2 hours · Year-round · Ages 3+
Dolphin or Whale Search & Sightsee
Dolphins all year, whales in season, snacks aboard. No December dates at this check.
| Adult 13+ | $84 |
|---|---|
| Child | $76 |
Editorial spotlight · Mala Boat Ramp, Lahaina; check in at 1223 Front Street
2026 Golden Lei Awards nomineeBest Eco/Wildlife Tour
Hawaii Ocean Rafting
Rafts, not catamarans. You sit a few feet off the water, which is the whole point when a humpback surfaces beside the boat or spinner dolphins ride the bow. Three rafts, 14 to 26 guests, naturalists aboard, and a company that lost its harbor, its boats and its owners' home in the 2023 fire and was running again by December.
- Dolphin tour
- $84
- Lanai snorkel
- $189
- Tripadvisor
- 4.9
- Lahaina rank
- #4 of 149
Editorial spotlight. Hawaii Ocean Rafting is a nominee in the 2026 Golden Lei Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The company
Since 1991, and again since December 2023
Hawaii Ocean Rafting started at Lahaina Harbor in 1991. Peter and Toni Colombo bought it in October 2021 and run it as a Hawaiian-owned family business; the company describes itself as one of the few Hawaiian-owned eco-rafting outfits in the islands. On August 8, 2023 the Lahaina fire took the harbor slip, every boat and the Colombos' house. They resumed temporary operations on December 1 that year and have run from Mala ever since.
The staff page names every captain and first mate, and several of the mates carry the title education specialist; Nicole is the education and engagement director. The company partners with Whale Trust and the Keiki Kohola Project, runs ocean-education programs with Lahaina Intermediate School and the Maui Hero Project, and pours purified water into biodegradable cups instead of handing out bottles.
“You are part of something bigger, just by going on an adventure with us.”
Owner-operators
Peter and Toni Colombo
Education and engagement director
Nicole
Reservations manager
Jason
Captains Clint, Darryll, Jack, Mark and Zach and first mates Bree, Jess, Meredith, JJ, Sy and Val are listed on the About page.
The one to book
Eye-level whale watching, December to April
Two hours, or a 90-minute version, on a raft whose gunwale sits at whale height. A hydrophone goes over the side so you hear the singing. Humpbacks are in the channel from December through April and peak in January, February and March; in peak season the company promises a free second trip if you see no whale on the Eye-Level tour.
Outside whale season the same raft runs the two-hour dolphin search year-round: spinner and bottlenose dolphins, turtles, and the West Maui coast from the water. Ages 3 and up on both.
| Whale watch, adult | $97 |
|---|---|
| Whale watch, child 3 to 12 | $89 |
| Dolphin search, adult | $84 |
Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026. Kamaaina rates with Hawaii ID.
Check AvailabilityThe rafts
Kuokoa Kai, Aloha Kauwela and Naia
Three rigid rafts with shade covers on the two big ones. Pontoon seating is optional; benches have backrests.
Kuokoa Kai
- Length
- 40 ft
- Guests
- 26
- Shade
- 80%
- Aboard
- Bench seating, freshwater shower
Aloha Kauwela
- Length
- 38 ft
- Guests
- 17
- Shade
- 80%
- Aboard
- Inward-facing benches, freshwater shower
Naia
- Length
- 27 ft
- Guests
- 14
- Shade
- 30%
- Aboard
- Saddle-style seating for the small-group runs
Book it
Tours
Per person. Kamaaina rates with a Hawaii ID. Snorkel tours include gear, flotation and food. Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026.
2 hours or 90 minutes · Dec to Apr · Ages 3+
Eye-Level Whale Watch
The raft at whale height, with a hydrophone.
| Adult 13+ | $97 |
|---|---|
| Child 3 to 12 | $89 |
5 hours · Semi-private · Ages 4+
Lanai Snorkel & Dolphin Watch
Across the channel to Lanai with breakfast, snacks and certified snorkel guides. A handful of dates a month.
| Adult 13+ | $189 |
|---|---|
| Child | $169 |
4 hours · Dec to Apr · Ages 4+
2-in-1 Turtle Snorkel & Whale Watch
A turtle snorkel and a whale watch in one morning.
| Adult 13+ | $179 |
|---|---|
| Child 4 to 12 | $159 |
Private raft charters run by the hour from Mala; the hourly charter had no dates open at this check. Weekly and monthly whale-watch passes go on sale for the season.
Before you go
Know before you go
Where to check in
Dive Maui at 1223 Front Street in Lahaina, 30 minutes before departure; the crew walks you to the Mala boat ramp to board. This is the post-fire arrangement and the company calls it temporary.
Parking
The Lahaina Cannery Mall lot or Front Street. There is no commercial parking at the Mala ramp.
Bring
Hat, sunglasses, rub-on reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof bag and a layer. Spray comes over the side; that is the ride.
Who can go
Ages 3 and up on the whale and dolphin tours, 4 and up for snorkeling. No pregnant guests on any tour, and anyone with back or neck injuries should sit this one out. You board without assistance.
Cancellation
24 hours for most bookings, 72 hours for parties of five or more, 7 days for private charters.
Reviews
What guests say
- 4.9Tripadvisor3,070 reviews as of September 30, 2026
- #4of 149Boat tours and water sports in Lahaina, Tripadvisor
- 1991FoundedHawaiian-owned; rebuilt after August 2023
Reviewers write about Captain Jack finding dolphins and keeping the boat laughing, naturalists Jess, Meredith, Nicole and Bree explaining whale behavior, a mother and calf surfacing beside the raft, and a boat that keeps a respectful distance from the animals.
Questions
Good to know
Why a raft instead of a catamaran?
You sit a few feet above the water, so whales and dolphins are at eye level and the boat gets to them fast. It is wetter and bouncier than a big boat.
When is whale season?
December through April, peaking January to March. In peak season the Eye-Level tour comes with a see-a-whale-or-go-again promise.
Where does it leave from?
The Mala boat ramp in Lahaina. Check in first at Dive Maui, 1223 Front Street.
What does it cost?
Dolphin tour $84, whale watch $97, Lanai snorkel $189, turtle-and-whale combo $179. Checked September 30, 2026.
Can pregnant guests or small children go?
No pregnant guests on any tour. Children from 3 on the wildlife tours and 4 on snorkel tours.
Get down to the water
Eye-level whale and dolphin rafts from Lahaina, year-round.
Check Availability