My two grown daughters and I had a wonderful time! Excellent captain and first mate-good natured and mindful of what will make things nicer for us. Saw dolphins, flying fish, and gorgeous and fascinating landscape you can't see from driving or walking. Easy to get in and off the boat and the water. Would have been a shame to come to this beautiful island and miss this! read more

Ohana vibes for sure!!! If you're looking to learn about the island and spend time with a family, go! Prepare to get wet basically anywhere on the boat. Lots of aqua life! Thanks for having us. read more

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We chose catamaran kahanu because it was one of the only Hawaiian family owned catamaran tours we could find. The staff were super nice and knowledgeable and the views were unbeatable. So glad we went with them, they felt like 'ohana! read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Nepali coast - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

10/10 experience! Best thing I did in Kauai. The 5 hour morning catamaran to the Napali Coast was amazing. Sweet Hawaiian family owns and runs the business. They do an amazing job! Very knowledgeable on Hawaii's history. Got great weather so we had the opportunity to see Dolphins, snorkel with fish, and whales. Definitely going to recommend this to all my friends and family when they visit Kauai! Thank you for everything! read more

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Epic day cruising the Napali coastline amazing views, lunch & crew Mahalo captain Kahanu read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

Trust me this is the legit cat tour. We were a little worried walking up to what we thought was a Charlie Brown catamaran, but were we wrong? Captain Andy's boats were packed full of people we had room, and we had an amazing captain and his first mate that maneuver, the boat into some tremendous locations. we are so glad we took this tour. Highly recommend. read more

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The best boat ever! This is an amazing family run business, and the best snorkel tour i've been on (as a snorkel tour vet). I will be sending all my friends here, and coming back anytime i'm in hawaii. The captain is the goat. Educated us all on everything there was to know- and was very safe. We saw lots of dolphins, turtles, fish and waterfalls. Crew sent us away with lots of amazing gifts read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

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Always enjoy Captain Kamua and how enjoyable he makes the trip to the Nā Pali Coast. Would not want to go with anyone else and would highly recommend using him over the larger companies. read more

The boat tour was incredible! The captain and his son made it exceptional, from their intimate knowledge of the island and its culture, to the landscape and its history. A local family run business, it truly felt like a family boat trip, every minute was special, including the trek back when the captain pulled out a coconut leaf branch and started making everyone roses by hand. I would strongly suggest anyone looking to do one of the boat tours to do it with Catamaran Kahanu. read more

As a local person, I always look for real Hawai`i experiences and, boy, is this the real deal!!!! This is the only Hawaiian `Ohana ran and operated boat charter doing Nā Pali coast runs like this. They have over 40 years of experience and theres no one safer or more FUN to take this excursion with! They know the coast from a Native Hawaiian perspective and share such rich history about this beautiful community and `aina (land). Not only are they knowledgable about boating and the coast, they also have such awesome attitudes and they do everything they can to make sure you have an unforgettable experience. Book them NOW!!!!!! Mahalo nui loa to Catamaran Kahanu. You folks are da best!!!! read more

One of the best boat tours I've ever done! The boat was incredible and not overloaded The crew was incredible! The prices were very reasonable The captain was the son of the owner and he had actually built the boat! Safe , clean, friendly Just a fabulous experience!!! read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Family fun on the Nepali coast - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

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Snorkeling with Catamaran Kahanu was the highlight of my trip! The whole crew was absolutely incredible! The ride, the views, snorkeling, lunch, and stories in between- everything was great! Makes it even better that this is a family owned business! I will recommend this business/ tour to anyone and everyone! Mahalo Catamaran Kahanu!!! read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

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Would give 6 stars if I could!!! Could not recommend them enough, if you are going to do one thing while on Kauai make it be this! Family owned staff who were all so incredibly warm and accommodating. Will be back every single time we visit special shout out captain Kamua, he's the best! read more

Amazing, engaging, and interactive experience of a lifetime with Captain Lani and his hostesses. They went out of there way to ensure that our family had the best time during the entire experience. We were able to get close enough to touch the dolphins, stage the perfect pictures, snorkeling the reefs, and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Then we were blessed to also be taught to make leis which was a complete surprise. We will forever stay loyal to this small local business because they deserve the best. Mahalo, The Sunahara's read more

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Great tour, entirely run by a Hawaiian family. Excellent knowledge and respect for the land and ocean. Aunty Deb is charming and a great introduction. Her son is the captain. The crew, Capt. K and his son, cousin and "mom's granddaughter" were competent and friendly. unexpectedly they allowed me to pay a special tribute to my deceased spouse with flowers and some special attention. the ride back was bouncy and fun, kind of a Hawaiian rollercoaster. highly recommend!! read more

Catamaran Kahanu was amazing! We had 6 guests and were a challenging bunch (we had a 1 year-old, some weren't comfortable swimming, and some knew ahead of time they'd have a hard time on the water). We booked a private charter with them, and they were unbelievably accommodating across the board. The crew happily entertained the baby (and it worked!), and Captain Kamua even gave a swimming lesson to one of us! They were SUPER prepared, and had all the gear necessary for swimmers of all levels. The tour itself was incredible too! We saw dolphins (both spinner and bottlenose), fish and turtles while snorkeling, and of course, the beautiful NaPali Coast. Because it was a private charter, we got special little fun experiences like getting dipped under a waterfall (for anyone that wanted to). We had a GREAT time with Catamaran Kahanu, and were super grateful for them accommodating us and our ragtag bunch. Thank you! read more

My daughter and I came to Kauai for a short 2 night trip, she lives on Oahu and i am visiting from Texas. I came across Catamaran Kahanu by google and I will say I was not disappointed!! Our Captains Kia'aina and Emma were very knowledgeable! Emma flexed her marine biology skills with every encounter with the wildlife which included spinner dolphins, whales and mana rays. And Kia'aina gave us a lesson in his deep Hawaiian roots and even wove us a hat and some Leis. The lunch spread of cold cuts and sandwiches fixings were great ! This is a true family owned business and I highly recommend them for your whale watching and Nā Poli coast experience!! read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Kia'aina weaving a hat!! - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

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Airline delays of over 24 hours resulted in us not being able to make our catamaran ride. We called ahead as soon as we knew and were not clearly communicated with and the person on the phone appeared to indicate that they would work with us to accommodate us when we arrived on Kauai. When we called the next day asking about the possibility of being on a catamaran ride for the following day that still had open spots, we were treated rather curtly and informed that we would have to pay full price all over again. There was zero compassion or aloha spirit shown despite them having open spots that never ended up being filled, nor even offering any sort of discount. All our interactions with them rubbed us the wrong way and we were extremely disappointed with the purely transactional manner in which they engaged with us. We ended up paying for cheaper tickets for a catamaran ride with one of their competitors and had a fantastic time. Out of curiosity, I polled the other company on how they typically handle situations like ours and they had a much more customer friendly approach. I would not recommend Catamaran Kahanu at all. They left a very sour taste in our mouths at the start of our vacation and I'd much rather engage with companies that atleast showed the bare minimum of compassion and understanding when interacting with their customers. read more

Small family owned outfit. We booked a 2 hour tour for whale watching. The captain (owner) is very safety minded but also very knowledgeable. At first I thought he was a bit grumpy but it turned out that he had a great sense of humor! We had the opportunity to see a mother whale and her new born calf. We followed along for about 45 minutes. He definately knows where to go to get the best sighting. In fact, meeting time was at 1:30 but they called everyone to ask them to come earlier because the tour before saw alot and we rushed to see if we could get the same experience. Ofcourse there is no guarantee that you will see anything!!! Bring lots of sunscreen and a hat!! read more

Had a wonderful morning 5 hour tour and snorkel on the Na Pali coast! It was a true, local family business and each member of the crew was welcoming and knowledgeable! We had a great time, thank you! read more

Captain and his crew were fantastic, this has been by far the highlight of our excursion, knowledgeable from marine life the Home life of the island and just so darn welcoming. Recommend anyone and everyone to make this your first pick. We will be back for sure!!! read more

The whole experience was amazing! The Local Hawaiian family crew were kind and very knowledgeable about the island and the history behind it. The lunch was great and there was plenty for everyone to enjoy and it was awesome watching some traditional palm weaving. 12/10 experience!! read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

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Great time! Family owned & operated by local Hawaiian family with stories of first hand experience living on the island! Perfect boat ride for the family! read more

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Our family had an incredible time on Catamaran Kahanu. It is evident that at the heart of all they do is family. My boys (7 &12) experienced the true magic of the Island on this cruise. Dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays, incredible coastlines and caves - all while the crew learned our names, our personalities, and shared their own stories. If I had to choose one word to describe this business it would be intentionality. Look no further! In a time where family and care matters most, Catamaran Kahanu embodies both. read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Kauai, Nepali coast, dolphins - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

Na Pali coast and snorkel & tour. We had a great time seeing dolphins along the way up the Na Pali coast. Snorkeling offered turtles and beautiful fish! Lunch was very good and we enjoyed visiting with the staff and learning about the culture! Very enjoyable and we felt like the staff was very pleasant and friendly with wonderful care for our needs. Will go back again sometime with this awesome family professional business! AloHa Captain Lani! read more

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GOBSMACKED JOY!! We've done so many incredible NaPali catamaran out of Port Allen in Kauai and initially we checked into a green shack with a delightful Aunt Debbie exuberance and proceed to a small catamaran...AND IT WAS ALL PERFECT!! The size of the catamaran was so wonderful as you have access to maneuvering the boat to where the happy whales were playing, spouting and waving...both Captains were so responsive to the sites and our needs of creating the BEST EXPERIENCE EVER! The Captain even taught us how to make Lei's and presented one to each female passenger. Then he taught us how to make baskets, Hawaiian culture! This was the MOST PERSONALIZED SPECIALIZED DELIGHTFUL OPPORTUNITY with THOUGHTFUL CURATED TRIP WE'VE ever had!!! Thank YOU CATAMARAN KAHUNA!! read more

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Very well experienced captain. Great knowledge of Hawaiian history. Would do it again.

Book Kahanu you will love it!! The tour met all of our expectations! The captain and his crew were super knowledgeable about the island and the wildlife and made the tour very interesting! They were also very kind and made sure everyone was safe on board at all time. We got to see whales, dolphins, sea turtles and even a little shark. The captain took us to caves and waterfalls and then we had the chance to snorkel in a beautiful area. The only downside is that we got sick so be prepared and take some medication if you have a weak stomach like us! I will come back again when I return to Kauai, thank you so much for the tour! read more

Catamaran Kahanu - The Captain took us in the caves and waterfalls. - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

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Simply the best boat company on Kauai, especially if you're looking for a truly authentic and local experience. Captain Lani and his crew are part of a family that's lived on the island for multiple generations, and it shows. Their aloha and hospitality is incredible! We saw spinner dolphins, snorkeled in an amazing reef, were treated to an incredible and healthy lunch, and even were taught how to do traditional weaving. Highly recommend! read more

Best catamaran tour I could've asked for! I went with my whole family and was not disappointed. The crew was friendly, funny, and very knowledgeable about the history and traditions of Kauai. We saw dolphins, caves, the Na Pali valley, got to go under a water fall, and was even weaved roses and hats out of Ti leaves as we returned back. The lunch we were served was also delicious. The captain had great stories about his time in Kauai. Can't wait to come back and take this tour again! read more

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Phenomenal local operation. Everything else sailing from Port Allen is a large corporate charter. This is a smaller boat but so much better for it. A small family crew gives it an awesome personal experience with the best places to view, best mobility to catch whales and dolphins when they surface, and incredible history of people and places along the Na Pali coast. Can't recommend enough for offering such an incredible time. read more

Our family had the best time with Captain Lani and Captain Kiaaina. This was a very special experience and a highlight of our trip to Kauai. We sailed along the Na Pali coast and learned about their family history, Hawaiian culture and history, local biology and so much more. We saw dolphins, caves, cliffs, waterfalls, coral reef, and breath-taking beauty. The kids were even able to watch dolphins from just above the water, laying on the very front of the catamaran. We felt well taken care of, safe, and appreciated. And we all (young kids, pre-teens, adults, and wide variety of interests personalities) had a blast. Auntie Debbie was delightful and easy to arrange the trip with, as well as very warm and welcoming. We left loaded with goodies like beautiful plumeria leis, a coconut palm hat, and ti leaf necklaces, too. Wow! We felt that choosing a small, local, family-owned Hawaiian company was very important and learned that it makes a big difference. We hope other travelers follow suit! It truly was a highlight and we are grateful to Captains Lani and Kiaaina and Auntie Debbie for providing the experience and sharing their love and knowledge of Hawaii with us. read more

Absolutely magical! Family run small business with no agenda other than the adventure with local knowledge in abundance. Able to pivot on a dime depending on conditions, safety and maximum fun. Totally did not expect the abundance of wildlife we were able to see. Highly recommended. read more

Had such an awesome time on Catamaran Kahanu with Captain Lani and Jace! I booked with them (after I checked out all of their glowing Yelp reviews) 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 thoughtful and 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? About that? You're gonna wanna like the guys you're on a 6.5 hour tour with! These are your guys! read more

Had an amazing time with Graham and the Captain. They made the experience incredible. Both were very personable and extremely knowledgeable about boating/ocean life. If you are in-between companies for snorkeling and/or boating, I highly recommend going with this company. It is a native family-owned business that (most probably) blows other boating companies out of the water. We were taken to many sites across the Napoli coastline and were taken up close to caves and waterfalls. These people know the ocean like the back of their hand and it definitely showed. They got me an inch away from touching a pod of porpoises!! read more

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These guys offer up a morning and sunset tour that lasts about 5 hours. They depart from Port Allen so be prepared to leave early to get to their location for the 7:30 AM check-in time. I took the early tour. When you get there, go to the red dirt parking lot across the street from the building complex. You'll see a small greenish shack after the Kauai Tours sign and that is where you pay up. A guide will walk the group to the dock area and give you a brief orientation. Soon after, you head out with about 29 others (max) on a catamaran. On my tour, there were about 12. You'll have opportunities to view the shorelines, learn neat history facts, and take photographs. What's nice about this smaller boat tour is that you can get up close to the caves and go to places the bigger boats cannot reach. Halfway through, you have a stop along the Napoli coast by the reefs where you spend about 30 minutes snorkeling (they provide the snorkel equipment) and having an awesome sandwich lunch prepared by the captain himself. The lunch includes homemade bread, fresh ham/turkey, and also the best pineapple slices and homemade chocolate chip cookies you have ever put in your mouth. On the way back, observed playful spinner dolphins that followed our boat and a monk seal asleep on the sand. Just remember a few things: you will get wet so have your swim clothes on and if you ever need to get up, be sure you are holding on to a railing or something. Don't forget the hat and sunscreen or you'll be bacon. Book during the week for less crowds and discounts. Tip: get the coupon book (located all over the place) for cheaper rates! This is probably the only way you can see the west side of the island so schedule it in your trip. The captain seems a bit abrasive at first but you later you find he's cool and is all about you having a fun and safe trip. I had a blast and I am sure that you will too! read more

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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... read more

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If I could give these guys 10 stars I would. What an amazing trip, I was completely awestruck! Most of the other boats were huge and packed with people. The Kahanu on the other hand was like a private cruise. Do yourself a favor, book a tour! The Na Pali coast was beyond spectacular... read more

Catamaran Kahanu - Pics don't do Na Pali justice - Boating Near Me - Eleele Kauai, Hawaii

We searched around to find a tour of the Napali Coast and decided to try out Catamaran Kahanu... and we struck gold! Our tour was the highlight of our trip. This is a one-boat family-run operation that has been in business since the early 80s. The Captain was born and raised on the island and his nephew (who was one of the crew) was also born and raised on the island. The other crew member has been with the company for five years and has a master degree in marine biology and was a wealth of information, especially about the humpback whales! We really liked the smaller boat compared to other catamarans on the water. We had about 12 people on board and it was perfect. Tons of space to move around and super comfortable. We were not crammed in at all, which I was concerned about. The other catamaran tours we saw on the water had so many people on board. Our tour was of the Napali Coast but it was a bit rocky on the water so we decided to head back a bit early because the waves were picking up. The Captain was amazingly skilled at getting us through those waters while keeping the boat super steady. I tend to get a big queasy on the water and felt fine the whole time. While we didn't get to see a whole bunch of Napali Coast becasue of the waves and it was misty that morning, we saw a TON of wildlife. We saw multiple mama whales with their calves at a relatively close distance. One of the babies breached about 10+ times right in front of us. We also saw several pods of dolphins. The dolphins came right up to the boat. We also stopped for snorkeling above a reef where we saw several sea turtles and a different colorful fish. We are so glad we found Catamaran Kahanu and didn't end up on one of those big, corporate "pile them in" type tours. The Captain and crew were a delight and made sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. We HIGHLY recommend Catamaran Kahanu. You won't be disappointed! read more

So happy we decided on going with Catamaran Kahanu(thank you yelpers & local suggestions)!! Besides the 4 crew I think there were 21 of us.Loved how it was a smaller group! We checked in with Debbie and she briefed the group before continuing onto the dock.We followed her grandson and when we were there Nino again briefed us.Captain Lani then gave us instructions before we climbed down the steps. You don't need to be very fit to climb down.Nino & Captain Lani made sure we were safe & following all instructions at all times. Very knowledgeable crew! The size of the group made it more personal/family like. There was lots of space on the boat. Be prepared to get wet during the ride. Although there is an area of the boat where you won't. We were able to go closer to the caves because of the size of this boat. Smaller boats are able to go into the cave,which would have been nice...however,I would probably have been sick to my stomach from all the motion. Again,we really enjoyed it! read more

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