Kai Kanani Sailing Charters

When you’re considering a snorkeling outing, look no further! The crew on the «Kai Kanani» will ensure you enjoy your day! Professional, safety conscience, and considerate to each of their guest’s needs, and aptitude in and around the water for all ages! Their boat is clean, and crew always attentive to your needs! In the water, you’ll find hands on guidance for safety with staff in the water with you for questions, adjust gear, and help to point out elusive sea life! Back on board, you’ll enjoy a great selection of drinks, endless snacks, a super lunch, and libations as the day winds down!
A great day on-​board, thank you all!!!

This was an awesome experience! The staff was awesome, friendly, knowledgeable, and jumped right in the water with us. They also had an experienced marine biologist on board and in the water as well. The staff gave clear and concise instructions for each part of the trip and took safety seriously. They also have float belts and boogie boards to rely on if you are not the best swimmer (which I appreciated). In addition to that, they had a huge variety of food and drinks and were really just a pleasure to take the trip with.
Thanks for all the fun and for making sure the whales showed up while we were on board! ;)

Hubs and I did the molikini express excursion 1.5 weeks ago. Staff was friendly, organized, and very safe. Great info on fish and turtles. The catamaran was very comfortable and clean and the breakfast was yummy. Thanks for the great trip!

Amazing staff which took care of us the entire time both in and out of the water. Went on the sunrise snorkel and will recommend to everyone! Continental breakfast is muffins and fruit plus coffee, tea and juice so if you have dietary restrictions be aware. Saw turtles and beautiful fish, and we even could hear the whales sing.

We went whale watching and had a fantastic time! The crew and captain were wonderful, very knowledgeable. We saw so many whales! I would highly recommend them to everyone! Also, when boarding the boat the crew is very helpful when getting you through the waves. Awesome time!

Awesome experience! Our son (in heaven) pushed us to go snorkeling and see some turtles so we just had to do this. We booked it a couple days before and although we had to get up at 5am, it was so worth it. Saw beautiful fish, an endangered Hawaiian seal and a huge turtle. Wish we did it one more time before coming back home. I love how friendly and funny the staff were. It was nice how they weren’t afraid to just come up to us and help us with our snorkeling gear.

The hubby and I wanted to squeeze one last bit of fun out of our Maui experience so we booked this charter last minute before flying back home. We were able to get seats on their early morning express trip to Molokini and Turtle Town, leaving at 6:30am and returning at 8:30am. Yes, an early wake-​up is required but I encourage everyone to take the challenge.
It is worth it to be the first boat at Molokini and experience the thrilling experience provided by the crew of Kai Kanani! It is obvious that they all love what they do and are dedicated to making sure that all, young and old, have a fabulous time! (even non-​swimmers could get in the water on this cruise as the staff is there to support you). It was great to see Nina take the little ones out on a boogie board and give the the chance to put on a mask and stick their head in the water to see the action below! Fred gave me a tip on using my mask without leaving that dreaded mark on my forehead all day and Captain Corey was awesome in spoiling us with a treat of whales, monk seal and dolphins! Plus, I liked his idea to drift the boat and follow us snorkelers to make it a shorter swim back to the boat! Saw tons of fish at Molokini in clear water without any other snorkelers and turtles at Turtle Town and were treated to a nice breakfast on board the boat! On a serious note, my husband experience shortness of breath after snorkeling and the crew was fabulous in their attention to him. Nina noticed him swimming for the boat and offered him a lift on her boogie board and by the time I was back in the boat, the crew had assessed the situation and determined he needed oxygen, which they had available. It was a scary situation but we were definitely in capable hands. Thanks to the entire crew!

My friend researched different tours and was impressed with the amazing reviews this one had. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone and everyone visiting Maui!
The crew was very nice and helpful and they answered any questions that we had.
The sunrise was breathtaking and the view beyond was amazing. We saw whales, beautiful fish, swam with sea turtles, and we even saw a reef shark and manta ray!
It was by far one of my favorite activities that I did on the island and the most unforgettable!

The sunset cruise was just amazing! After a few activities on the island this is my wife and I favorite by far. The view can’t he beat of ourse and we were able to see some wail activity even prettyclose to our boat. The staff was great and fun to be around from the captain (Anthony), Sara and Diana. You could feel the passion and excitement from the crew and that makes a huge difference in the experience. Thank you very much crew for all you did for us!!!

My husband, myself and our two best friends just returned from a wonderful vacation on Maui and I couldn’t wait to post a review for this sailing trip! We had always heard how amazing the snorkling on Molokini is, and so we wanted to go out with the group that could give us the best experience. This was without a doubt, Kai Kanani. We decided to do the 4 hour sailing charter with snorkling in Molokini and Turtle Town and with some whale watching! It was such an amazing experience that i will never forget. You dont have to have any snorkling experience to do this! The crew was absolutely wonderful, and so helpful! They made it so fun for everyone on board. They were all enthusiastic and very informed. Not only did they show us a great time in the water, but they also provided wonderful food and drinks for us on board.
This trip was more expensive than the other trips we researched… about $ 100+ a person, but it was worth every penny! We truly got the best experience! If you are in Maui, take this trip and you will not be disappointed!

We bit the bullet and booked with Kai Kanani for our Molokini snorkeling trip because it was in our resort. I’m very happy that we chose this chartering company: the crew was world class, always taking care of their guests and very knowledgable of the area and fish. We saw a mantas ray and they allowed an impromptu snorkeling session to view it. Afterwards we saw dolphins and they took an impromptu diversion yet again to allow us to view them.

By far the best tour in Maui!!! Obviously the sights can’t be beat but the crew went above and beyond!!!
They pointed everything out to us. They helped with everything in regards to snorkeling equipment, etc.
Captain makes the best hot chocolate EVER per my son. He is not easily impressed.
Diana gave my 8 year old the super deluxe tour of turtle town. He will be talking non stop how she let him hang out on the surf board with him.
I really can’t say enough about the tour, the boat and the scenery but the crew really is awesome and they deserve a ten star rating themselves!!!
I will definitely recommend this tour to anyone that asks and we will be back next year.

Hands down my favorite thing I did on vacation! The sunset cruise was amazing! Bottomless drinks and appetizers, plus they brought out the fishing poles and even told us we could steer the boat! Oh there is also live music!
Captain Anthony was so nice and answered all of my questions, Tim and Gunner were also both very nice! Make sure you ask for the Gunner special, it’s delicious!!! This is an absolute must do while in Hawaii!!!

Best snorkeling experience I have ever had! Crew member are so helpful and fun to hang. We did the Molokini express in early morning. We were the first boat there and everyone saw so many beautiful fish and turtles! The crew member provided everything you need for snorkeling. I can’t wait to come back and do it again.
Tip– if you want to beat the crowds and enjoy the most of the trip, get up early and do the morning trip! Totally worth it!

Is there such thing as a relaxing adventure?! YES THERE IS!
Husband and I decided to book the Molokini 6am snorkel the same day as our flight back to LA. We were staying at the Makena Resort so it meant waking up at 5:30, getting ready, and then walking down to the beach right on Makena where we were greeted by a young lady who was part of the Kai Kanani crew.
Here’s a walk through for those who don’t mind the logistics being exposed by my review:
SPOILER ALERT
1. When you book your trip they only ask you to bring a towel. I suggest you bring your waterproof cameras/​gopros, floats for the cameras, sunblock, change of clothes if you’re staying at a different resort other than MAKENA.
2. They will take roll call and you will then have to present your confirmation brochure.
3. They will ask you to take your shoes off and place it in a plastic bin. You will be barefoot as you walk into the beach, on to the boat and up until you come back up where they initially took roll call and they will nicely lay out your shoes. (for those who are weird about tossing your shoes in a bin full of other shoes, you might want to ziplock bag them then toss them in) I had sandals which were easy to rinse off
4. STOP, ENJOY THE RISING SUN, and JUST LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL ocean with the Kai Kanani boat approaching the beach.
5. You will form 2 straight lines and walk through the waves and up the stairs of the boat. WATCH YOUR HEAD
6. You will sit down and enjoy continental breakfast. They served us what seems to be costco muffins cut up in half, guava juice, coffee, and water.
7. You walk around the boat, take selfies, grab your snorkeling gear and get ready to enjoy some great underwater views. (We brought our own snorkeling gear. I highly suggest this for my fellow germaphobes. Their gear looks clean but I’m not one to share things that go into other people’s mouths)
8. They will be providing instructions for those who are beginners. safety tips etc. BTW, I SUGGEST OPTING FOR THE WAIST FLOATS. MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE and is a big reason the adventure was also RELAXING.
9. You will see the beautiful Molokini Crater and then you can either, Jump in the water from the side, jump in from the back, walk down the steps into the water or walk down the steps but jump in anyway from there…
10. Enjoy about 30−40-mins of gorgeous reefs. The crew members hangout on boogie boards in case a snorkler gets tired and chooses to rest on one of those. They also had plenty of awesome information about the fishes and the reefs!
11. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES /​VIDEOS
12. You get called back on the boat for another roll call… then the boat heads to TURTLE BEACH which is also a pretty reef area with reef caves.
13. NOTE to those who are not used to snorkeling… this area is not as shallow as the molokini crater. You will be dropped in what feels like open waters but you will be just fine =D Just start swimming towards the reefs.
14. On the contrary to the disappointment of other Unilocalers, WE DID SEE TURTLES! WE SAW A BUNCH!
15. After enjoying TURTLE TOWN, everyone will go back to the boat for yet another roll call. (VERY SAFE)
16. You will head back to the beach by Makena resort, and battle the waves… or just walk nicely through them as you walk down the stairs back to the beach. (you will get wet depending on the tides so might as well stay in your bathing suit and put on a shirt or a beach dress on top)
17. It was barely 8:30 when we got back so my husband and I went straight to the café in Makena. We had breakfast buffet as part of our stay at Makena so dripping wet, hungry and extremely satisfied with how we spent our last day in Maui.
Overall: WORTH IT! The crew members were all very nice. They were professional, knowledgeable, and they make you feel safe. The boat wasn’t crowded like what others say. Maybe because we went at 6am. Boat was clean. Food was a nice light treat to start off your morning… definitely not a huge meal but that wouldn’t be good for snorkeling anyway.
There’s a longer trip which departs at 9 am. It is a little more $ than the 6am as I hear they serve alcohol and lunch…

Such a great time on this charter!
We chose the express snorkeling trip at 6:30 in the morning
We checked in at the beach off the Makena beach hotel. Valet is free and gratuity is appreciated.
Everything was organized and on time
Upon entering, The boat was clean and sturdy. But the best part of our charter was the crew! I came with my friend and both of our boys. Everyone was helpful and really made us welcome & taken care of!
We forgot our sunblock and Diane was kind enough to lend us some. Sara and Brett were great as well ensuring that we had what we needed and it was put on correctly
If you are looking to add some adventure on your trip definitely book with kai kanani charters!!!
Thanks everyone for making our trip such a memory to remember

The sunset cruise on this boat was fantastic. The crew made this cruise really easy, comfortable and fun for all! While getting on the boat was a bit challenging, we were warned several times beforehand.
The experience onboard was wonderful: great appetizers, refreshing drinks, lovely music, and a fun crew. The captain even let anyone try out steering the sailboat. Since it was a windy night, we used the sails (not just the motor), which made for a really authentic experience.
I really recommend the sunset cruise on the Kai Kanani, especially with the Sarah/​Cary crew!

Booked the deluxe snorkel trip, 9am-​1pm. this experience was beyond my expectations!!! Amazing crew! the captain was amazing! So funny and friendly. We got to watch him catch a Ono and show us how to cut it up. We went snorkeling to Molokini and that was great then we went to turtle town and saw some great sea turtles and have some swim up to a few of us and got to touch an octopus! Then on our way back we were blessed to see a bunch of spinner Dolphins! We arrived back late because we had that great opportunity! I don’t think anyone minded. Haha Crew was excellent again! Making sure everyone was taken care of and having a great time! Totally worth the 150 you spend!
Side note: office lady was rude and they need to get on the same page as pick up staff.

We had a GREAT experience on the Kai Kanani this morning. We did the 6:30am Molokini Express. The boat had friendly, helpful staff, and everything ran smoothly. My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, so when it came time to snorkel, we jumped off the back of the boat to avoid the majority of the crowd descending through the front of the boat. We saw plenty of fish at Molokini, and felt that the ~40mins was a good amount of time in the water. At turtle town, roughly another ~40mins, we saw three large sea turtles, and more pretty fish of course. One of the perks of the Molokini Express is that we definitely were the first boat out there. Is it worth the early wake up? Yes! More visibility, less people, happy fish. Do it!
Tips:
1.Arrive on time. This enables the crew to get everyone onboard on time, and the right amount of time in the water.
2. Bring/​rent your own snorkel gear, if possible. They boat DOES provide snorkel gear, but not the best quality. It’s fine for kids, but we were definitely happier because we had our own stuff.
3. Bring a towel. The boat does not provide any. Bring sunscreen to re-​apply between swims.
4. Don’t splash around. The quieter you are, the more fish and turtles will come out around you.
5. Bring your GoPro or whatever underwater camera you have! You’ll get plenty of footage.

Took the first boat out at 6:30 from the Makena golf resort. The good: we were one of 50 people out first at Molokini crater and the visibility was clear to the point of being inside a dentist’s aquarium with all the pretty fish coming up to stare at us at eye level :)
The bad: It was a barefoot tour where they made us take sandals off. This was gross since there are 50 people on a teeny boat (btw the boat felt waaaay too small to accommodate 50 people. Should have been more like 30 and not enough seats so people standing everywhere). Imagine having to use a restroom at a rest stop with no shoes Britney Spears style?! Eeeewww
Gloppy squishy feeling between toes in public place not good — would have paid more to get sandals back.
More bad: The tour also took us to «Turtle Town» (you can actually swim here right off the Makena resort for free. No need to pay for the tour to get to turtle town) after just 40 minutes at the crater and there were no turtles to be seen. Crew said something about turtles only coming up to breathe every 20 minutes but since we were at turtle town 40 minutes, they should have graced us with their presence — just sayin ;)
Summing up, the crew was nice, express tour was a great value ($ 180 for 3 people whereas it would have been twice that for a more crowded tour), food was just muffins lukewarm coffee, juices and such.
Totally worth going to Molokini crater if you’ve never been and the express tour by Kai Kanani IS the one that’ll get you out there the earliest.
p. s. Don’t forget to pick up your free swag after the tour from the Wailea Gateway Center. Actually pretty decent quality beach bags, mugs… etc