Niihau + Napali Coast Super Tour

Holo Holo Charters isn’t the only Kauai company that offers Niihau boat tours, but we were the first! When our company was founded in 1997, boat tours to Niihau were to be our niche—nobody else was doing it. But a unique tour would require a unique boat and that’s why Holo Holo has always stood out on the dock.

Anyone with an appreciation for boat design will tell you, Holo’s got “nice lines.” At 65’ long, 24’ wide, and with twin Cummins QSB diesel engines, Holo Holo is Kauai’s most spacious and fastest cruising catamaran. Her long, skinny hulls and low center of gravity mean she cuts through the water with speed and stability. Over the years, Holo Holo has been scrupulously maintained, frequently updated, and remains the best-looking, most comfortable, and safest tour vessel on all of Kauai. Holo Holo is licensed to carry 65 passengers, but we never take more than 49, so everyone has enough room to move, breathe, relax and enjoy!

We’ll kickstart the journey with coffee, tea, juices, and a continental breakfast (eggs, fruit, muffins, and oatmeal) as we cruise out of Port Allen in the sunrise. Your captain will share stories, local history, and legends as we pass Kauai’s west side and get into the world-famous Napali Coast. What you’ve heard is true– Napali is like music for the eyes, and she will absolutely blow your mind with her dramatic cliffs, emerald valleys, cascading waterfalls, vibrant rainbows, spinner dolphins, turtles, and, depending on the time of year, humpback whales. Make sure your phone is fully charged because you might break your camera!

When we’ve reached the northern edge of Napali and we’re all feeling humbled and amazed by nature’s glory, it’s time to start the next phase of the adventure! It’s time to rip across Kaulakahi Channel to the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau and her neighbor to the north, Lehua Crater. Luckily Holo Holo cruises comfortably at around 27mph so crossing the channel should only take about half an hour.

We’ll poke around these two remote islands, talk some story about Niihau’s fascinating past and present, notice Lehua’s thousands of nesting seabirds, check out her unique geological formation “Keyhole Cave” and then, we’ll find a great spot to stop, snorkel and lunch.

One thing about Niihau and Lehua is that they’re very dry. The lack of rain or running water around these islands (in addition to the lack of any significant commercial activity) makes for water that’s exceptionally clear; visibility is commonly 70 feet or more! Niihau/Lehua is considered one of Hawaii’s very best snorkeling destinations and for that reason, we get a lot of repeat customers (including Kauai locals) on this Niihau snorkeling tour.

Seasoned divers and beginning snorkelers alike will be impressed with the underwater lava formations, bright colorful fish species, monk seals, manta rays, and more. Of course, we have all of the gear you need—masks, snorkels, fins, flotation devices—and we’ll show you how to use it. We’ll have trained crew members in the water with you, on SUP boards, keeping a close eye out for anyone that’s struggling or drifting too far off from the group. Your safety is our #1 concern, from the time we leave the dock until we return.

And hey, if snorkeling isn’t your thing, just kick back and relax. Shoot the breeze, read a book, get some sun, take a nap. Whatever makes you happy. Whatever…. floats your boat?

When we’re all snorkeled out and every single person is safely back on board, it’s lunchtime and we’ll serve up some freshly made wraps, somen noodle salad, veggies with hummus and ranch, and cookies. This is also the time of day (5:00 somewhere?) that we can offer our customers 21+ years old a refreshing adult beverage. We’ve got a nice selection of beers, wines, and seltzers, and the bar’s open all the way back to Port Allen!

When we arrive back, you should feel relaxed, sun-kissed, and satisfied. Our hope is that you’ll have a greater understanding and appreciation for this little corner of the world that we’re so proud to showcase and that we’ve delivered to you and your loved ones an aloha-filled experience, that you’ll always remember fondly.