Makana Charters is here to help you get the most out of your visit to our little slice of paradise. The spires of the world famous Na Pali are calling you and your family to get on board!
Explore Kauai’s breathtaking Na Pali Coast aboard the finest fleet designed for comfort, safety, and adventure. Makana Charters has the perfect vessel for your unforgettable journey.
Na Pali Kai III
Max Passengers: 32Duration: 4.5 - 5 Hours
Na Pali Kai III is the boat for photographers and families. Its 360° walk-around deck — the only one in our fleet — lets you move freely for unobstructed shots of the cliffs, waterfalls, and sea caves from every angle. After snorkeling, rinse off at the open-air freshwater shower, with a spacious onboard restroom for the trip. Ideal for larger families and groups traveling together. Welcomes children ages 4 and up. For additional information, please visit our FAQ.
The Seiko is a 34′ power catamaran built for a small-group Na Pali Coast tour. Coast Guard certified for 20, we hold each trip to 16 so there’s always room to move around, snorkel, and take in the sea caves without the crowd — up to 18 for private charters. Ages 9 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
Leialoha is the newest boat in our fleet — a 36′ power catamaran that seats up to 18 on a regular small-group departure, so a slightly larger family or friend group can ride together. Comfortable seating, an onboard restroom, and open views the whole way as you snorkel the reef and explore the sea caves. Ages 9 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
With just 12 guests aboard, the Makana is the most intimate way to see the Na Pali Coast. This 32′ custom-built catamaran was designed for room to spread out — every seat has space and a clear view as you snorkel the reef and glide past the sea caves. The smallest group on the water. Ages 9 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
At 47′ and seating up to 36, the Amelia K is our largest and most luxurious catamaran — plush seating throughout and a smooth, stable ride that makes for the most comfortable day on the coast. She carries two onboard restrooms and an open-air freshwater shower for after you snorkel the reef and drift past the sea caves. Welcomes children ages 4 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
Discover the ultimate way to experience Kauai’s iconic coast with our private Na Pali Coast boat tour. Tailored just for you, these intimate adventures let you explore hidden sea caves, pristine waters, and breathtaking cliffs at your own pace, creating memories that are truly yours to treasure.
Na Pali Coast Boat Tours with Over 10,000 5-Star Reviews
With over 10,000 five-star reviews, we deliver unmatched NaPali Coast experiences with stunning views, top-tier service, and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
4.910,430 Reviews
4.94,968 Reviews
Amy Group5 days ago
We had the best time with Captain A’a and Liliana! They were the best. They made sure we were all having a good time and A’a was an excellent captain and shared a lot about the islands with us. I thought it was especially awesome when a girl on our boat wanted to snorkel, but was a bit scared and A’a went in with her and helped her every step of the way to make sure she had a good time too. We saw the beauty of Kauai!!!!
This Leialoha charter was unreal. Captain Kana and Lionel were great guides and not only showed us some of the most beautiful parts of the Na’Pali coast but shared history with us along the way. They were also great about finding wildlife like dolphins and turtles and bringing a us very close. I would not leave Kauai without doing this tour!
Excellent tour! Captain Mike, Liliana and Jasmine were an amazing crew. Very personable, with so much information and history about Kauai. This was our second time on the boat! Highly recommend this boat tour!
The crew was wonderful very friendly and knowledgeable, which made the experience even better. Special shout outs to Ethan for being an awesome dude, and to Captain Tim for his skill steering the boat to get us close to some one of a kind area. Would highly recommend for those looking to see the Nā Pali Coast by boat.
We did the morning tour on the Seiko 2 in mid-July. It was great from start to finish! The boat seats up to 16, but with a couple no shows, there were only 12 of us, so there was plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the ride.
Shawn and Kai were both great, and they did so much to make the day a fun experience for everyone. They gave us tons of information about the Na Pali Coast and its history, and they made sure everyone was safe and comfortable throughout the ride. It was a windy day, so there were lots of waves, but we still got to go into some caves and had a great time snorkeling. We did see some dolphins as well, and it seems like that's a pretty frequent occurrence if you're into that sort of thing.
Just don't bring any bananas on the boat, and you'll have a great time!
This was the boat trip of a lifetime for me! We had such a fabulous experience visiting the Na’Pali Coast on Kauai, Hawaii. Makana Charters provided a wonderfully detailed trip with lots of history, cultural heritage bits, lore, and jokes along the way during our 5 hour charter. We saw so many amazing dolphins, fish, turtles, and amazing land formations. It was so beautiful, I cried. Snorkeling was amazing also! Sean and Kai’ao (sp.?) were amazing co-captains and really know how to drive that boat! We will cherish this memory of a lifetime forever! Mahalo!
The trip was amazing! We were able to see dolphins pretty quickly into the boat ride. We saw a couple turtles too. The view the entire time, again, amazing! We were with Captain A’a and Lilliana and they were super nice and extremely helpful. Captain A’a even went into the water to make sure that I felt safe while snorkeling (I’m not the strongest swimmer). He provided reassurance the entire time, allowing me to enjoy the entire experience, which really meant a lot. 10/10, would recommend.
Our family loved the tour with Makana Charters. The crew was knowledgeable, friendly, and fun! Definitely a high light of our vacation. Sea caves, gorgeous water, snorkeling, and lots of dolphins. They did not disappoint, and I highly recommend their charter!!
The Amelia K Napali Coast boat ride was everyones favorite tour not only in Kauai but all of Hawaii. Captain and crew were amazing and made the experience unforgettable. We saw multiple pods of Dolphins jumping and flipping for our enjoyment. Snorkeling we saw exotic fish and even saw an Octopus, he was very sneaky blending in to his surroundings. Beautiful scenery and Captain Mike gave a great history of the Coast as we passed by many sites and caves. I would recommend the Amelia K Napali Coast tour as a must do to anyone coming to the beautiful garden island of Kauai.
Excellent trip aboard the Amelia K boat with Makana Charters. I did research on diff boats, rafts, cruises and choose the boat ride/snorkel trip. It was the highlight of our trip. I did not want to sit sideways on a raft for 4-5 hours and choose the boat based on reviews and style of boat. It has covered seating facing forward, 2 bathrooms and they provided lunch. Tour guides were awesome and knowledgable. Snorkeling was great and they also let you jump off the top of the boat. They hit high speed at time and the boat goes airborne. Kids loved it. Pricing was reasonable compared to others. We saw Dolphins, birds, schools of fish and turtles when snorkeling. Great family trip.
It was excellent.. The captain and crew were simply amazing.. Great details to cleanliness and safety..Love the snorkeling.. Highly recommend this tour with Capt Mike and his crew..
Best experience!!!! My whole family enjoyed it. My son was seasick half the trip but he still wanted it to last longer! The guides were great-Shawn and Kaiao-they were funny and knowledgeable (and great music on the boat). They made sure everyone was comfortable. My kids snorkeled for the first time and they were very supportive and helpful! 10/10!! I would highly recommend!
Captain A’alona and Kaimalie from Makana Charters were fantastic! They made the entire experience so much fun while also making everyone feel safe and comfortable throughout the trip. The crew was incredible—friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to answer questions or point out wildlife and landmarks along the way.
The Nā Pali Coast is absolutely breathtaking and an absolute must-see if you’re visiting Kauaʻi. The views are unlike anything else, and seeing the coastline from the water is unforgettable. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride, especially if the ocean is choppy, but it’s 100% worth it. I couldn’t recommend Makana Charters enough!
My wife and I booked a trip out to the Napali coast on the Napali Kai III. As former longtime boat owners, we had some reservations about booking a tourist boat trip, but the crew were on point, awesome with everyone and the boat was thankfully not too crowded. Genuinely, the coastline is as impressive as everyone says it is, and the experience was only made better by the friendliness and hospitality of the crew of the boat. Solid boat handling skills as well, that helps in ocean swells. Even more so in taking the boat through the caves, that was impressive.
Would recommend 100%, and this is from a tourist boat cynic 🙂
To Captain A'alona and Kaimalie from Makana Charters Mahalo for the amazing time with you on the Seiko 1! We Loved our time on the water with you! Loved the informative talks- the snorkeling and the views of the cliffs were amazing plus going in a sea cave was my son’s highlight 🌴🐚
We had an amazing time! The crew and captain were helpful, fun and knowledgeable. It was rough seas the day we went so some motion sickness was happening but the staff was so kind and accommodating. Definitely beautiful and remarkable scenery only accessible by boat. Thank you!
My husband and I celebrated our 48th anniversary aboard the Amelia K to the breathtaking Napi Coast. It was an amazing experience and even more of an extra plus because of the team on board who obviously love their jobs singing and doing a little dancing on board. (You know who you are) Our captain was super cool stopping everytime there were dolphins or sea turtles near the boat. He shared lots of history and navigated cliff side for great up close pics!! Trip of a life time!
Thank you, thank you!
Had a great time. Kana and Lionel were awesome guides and very patient with all the guests. You could tell they loved their jobs and the places we went. Something you need to do on the island
A truly magical day was spent with Makana touring the Napali Coast! Makana was so professional, from start to finish. On top of that, they were so accommodating to their guests. They were always happy to snap a photo or assist with equipment. The lunch was basic, but delicious, and hit the spot. The boat is beautiful, comfortable and very well maintained. We lucked out with perfect weather and relatively calm seas. We saw sea turtles, spinner dolphins, and even a monk seal! The Napali Coast is, I think, the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. We all feel so blessed to have experienced this. Highly recommend this tour!
You cannot visit Kauai without seeing the Na Pali Coast from the water, and Makana Charters was great!! The Seiko 2 is a spacious, stable vessel and the tour was beautiful with plenty of great vantage points for photos. Eli and Rhi were the perfect crew—attentive, fun, and full of great information about the coast. The views speak for themselves, but the hospitality, food/snacks, and local vibe made it unforgettable. Highly recommend!
Must do experience while on the island! The staff on the boat were exceptionally knowledgeable, helpful, funny and mischievous. Be prepared to get wet!
Excellent tour with a great crew and a really nice boat. Captain and crew told great stories and were super helpful. The boat was very comfortable and actually went in a cave. Snorkeling and the coastline were fantastic. Fun day and great memories.
Thanks Makana Charters!
This was the best part of our trip Captain Mike, Elijah and Charlie were the best! They made us feel safe and answered all our questions! Made us feel like “Ohana” we would definitely recommend anyone traveling to Kauai to book this excursion!!!!
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