue Soul Maui for everything you do! read more

Charlie was awesome! Friendly, professional, very knowledgeable & our family of 6 had such a great experience! We saw a 35 foot male whale up CLOSE! read more

I'll start by saying my girlfriend and I have been to Maui 3 times in the last 4 years and this my favorite experience to date! We did the outrigger canoe with Charlie and Kaleo and snorkeled with TONS (seriously... TONS!!!!) of sea turtles, fish, octopus, sea urchins, lobster, and a million of other species of ocean creatures. These guys are super pro, very respectful of the underwater ecosystem, funny as hell, and they treat you just like family! (No big business vibes here) Next time we're back I look forward to going on more adventures with Charlie and his wonderful crew! 10/10 good time 10/10 value 10/10 knowledge of all things underwater and relatability of the crew Highly recommend read more

Cannot recommend Blue Soul enough!!! Charlie was awesome in helping me with my father's ash scattering ceremony the day after Christmas. We were coming to Maui during a cruise. There were so many issues that delayed my family's disembarkation from the ship which caused us to be 2 hours late. I was so stressed because of the delays but Charlie was so patient and calming that he made me feel it would all be ok. The ash scattering ceremony was lovely. We paddled out on a double outrigger canoe. The kahuna spoke to the ancestors and gave respect to nature. He blew a conch and my father's ashes were poured into the deep blue of Maui. My family has a wonderful memorial for my father thanks to Blue Soul. Charlie provided us with bottled water, fruit, and pastries afterwards. Thank you Charlie! //...carie read more

Blue Soul Maui - My aunt pouring out my fathers ashes in the deep blue of Maui. Thank you Blue Soul - Hiking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Charlie was an amazing tour guide. My wife and I are here in Maui on our honeymoon and we're gifted this tour/hike around the island.. wow what an experience.. this man should get more than 5 stars, such a warm inviting dude makes you feel as if he has known you for years.. not only does he know all the local ins and outs, but he knows the history of the island and makes for an adventure you won't soon forget.. THANK YOU !!! .. Great photographer by the way.. would have thought he'd been snapping shots for years. read more

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Look no further - you will find phenomenal instruction and excellent service at Blue Soul Maui. Every other place I called to schedule a surfing lesson was answered by robots and corporate jingles - Blue Soul Maui outshone the competition with highly personal training! Charlie, the man behind Blue Soul Maui, picks up your call himself and schedules your lesson with you immediately. To my surprise, he picked us up from our hotel with surfboards strapped to the roof of his truck! My friend and I scheduled a 2-3 hour surfing lesson (including driving time). We were running almost an hour late, but Charlie accommodated our "island time" without any fuss or penalty. Not to say that on busier days you may have to abide by a stricter time table though! As it was Sunday and the usual beginner's surfing spot had restrictions on surf lessons on Sundays, he took us to Ukumehame - a beautiful beach park with decent waves and a picturesque view of the valley as you surfed in. After unloading the longboards and waxing them for us, Charlie took his time to explain the basics of popping up on the board and showed us the proper stance for stability. He was patient and informative - eventually going into depth on how to read the waves and sets, proper etiquette for surfing with a large group, and some great local information on Kihei and it's local culture. By the first wave - I had stood up on my board and was proudly surfing! It didn't take long for me to feel comfortable and even start catching my own waves without any assistance. I felt like a real surfer by the time our session was up :) After a few hours of surfing, we headed back to shore and he loaded up his car while letting us relax with some ice cold water and towels he packed for us. We took some pictures to remember our first time surfing and he dropped us off right back at our hotel. If you're looking for excellent and highly personal 1-on-1 surfing lessons - Charlie of Blue Soul Maui is The Man! With just a little patience and athleticism, you'll be up on your surfboard in no time at all! 6 stars if I could. read more

I contacted Charlie about scattering my late brothers ashes. The experience was everything and more than I could have expected. Vene did a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. It was spiritual, soulful and his kind words he spoke of my brother touched my heart. Mahalo Charlie, you're the best! read more

My niece and I had a private surfing lesson this morning with Charlie. Had a fabulous time. Charlie was great! He was totaling on it, texting me at 6:15 to check in and he was at the condo minutes early. Truly a nice guy and a patient teacher. The lesson was held at Ukumehame Beach State Park along Honoapiilani Hwy on the way to Lahaina. Perfect place for learning how to surf. The break was not crowded and the waves were relatively forgiving but definitely surfable. Charlie had us both (I am in my mid 60s and my niece is 19) surfing in no time. Once back on the beach, Charlie had juice, water, and pineapple waiting. Sweet. Good morning. Highly recommended read more

Our fifteen year old daughter's only ask during our trip to Maui was to learn the art of surfing. She is an avid snowboarder and has always wanted to try surfing. When we were planning the trip, we spent some time with the concierge group at the Four Seasons @ Wailea and Blue Soul Maui was highly recommended based on the superior level of personal service coupled with the technical skills and experience of the owner - Charlie. When the surf lesson day arrived my wife joined in and both of them had a quick ten-minute land based instruction then it was off to surf! As I took photos from the shore - watching Charlie stand between my wife and daughter as waves came in still instructing all along the way - my daughter took off on her first wave - stood up and rode the wave all the way in ... On her first try! My wife was right behind our daughter - on her second try at "hanging ten" - she rode the wave into shore perfectly! As I was able to record their experience - their smiles never disappeared the entire outing - and neither did mine. Our family travels a great deal for pleasure and routinely uses service providers to support us on our outings - we enjoy a personal experience and the Four Seasons was spot on with their assessment of Blue Soul Maui's dedication to its customers and their personal connection to their customers. We highly recommend Blue Soul Maui - the personable nature of Charlie and his knowledge in the sport - truly made our outing not only successful - but also one we thoroughly enjoyed and didn't want it to end. A day we will treasure forever - I certainly will remember those smiles of accomplishment from my wife and daughter! read more

Our family of 5 (6 and 13 yr old kids) did the adventure package. It was awesome. We customized what we wanted to do with Charlie. Started the day surfing , then snorkeling, and finished it off hiking and fresh water pool swimming. Nothing was touristy and you wouldn't know about these awesome places without a seasoned local like Charlie....he go pro / photoed the day for us too! I'm telling you, you will have the best time & worth the cost. By the end of the day we had experienced everything we wanted in Maui. If we wanted volcano hiking, Charlie would have taken care of it....if we wanted to see sharks...Charlie knew the spot (we didn't). We'll use them agin - for sure! read more

We found about Blue Soul through someone we know that did a Hana tour with them. My wife and I wanted to do the road to Hana (with our 2 kids 16 and 13) and we knew we didnt want to do this ourselves. And man we are glad we called them. The summer of 2021 has inundated the islands with tourists (like us) and the road to Hana has been especially hard hit. We knew the local residents are tired of seeing tourists, and we thought by hiring someone local we could see more, and also be guided on how to be most respectful of the residents, and most importantly, to avoid doing anything stupid. We were blessed to meet our guide, Vene, who is hands down one of the coolest, and bad ass dudes I have ever met. He spent 11 hours with us, driving us out to Hana on the north side and back from Hana on the south side. (Most rental car companies will warn you that must turn around after Hana and not travel the south side of the island since its treacherous and unpaved in sections, and that was another advantage of hiring a local guide, some of the views on the south side were absolutely stunning). He hiked with us, he jumped off cliffs with us (he jumped off ones way higher than we did, much to the delight of the crowd), he taught us about local mythology, beliefs, customs, his lineage, the local landscape. He made sure we tried as much local food as possible. He taught us about fish farming, sustainability, and even the finer points of racing and sailing canoes. We saw soooooo much and there is no way we would have known where to go and what to do without him. He snapped a million family photos (at his insistence not ours) at all the coolest spots and these pictures will provide a lifetime of memories. And most importantly he did all the driving and got us to Hana and back in one piece! I cant recommend Blue Soul enough, thanks for making our vacation something we will always remember and thanks to Vene for teaching us to "Hang Loose". When we come back to Maui they will be our first call. read more

Blue Soul Maui - Hiking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Charlie and Blue Soul Maui made our time spent in Maui a lasting experience. From the stand up paddleboard lesson and tour among the turtles, to the outrigger canoe with the whales, to the snorkeling with sights of all types of wildlife and even more turtles; Charlie allowed to create many special memories that will last a lifetime. If you want to have fun while in Maui, and see some amazing sights all the while having a blast, contact Blue Soul Maui. read more

I've known Charlie since I was like 7 years old and he is still the same awesome guy ten years later. We have used him for surf trips all over the island and he knows it all. I highly recommend him for beginners as well, as he is super patient and knows what kids need to know to improve on their surfing. All around awesome! read more

The family had an Amazing Morning Learning to surf with Kyle, and paddling boarding with Charlie. Girls are looking forward to their hike on Monday. One of the highlights of our trip. They are friendly, and informative to the Island a definite return next year would highly recommend there Services. read more

Blue Soul Maui - Hiking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Outrigger and Snorkeling w kekoa was the highlight of my trip to Maui. I went with my sister in law, and neither of us were pro paddlers/canoe-ers , and we really didn't need to be. Once we got to the dive spot, we saw turtles, urchins, shells, and he caught two different octopus for us to see and touch. We had such a great time, and I would definitely recommend the whole experience to anyone! read more

Blue Soul Maui - Oh, and they provide you with a cd of all the photos!! - Hiking Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Charlie took my family out in a canoe to scatter a loved one's ashes. He arranged a beautiful traditional Hawaiian ceremony with Vene who did an incredible job explaining Maui traditional beliefs. I can't say enough good things about Blue Soul. It was perfect and Charlie is such a warm and professional guy. I am so glad that we decided to do this. It was peaceful and magical. We will remember it forever. read more

Wow! Charlie's trip to Hana with us was phenomenal. We couldn't have had a better day. My son was interested in doing some hiking so Charlie stopped at several secluded hiking spots with waterfalls and even one pool which my son jumped into from a swinging rope. Our private full-day trip started from our condo where Charlie picked us up. Charlie kept the pace very leisurely so we savor the road to Hana with stops wherever we wanted to. Highlights included the Red Beach, Black Beach, the Blowhole, a delicious lunch (included) and the short hikes mentioned above. The country past Hana on the way home was very secluded and beautiful too. Charlie could not have been more engaging and willing to customize our tour to our preferences. And he knows Maui like the back of his hand. Charlie and his tour to Hana was just what we were looking for. read more

Our outrigger sunset cruise was a highlight of our trip to Maui. We called Charlie in the morning and were paddling that evening. He was informative about the best time to get on the water, what to bring, and clear about what to expect. We are a family of four, but the canoe seats six....so he brought along Quinn, a little experienced muscle to make the trip much more enjoyable for us. Also, Charlie brought his camera and took a bunch of pictures of our family and emailed them to me that evening. Nice touch. Quinn and Charlie were awesome! read more

Our group of 4 had a great time with Kaleo as our guide. I was very leary of snorkeling due to all the recent news about sharks but after seeing Blue Soul Maui's photos on Instagram & speaking with Charlie I felt comfortable. We chose to do the outrigger snorkeling trip. We received good instruction from Kaleo before heading out on the water. As soon as we were in we were lucky to see a mother & baby whale. We watched them for awhile then went snorkeling. Kaleo asked us specifically what we wanted to make sure and see during our time in the water & found everything on our list. We saw several turtles and an octopus which was most exciting. He also found a pencil urchin & starfish for us to hold. He told us that he saw 3 sharks in a dark cave & tried to get a pic for us. He knew I was nervous about sharks & continued to make me feel comfortable throughout the tour. After the tour he even took time to tell us a Hawaiian folk tale. I would definitely recommend them to my friends. read more

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Charlie is truly the best!! We had the pleasure of having Charlie as our personal guide on the Road To Hana. Start to finish everything was fabulous with every detail covered from the customized and delicious snacks to surprising us with truly hidden treasures! Because of his knowledge, experience and expertise, we had the most amazing and memorable time. He anticipated and exceeded well beyond our expectations giving us 5 star service with a genuine and generous heart to give us the best experience ever. Charlie is such a good man and we felt his passion for this beautiful Island of Maui and those he serves. If you have the opportunity to have Charlie as your personal guide, teacher, or adventure enthusiast, book him now! Meaningful memories are guaranteed! read more

Charlie was a great Paddle board instructor! I had only a small window of time to go out to ride and Charlie was incredibly willing to accommodate my timeline. The time I chose was a bit choppy and windy so he let me know it could be a little more difficult with the conditions. He explained everything that I needed to do. When we got out there I got up and started paddling and we were off. It was a great experience over all and probably the best money I spent while I was on the island. I will be getting Surfing lessons the next time I go back and may try the outrigger canoeing with my family. read more

Can actually say we had a blast with Charlie. I was concerned to begin with since I tried it in San Jose del Cabo and wasn't successfully up for any length of time. Charlie took the time to talk my wife and I through what needed to be done and both were up. She managed to only fall a couple of times in the 1.5 hours and I fell more often. Still felt great about the adventure and it was a great way to spend our 30th anniversary. Both of us are 50 and in moderate shape. Thanks for helping make it a great anniversary Charlie! read more

BLUE SOUL MAUI----DON'T MISS THIS BREATHTAKING TOUR ON MAUI! BEST MEMORIES, TOUR AND PHOTOS OF OUR LIVES-- Spectacular day in Maui yesterday with Charlie on Blue Soul Maui Tours! Our concierge at the Four Seasons Wailea recommended the best adventure in my 25 years of traveling to Maui. We started our day just after sunrise and Charlie guided us through an amazing day of Hawaiian Outrigger Canoeing learning Hawaiian culture, songs, folklore, wayfinding, up close adventures with mantarays and sea turtles with Local host Vene at the Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary and Koieie Fish Pond. Then we snorkeled with Charlie capturing pics and video of the family underwater with sea turtles, diving for sea biscuits and giant pin cushion sea stars and colorful fish at Polo Beach. Next, a Jeep ride to Paia for lunch and a stunning hike in the bamboo forest on the road to Hana, complete with discovery, daring climbs and waterfall jumps. My husband and I watched our 5 children delight in the Aloha and adventure of Hawaii spirit from dawn to dusk. Can't say enough about Charlie's ability to customize a tour to exactly what we wanted, complete with drinks and food to keep us going. Amazing experience. We've found our Ohana in Blue Soul Maui Tours. read more

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The BEST thing that we did in Hawaii...Charlie was awesome and he took us to the Bamboo forest where we swung on ropes like Tarzan and jumped off rocks....everyone had a great time and it was a total bonding experience for all. I can't recommend Charlie enough... Nancy H. (Los Angeles) read more