Snorkeling or Sunset Boat Trips from Kaanapali Beach

[Carlsbadguy]

Staying at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club and was wondering about companies that do boat trips from Kaanapali Beach? Do any boats leave from Lahaina harbor yet or do you need to drive down to Maalaea Harbor for most boat trips.
Have been many times before but it has been about 5 years.

 

[ljmiii]

We sailed with (and can definitely recommend) Sail Trilogy. That said, the permits that allow operators to sail from Kaanapali Beach may not be renewed in 2025.

https://www.khon2.com/local-news/court-ruling-could-halt-boat-operations-at-ka%CA%BBanapali-beach-in-2025/

 

[JIMinNC]

As of now, Trilogy, Teralani, and Sail Maui are the three main operators from Kaanapali, I believe. They all do whale watches, snorkel trips, and sunsets. There may be one or two more smaller operators.

No commercial operations in Lahaina Harbor, as there is no infrastructure there anymore, and it may be years, at best, before any is rebuilt. Maalaea is the only other significant commercial harbor in West Maui. Mala boat ramp behind Cannery Mall does host a couple of Zodiac companies.

 

[NTP66]

Speaking only for Trilogy, as I will only ever use them, you can still catch their west Maui snorkeling trips from the beach in front of Whaler's Village, or depending on the tide, the other side of Black Rock. The captain's dinner cruise, Lana'i, etc. do leave out of Ma'alaea.

 

[melissy123]

For whale watching trips out of Kaanapali, do any of the operators use the smaller zodiac boats?

 

[Lakeshore]

How are these whale watching trips concerning sea sickness?

 

[NTP66]

Trilogy uses large catamarans, which are a really good option if you want to avoid sea sickness, IMO.

 

[daviator]

For whale watching trips out of Kaanapali, do any of the operators use the smaller zodiac boats?

Yes, there is at least one operator which does whale watching tours on zodiac boats. They leave from the Mala boat ramp sort of behind the Cannery Mall in Lahaina.

I do not believe there are any Zodiac tours which leave from Ka'anapali though.

 

[iowaguy09]

We’ve done both snorkeling and whale watching multiple times with Ultimate Whalewatch and Snorkel: https://www.ultimatewhalewatch.com/?utm_source=google-map&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_medium=organic
All our trips were pre-fire. They have moved from downtown harbor to Mala boat ramp. Would not hesitate to recommend them.

 

[JIMinNC]

We’ve done both snorkeling and whale watching multiple times with Ultimate Whalewatch and Snorkel: https://www.ultimatewhalewatch.com/?utm_source=google-map&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_medium=organic
All our trips were pre-fire. They have moved from downtown harbor to Mala boat ramp. Would not hesitate to recommend them.

I believe Ultimate is now also doing tours off Kaanapali Beach in addition to Mala.

 

[Michigan Czar]

I believe Ultimate is now also doing tours off Kaanapali Beach in addition to Mala.

I'm here now and highly recommend Ultimate for small boat tour. I've went twice this trip and both were out of Mala.

 

[cowboy]

Are tours still operating from Kaanapali beach?

 

[NTP66]

Are tours still operating from Kaanapali beach?

Look up a few replies...

 

[ljmiii]

Are tours still operating from Kaanapali beach?

Yes...at least for the moment. The recent judgment 'against the tour operators' was actually against the Department of Land and Natural Resources and prevents them from issuing new commercial use permits in Kaanapali. To quote yesterday's Maui News article...

"In April, the Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that the group represented by attorney Lance Collins had a legal basis to ask for an environmental review for commercial operators in Kaanapali waters — something the Second Circuit Court had previously denied.

According to the department, the ruling does not halt operations that have permits now or might be qualified for an exemption that shows their activity has no significant cumulative impact, but it does cancel future permits until an environmental review takes place or they receive an exemption.

Collins said the state had the opportunity to seek a Supreme Court review but chose not to do so and the appeals court’s ruling is binding. Collins said the group planned to file a motion finding the state in contempt of court for defying Cahill’s order and issuing four commercial permits."

State officials seeks delay in Kaanapali injunction

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said it is seeking a reconsideration or stay after Second Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill issued an order that would stop the renewal of commercial use permits in Kaanapali ocean waters. According to officials inside the department, it is...

www.mauinews.com

 

[pspercy]

I saw a report that the licenses for operators for Kaanapali Beach won’t be renewed in 2025.

 

[ljmiii]

I saw a report that the licenses for operators for Kaanapali Beach won’t be renewed in 2025.

It's in litigation. DLNR has ignored the issue and is now seeking a stay, plaintiffs are threatening further 'cease and desist' actions. Stay tuned...

 

[Carlsbadguy]

I took the Teralani Sunset Cocktail cruise and their snorkeling trip both from Kannapali Beach. Trilogy was sold out. Got the 2 tickets for the Sunset cruise for attending the timeshare presentation at the Marriott. Presentation was pretty easy going and lasted last than an hour.

 

[pspercy]

Hmmm, so who is fighting this ?
The same people that torpedoed the beach renewal project ?

 

[TXTortoise]

Trilogy uses large catamarans, which are a really good option if you want to avoid sea sickness, IMO.

Ultimate Whale Watching is using their smaller Zodiacs off of Kaanapali Beach, the longer Zodiac and hard shell six passenger boats leave from Mala Harbor behind and down from Safeway.