2.5 hours · 9 am and 12 pm daily · All ages
Turtle Canyon Snorkel
Sail to the reef, an hour and a quarter in the water with a guide.
| Per person | $80 |
|---|
Editorial spotlight · Boards from the beach at the Outrigger Reef, Waikiki
2026 Golden Lei Awards nomineeBest Sailing Experience
Holokai Catamaran
No harbor, no shuttle: you walk down the sand in front of the Outrigger Reef and climb the bow stairs. A 45-foot catamaran built for exactly this in 2015, with a bathroom aboard, a sound system, and a bar that pours on every sail. Turtles at the reef in the morning, Diamond Head at sunset, fireworks on Fridays.
- Turtle snorkel
- $80
- Sunset sail
- $80
- Tripadvisor
- 4.8
- Reviews
- 4,012
Editorial spotlight. Holokai Catamaran 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
The first new catamaran on Waikiki Beach in twenty years
Only a handful of catamaran licenses exist for Waikiki Beach, and Holokai was the first new boat to get one in more than two decades. She was designed by Morrelli & Melvin and built by Schooner Creek Boat Works in Portland, Oregon, then sailed to Hawaii by way of San Francisco in the summer of 2015; the crew fished for dinner when the trade winds quit on them.
The company is women-owned and run by president Soo Kim, who has said her greatest reward is seeing her staff thrive. The captains are Coast Guard licensed, the snorkel guides hold CPR and first-aid cards, and part of the proceeds go to the Hawaii Wildlife Fund. Reviews name the crew constantly: captains Mitchell, Kyle, Ryan and Jamie, guides Abby, Alec, Xavier, Jalen and Aslin.
“We love providing memories that last a lifetime!”
President
Soo Kim
Women-owned. Crew names above are from guest reviews; the company does not publish a roster.
The one to book
Turtle Canyon Snorkel
Two and a half hours, split about evenly between sailing and snorkeling, at 9 am or noon daily. Turtle Canyon is a shallow reef off Waikiki where green sea turtles come to have their shells cleaned by reef fish, which is why the sightings are so consistent. Mask, fins, snorkel, vest and an in-water guide are included, along with snacks, water, juice, soda, reef-safe sunscreen and motion-sickness tablets.
Beer and seltzers are $5 cash on this one; the open bar is for the afternoon and sunset sails. All ages; anyone under 18 needs a parent aboard and a signed waiver.
| Per person | $80 |
|---|---|
| Ages 0 to 3 | Free |
| Private boat | $2,778 |
Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026. Kamaaina and military get $10 off at check-in with ID.
Check AvailabilityThe boat
Holokai
A beach catamaran built for Waikiki, with a forward stairway that drops onto the sand.
Holokai
- Design
- Morrelli & Melvin; built 2015 by Schooner Creek Boat Works, Portland
- Length
- 45 ft 6 in, 24 ft beam
- Guests
- 49
- Rig
- Fully battened main and jib; twin 50 hp outboards on retractable mounts
- Aboard
- Bathroom, netted bow splash area, Bluetooth sound, dry storage, open seating
Book it
Sails
Per person. Kamaaina and military get $10 off at check-in with ID; ages 0 to 3 free. Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026.
1.5 hours · 3 pm · April to November
Waikiki Afternoon Sail
Diamond Head from the water with drinks included. No December dates at this check.
| Adult 13+ | $50 |
|---|---|
| Keiki 4 to 12 | $30 |
1.5 hours · 5 pm Oct to Feb, 5:30 pm Mar to Sep
Sunset Sail
Open bar: beer, wine, champagne, seltzers and the Holokai Hooch. Fridays are 21 and over.
| Adult 13+ | $80 |
|---|---|
| Keiki 4 to 12 | $45 |
1 hour · Fridays · 7:15 pm Oct to Feb
Fireworks Cruise
The Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks from the water, open bar.
| Ages 4+ | $85 |
|---|
1.5 hours · 3 pm · Dec 1 to Mar 31
Whale Watching Sail
Humpbacks off Waikiki with drinks included. No whales, and you sail again free before March 31.
| Adult 13+ | $50 |
|---|---|
| Keiki 4 to 12 | $30 |
Private sails for up to 49: the Turtle Canyon snorkel at $2,778, the afternoon sail at $1,903, the sunset sail at $3,719 and the fireworks sail at $2,971.
Before you go
Know before you go
Where to check in
The Holokai desk inside the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, 2169 Kalia Road, past the front desk on the right, across from Monkeypod Kitchen. Check in 30 minutes before; the crew walks you to the beach 15 minutes before departure. Late arrivals are not refunded.
Parking
Valet at the Embassy Suites, 201 Beach Walk, $15 for four hours with validation.
Boarding
From the sand, barefoot, up the bow stairs. Wear shoes that come off easily; expect to get your feet wet. Not wheelchair accessible.
Bring
Towel for the snorkel, a long sleeve for the evening sails, and ID if you are drinking. No outside alcohol.
Cancellation
Full refund or rebook with 24 hours' notice for parties of eight or fewer; 48 hours for nine or more.
Reviews
What guests say
- 4.8Tripadvisor4,012 reviews as of September 30, 2026
- #33of 395Boat tours and water sports in Honolulu, Tripadvisor
- 2015On the beachFirst new Waikiki catamaran in over 20 years
Reviewers count turtles in the double digits, name the captains and guides, and write about a clean boat, a no-shoes policy, an open bar with music, and a calm ride with Diamond Head behind it. The complaints are about water clarity on some days.
Questions
Good to know
Where does it board?
From the beach in front of the Outrigger Reef in Waikiki. Check in at the desk inside the hotel, then walk down to the sand.
Will we see turtles?
Turtle Canyon is a reef cleaning station, so sightings are consistent. Reviews routinely count ten or more.
Is the bar included?
Drinks are included on the afternoon, sunset, fireworks and whale sails. On the snorkel, beer and seltzers are $5 cash.
What does it cost?
Turtle snorkel $80, afternoon sail $50, sunset $80, fireworks $85, whale watch $50. Children 0 to 3 free. Checked September 30, 2026.
Can kids come?
Yes, all ages on every sail except Friday sunsets, which are 21 and over.
Walk down the sand and go
Snorkel, sunset and fireworks sails from Waikiki Beach, every day.
Check Availability