Frequently Asked Questions

• April-September: 4-hour snorkel and sightseeing tours
• March, October-December: 3-hour sightseeing tours

Our North Shore departure point experiences big winter surf, making boat tours challenging during certain months. While these conditions are great for surfing, they’re not ideal for boat rides. We offer modified tours to ensure guest safety, take advantage of calmer days between swells, and adapt to seasonal ocean conditions. This approach allows us to provide the best possible experience while respecting the dynamic nature of our environment.

We depart from the famous Hanalei Bay! We’re one of the few companies permitted to operate from this prestigious location.

Currently, we do not offer sunset tours. Our latest option available is the Afternoon tour, which ends at 5:15 p.m. in the summer and 4:15 p.m. in the winter.

Our availability calendar is the same in our office and online.

Absolutely! Join our waitlist online by selecting your desired date and filling out the prompts. Keep in mind that due to the spontaneous nature of cancellations, we might give you notice anywhere from four days to 40 minutes in advance.

Yes! Learn more about private tours here or call our office at 808-826-6853.

Each tour offers unique advantages. The morning tour tends to be cooler and calmer on the return to Hanalei. On the other hand, the afternoon tour tends to be warmer and may provide a more thrilling ride back, with optimal lighting for capturing great photos. We suggest searching for “morning” or “afternoon” on TripAdvisor, Google reviews, and other online platforms to read firsthand experiences and insights about each tour from past guests.

There’s no difference in the tour content. As a small, local company, we stagger departure times to manage check-ins and shuttle guests to the boat efficiently.

Our office staff handle multiple responsibilities, from answering calls and emails to checking guests in, driving shuttles, and escorting guests to the boat. To streamline operations, we check in all passengers together and shuttle the first group to the boat before the second group. If you’re booked on the later tour (7:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.), there are plenty of local stores and restaurants to support!

We aim to explore the Nā Pali Coast’s incredible sea caves when ocean conditions allow, which is often the case. However, conditions vary daily, and passenger safety is our top priority. The final decision always rests with the captain.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pregnant women due to unpredictable ocean conditions. Passenger safety is our top priority.

Due to our boarding process, all passengers must be able to wade through water and climb a four-step ladder unassisted. We cannot accommodate those with recent major surgery affecting the neck, back, hips or knees. No exceptions or refunds are available for those unable to board due to physical limitations.

Children 4 years and older are welcome on our public tours, and there is no age limit for our private tours! We have a single rate for all passengers, regardless of age.

A catamaran, informally known as a “cat,” is a double-hulled watercraft featuring two parallel hulls of equal size. This design, utilized by indigenous people of Oceania for thousands of years, combines unmatched stability with a shallow draft. Since WWII, the catamaran design has been modernized and refined for various sailing and powerboat applications.

Our power-driven catamaran is specifically designed for entering sea caves, a capability not possible on any sailing catamarans that tour the Nā Pali Coast.

We have two twin vessels: Kamahele Kai II and Kamahele Kai III.

Yes, both of our vessels are equipped with spacious, private and clean restrooms for your comfort. While not all Nā Pali tour companies provide restroom facilities, ensuring your comfort and privacy is a priority for us. There is also a restroom near our office and the beach park.

Our boats stand out in Hanalei for being the only ones equipped with a restroom and shade! Our captains, with decades of experience in Nā Pali Coast tours, played a pivotal role in designing these vessels, ensuring they provide maximum comfort during your journey.

We operate rain or shine! On Kaua’i, rain showers are common but usually brief, and rainfall varies greatly along our route. In fact, rain often enhances the tour with beautiful waterfalls and rainbows! If it’s safe, your tour will proceed as planned. Consider bringing a light jacket for your comfort.

Yes, seasickness can affect anyone, even on the best days. It’s important to take preventive measures. Ginger products and acupressure wrist bands are believed to be helpful. We also recommend passengers take seasickness medication the night before and again on the day of the tour. While we don’t supply medications at our office, many guests have found relief with Bonine, Dramamine or prescription adhesive patches worn behind the ear. It’s best to take proactive measures early. Please note, refunds are not provided for seasickness.

If you start feeling unwell onboard, let your captain or crew know. They have tips and tricks from years of experience to help you feel more comfortable. Don’t worry; they’ve seen it all before and are here to assist you.

Please notify us via phone or email by the following deadlines, based on your group size (aligned with your tour time):

• 1-4 people: 48 hours
• 5-7 people: 72 hours
• 8-10 people: 96 hours
• 11+ people: 1 week
• Private tours: 2 weeks

Please note that this policy applies to all situations including emergencies, we don’t offer refunds for late cancellations even if seats are filled, and we strongly recommend travel insurance.

If we need to cancel your tour due to ocean conditions, we’ll notify you as soon as the captain makes the decision — this could be up to 24 hours, 4 hours, or even 20 minutes before your scheduled departure. We’ll initially reach out via email and text. Please ensure your contact details provided during booking are accurate. Our first priority is to reschedule your tour. If that’s not possible, we’ll issue a full refund, which typically takes a few business days to process. A helpful tip: Booking early in your trip increases the likelihood of finding another suitable tour day if cancellation occurs.

Check-in is at our office in Hanalei, located in the Ching Young Village shopping center. You’ll find our humble “shack” on the left side, between Big Save and the post office. All passengers must check in here to sign the waiver (if not done in advance) and shuttle together to Hanalei Bay. We will show you where to park upon arrival.

No. To manage traffic and preserve parking at popular beach parks for locals and visitors, the County of Kaua‘i does not allow parking at the beach park for boat activities. We provide free parking at our office and a complimentary shuttle service to and from the departure point.

We can’t hold the boat for late arrivals due to our tight schedule with multiple daily tours. Please plan for potential traffic delays on Kaua‘i. We don’t issue refunds for passengers who arrive late. If you think you’ll be late, contact our office immediately. We’ll do our best to help you board if possible, but we can’t guarantee it.

We snorkel at Makua Reef, situated at the renowned Tunnels Beach. This location is teeming with reef fish, turtles, and sometimes even Hawaiian monk seals if you’re lucky. It’s exclusive to North Shore tour companies, ensuring a unique experience for our guests.

Yes, we provide fins, flotation devices, and high-quality non-prescription masks for snorkeling. Guests are welcome to bring their own gear if they prefer for increased comfort or a personalized experience.

Our ladder has 4 steps with handlebars on each side. We load from either the beach or the river, depending on the tide. Water depth typically ranges from ankle to knee deep, occasionally reaching waist deep.

No, we do not permit our passengers to use full-face snorkel masks in the water. Please click here to learn about why we have this policy.

We provide each passenger with a 30-liter dry bag for belongings. For snorkeling, we supply masks, snorkels, fins and flotation devices. We offer refreshments including bottled water, juice, soda, chips/snacks, and a deli-style sandwich for lunch during the summer months. Please bring your own towel as we don’t provide these.

We’ve teamed up with our awesome Hanalei neighbors at Wake Up Delicious to bring you the freshest, most mouthwatering sandwiches on the North Shore! Choose from turkey, ham, or pastrami — all layered with Havarti cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. House-made specialty sauces, mayo and mustard are available on the side. We’ve got something for vegans (taro hummus sandwich) and keiki (PB&J), too.

We’re happy to accommodate dietary preferences — any sandwich can be made dairy-free (no cheese) and gluten-free with our GF bread option. Please note that all sandwiches are prepared in the same space, so cross-contamination is possible. You’re also welcome to bring your own food, and we’ll gladly store it in our coolers for you. Just a heads-up: glass containers and alcohol are not permitted onboard.

During March and October, November and December, we don’t provide lunches due to unpredictable ocean conditions at the start and end of our season. This prevents waste if tours are canceled. Guests are welcome to bring their own food onboard, but glass containers and alcohol are not permitted.

Bring reef-safe sunscreen, beach attire (wear your swimsuit), camera, towels, light jacket, prescription snorkel mask (if needed), and sunglasses. We provide a dry bag for your items.

No, we don’t allow alcohol during our public tours. Guests who appear overly inebriated will not be permitted to board. This policy ensures the comfort and safety of all passengers and crew during our four-hour tour at sea. Private tours can BYOB, but may only consume it after snorkeling.

If you’ve paid in full, you don’t need your wallet. However, if you’d like to tip your captain and crew, they gladly accept cash gratuities!

The amount you tip is entirely at your discretion! Our captain and crew are grateful for any gratuity. You can tip them in cash or ask our office staff for a QR code or add a tip using the credit card we have on file. Mahalo nui loa for your generosity!

We’re often asked that question, but we do not participate in such practices. We believe in offering an excellent tour at a fair price. Your feedback, whether positive or constructive, helps us improve as a company. However, bribery is not our style!

Simply put, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone displaying rude, crude, vulgar, or obnoxious behavior. Should any such behavior occur before boarding, we will not allow you to join the tour. If such behavior arises during the tour, a second vessel will be summoned to remove you, and refunds will not be issued. Ensuring the comfort and well-being of all our guests and crew is our top priority, as many describe our tours as “the experience of a lifetime.” We kindly ask that you help us maintain this exceptional experience for everyone on board.