Oahu: Catamaran Cruise from Waikiki & Ala Moana Beach

4.54

(679 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We stepped barefoot onto the Makani catamaran at Ala Moana Beach Park, still brushing sand off our ankles from the walk over. The deck felt cool underfoot — I remember the faint smell of sunscreen and saltwater mixing with someone’s coconut-scented lotion. Our captain, Kaleo, grinned as he checked everyone in (“Don’t worry, we’ve got extra ginger chews if you get queasy!”). I’d never seen Waikiki from out on the water before — it looks almost unreal, all those hotels rising up behind palm trees and that soft gold curve of sand.

The boat moved smoother than I expected. There was this moment when we passed just beyond the reef and suddenly everything went quiet except for the slap of waves against the hull. The city noise faded out completely. Someone pointed out Diamond Head in the distance — it looked smaller from here, but somehow more impressive? I sipped a cold drink (pineapple juice with a splash of something stronger) and just watched the light flicker on the surface. It’s hard to explain but being out there made Honolulu feel both close and far away at once.

Kaleo told us stories about growing up nearby — how his uncle used to fish off these same waters before sunrise. He laughed when one of us tried to pronounce “makani” properly (I definitely butchered it). The crew was easygoing; they handed out snacks and didn’t mind answering random questions about local sea life or where to get good poke after the tour. There were families with strollers, couples taking selfies, even a retired couple from Toronto who kept joking about moving here for good.

I still think about that stretch when we turned back toward Ala Moana Beach Park — sun getting lower, water turning this deep blue-green under us. It wasn’t flashy or dramatic, just simple and real. If you want a catamaran cruise from Oahu that feels relaxed but not boring, with a crew who actually seem happy you’re there…well, this is it. I’d do it again just for that feeling of drifting between city and sea.