Waikiki · On the Water
Sunset and Catamaran Cruises from Waikiki
A sunset cruise from Waikiki can mean a $50 catamaran you board barefoot off the sand, a harbor sail with the drinks thrown in, or a 232-foot ship serving lobster. We compared ten boats that sail at sunset from Waikiki Beach, Kewalo Basin and Aloha Tower: where each one boards, how long it sails, what you drink, and what the operator charges. Start with the short list, then use the table.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Sailboats off Waikiki as the sun goes down. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick Picks
The Right Waikiki Sunset Cruise for You
- Cheap beach sailKepoikai II. $50 for anyone 3 and up, BYOB welcome, boards on the sand in front of the Moana Surfrider.
- Best open barHolokai. From $80: beer, wine, champagne, hard seltzers and a house cocktail. Maitaʻi ($79) is the close second.
- Dry boardingNa Hoku II. Sails daily from a dock at Kewalo Basin, $50 with beer, mai tais and cocktails included.
- Dinner cruiseStar of Honolulu. A 232-foot ship from Aloha Tower: buffet at $128.88 or five courses at $178.95 per adult.
- Friday fireworksHilton’s fireworks, Fridays at 7:45 p.m. Watch free from the sand, or book a fireworks sail.
Prices as each operator publishes them on its own site, September 2026.
How we picked: every boat here runs a scheduled sunset trip anyone can book, and every price is the one the operator lists on its own site as of September 2026. Two operators, Kahala Kai and Moana Sailing Co, list no set fare, and the table says so. Departure times move with the sunset through the year, so check the operator’s page for your date.
The big choice is where you board. Beach boats load right off the sand in front of the Waikiki hotels, so you walk down, wade out and climb on. Harbor boats leave from docks at Kewalo Basin, a short drive west, and you step aboard dry. The dinner cruise leaves from Aloha Tower downtown. Planning the rest of your evenings? Our guide to things to do in Waikiki covers the free hula show, the beach and the nightlife.
Waikiki Sunset Cruises Compared
| Boat | Launch | Length | Drinks | Operator price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kepoikai II | Waikiki Beach, in front of the Moana Surfrider | Until sunset, 60 to 90 min | BYOB (cans, no glass) or cash bar | $50, ages 3 and up; under 3 free | Cheapest beach sail |
| Maitaʻi Catamaran | Waikiki Beach, behind the Sheraton Waikiki and Halekulani | About 90 min | Open bar: mai tais, beer, wine, champagne | $79 adult and teen; $40 ages 4 to 12 | Classic open-bar sail |
| Holokai Catamaran | Waikiki Beach, between Fort DeRussy and the Royal Hawaiian | 90 min | Open bar: beer, wine, champagne, hard seltzers, house cocktail | From $80 ages 13 and up; $45 ages 4 to 12 | The fullest open bar |
| Ke Kai | Waikiki Beach, near Duke’s | 90 min | Unlimited soft drinks, plus 3 beers or mai tais (21+) | $60, all ages | A livelier party sail |
| Na Hoku II | Kewalo Basin, Slip F23 | 90 min | Soft drinks, plus beer, mai tais and cocktails (21+) | $50, all ages | Dry boarding, drinks included |
| Manu Kai | Kewalo Basin, Slip F-22 | 90 min, Thursday to Monday | Soft drinks, plus beer, mai tais and cocktails (21+) | $50, all ages | A harbor sail on the quieter days |
| Kahala Kai | Kewalo Basin, Pier A, Slip 0 | 2 hours | BYOB (21+), with pupus, water, soda and juice included | Not published | Two hours, bring your own |
| Moana Sailing Co | Kewalo Basin, Slip D108 | 2 hours | First drink free, then $4 soft or $8 alcoholic; VIP includes drinks | Not published | Whale season, November to May |
| Mana Kai | Kewalo Basin, Pier A24 | 90 min | 1 drink (general) or unlimited (premium) | $45 general; $65 premium | A small, historic sailboat |
| Star of Honolulu | Aloha Tower Marketplace, Pier 8 | 2 hours; to 8:20 p.m. Fridays | 1 mai tai (buffet); champagne toast and 2 drinks (deluxe) | $128.88 buffet; $178.95 five-course (adult) | Dinner and a show |
Operator price is the fare each operator lists on its own site, as of September 2026. “Not published” means the operator’s sunset page lists no set fare; ask when you book.
Would rather book through Viator? The listing below is a 90-minute Waikiki sunset boat cruise from $50 on Viator. Its title does not name the boat, so check the listing for which boat it is and where it boards.
Waikiki Sunset Boat Cruise
★★★★★ 4.9 · 248 reviews · From $50
90 minutes off Waikiki at sunset. Price and rating as Viator lists them, September 2026.
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Beach Launches: Board on Waikiki Beach
Four boats sail straight off Waikiki Beach. You check in at a hotel or a stand on the sand, walk to the water and climb aboard, usually barefoot and often with wet feet. The payoff is that you can walk there from your hotel and walk back after. They board in front of the Moana Surfrider, the Sheraton Waikiki and Halekulani, Duke’s and the Outrigger Reef; our Waikiki beaches guide maps each stretch of sand, and our best Waikiki hotels guide covers the hotels behind them.
Kepoikai II
Kepoikai II calls itself Waikiki’s longest-running catamaran, sailing since 1977, and it is the cheapest beach launch here: $50 for everyone 3 and up, and kids under 3 ride free. Bring your own drinks in cans (no glass), or buy from the cash bar on board. From October through February it leaves at 5 p.m. and sails until the sun goes down; from March through September it leaves at 5:30. Its crew says humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles are regular visitors, depending on the season. Wear shoes you can slip off for boarding.
Maitaʻi Catamaran
A 45-foot twin-hull catamaran, Coast Guard certified for 49 passengers. The Sunset Mai Tai Sail leaves at 5 p.m. (the time shifts with the season) and runs about 90 minutes, with an open bar of mai tais, beer, wine, champagne, juice and soft drinks. Adults and teens pay $79, kids 4 to 12 pay $40, and 3 and under ride free. Boarding is barefoot off the sand and Maitaʻi warns that you may get splashed, so bring a towel. On Fridays and some other nights it also runs a 7 p.m. Fireworks Sail at the same prices.
Holokai Catamaran
Holokai pours the widest bar of the beach boats: beer, wine, champagne, hard seltzers and its own Holokai Hooch cocktail. Fares start at $80 for ages 13 and up and $45 for keiki 4 to 12, and infants ride free. It sails daily for 90 minutes, 5 to 6:30 p.m. from October through February and 5:30 to 7 p.m. from March through September. Check in at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, then walk 5 to 10 minutes to the boarding spot, which moves with the tide. Reef-safe sunscreen, a motion-sickness aid and dry storage come free.
Ke Kai
Ke Kai is the beach boat from the company that also runs Manu Kai out of Kewalo Basin. It sails daily at 5:30 p.m. for 90 minutes, at $60 for any age, with unlimited soft drinks plus three beers or mai tais for adults 21 and up with photo ID. The operator is upfront about the mood: it says it can get pretty wild out there and you just might get wet, and it asks parents to keep in mind that the boat runs a bar. Pick another boat for a quiet evening.
Kewalo Basin: Dry Boarding at the Harbor
Kewalo Basin Harbor sits in Kakaʻako, between Waikiki and downtown, roughly a 10-minute drive or rideshare from Waikiki. You board from a dock, so nobody gets wet feet, but you do need a ride each way. Most of these boats give the address as 1025 Ala Moana Blvd and Moana Sailing Co gives 1125; it is the same harbor, so go by the slip or pier number.
Na Hoku II
The big yellow and red catamaran has retired from the beach, in its own words, and now sails from Kewalo Basin, Slip F23, so older guides that send you to Waikiki Beach are out of date. It sails daily: board at 5 p.m., leave at 5:30, back 90 minutes later. $50 at any age covers soda, juice and water, plus beer, mai tais and cocktails for adults 21 and up with ID. There is no check-in booth; walk straight to the boat. Its newer sister boat, Na Hoku 3, now runs the beach sails from in front of Duke’s.
Manu Kai
Ke Kai’s harbor sister sails from Kewalo Basin, Slip F-22, at 5:30 p.m. for 90 minutes, with check-in at 5. It runs Thursday through Monday only, so plan around Tuesday and Wednesday. The deal matches Na Hoku II: $50 at any age, with soda, juice and water, plus beer, mai tais and cocktails for adults 21 and up. Its page promises a Hawaiian sunset and, if you’re lucky, the rare green flash.
Kahala Kai
A 40-foot catamaran on a 2-hour sunset sail, tied with Moana for the longest catamaran sail here, leaving nightly at 5:30 p.m. It is BYOB for adults 21 and up, and the crew supplies Yeti coolers and ice at no charge. Pupus come with the ticket too: charcuterie, fresh local fruit, chips, crackers and nuts, plus bottled water, soda and juice. Kahala Kai publishes no set fare on its site, so ask for the price on your date when you book.
Moana Sailing Co
Coast Guard certified for up to 48 guests, Moana sails from 5 to 7 p.m., with VIP boarding at 4:30 and general boarding at 4:45. The drinks work differently here: your first drink is free, then it’s $4 for non-alcoholic and $8 for alcoholic drinks, and VIP tickets include drinks. From November to May, its site says, humpback whale watching comes at no extra charge, the only boat here that sells the sunset sail that way. Moana publishes no set base fare on its sunset-sail page.
Mana Kai
A 32-foot rainbow sailboat built by William Brown, son of the waterman Woody Brown. It leaves at 5:30 p.m. for 90 minutes; check in 30 minutes early. General Boarding is $45 with one drink, a lager or a canned cocktail, and Mana Premium is $65 with unlimited drinks. Pack your own towel and sunscreen: the operator says towels, shade and sunscreen are not provided, and gratuity is not included.
The Dinner Cruise: Star of Honolulu
The Star of Honolulu is a different night out from the catamarans: a sit-down dinner and a show on a ship with room for a crowd, leaving from downtown Honolulu rather than Waikiki. Plan on a taxi or rideshare to Aloha Tower.
Star of Honolulu
A 232-foot ship with four floors of walk-around decks, a 60-foot-high observation deck and, per its site, three types of stabilizers. Check in at 4:45 p.m.; the cruise runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Pacific Star buffet cruise is $128.88 for adults and $76.96 for children, with one signature mai tai, a Pacific Rim buffet with a carving station, pier-side hula, live Hawaiian music and the Moku Ola show. The Three Star Deluxe is $178.95 for adults and $107.55 for children, with a five-course plated dinner built around whole lobster and beef tenderloin, a champagne toast and two premium drinks. On Fridays the ship stays out to 8:20 p.m. for the Waikiki fireworks; fireworks nights can price differently, so check the Friday listing.
Compare the two menus on Star of Honolulu’s buffet cruise and Three Star Deluxe pages. Viator also sells the Pacific Star buffet cruise, from $139 on its listing; Star of Honolulu’s own site lists $128.88 for adults, so compare what each includes before you book.
Pacific Star Sunset Dinner Cruise and Show
★★★★★ 4.6 · 1,077 reviews · From $139
Star of Honolulu’s buffet tier, 2 hours from Aloha Tower. Price and rating as Viator lists them, September 2026.
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Friday Night Fireworks from the Water
Hilton Hawaiian Village sets off fireworks over Waikiki Beach on Fridays at 7:45 p.m., per the hotel’s events page. Watching from the sand is free, with no ticket. Check Hilton’s page before you plan a night around it. To see the show from the water, these boats time a Friday sail to it (prices from each operator’s own site, September 2026):
- Maitaʻi Fireworks Sail: 7 p.m. from Waikiki Beach, 90 minutes, $79 adult and $40 ages 4 to 12, with the same open bar.
- Ke Kai Friday Night Fireworks: 7:30 p.m. from Waikiki Beach, 1 hour, $60.
- Manu Kai Friday Night Fireworks: 7:30 p.m. from Kewalo Basin, 1 hour, $35 (all Manu Kai and Ke Kai sails).
- Star of Honolulu: the dinner cruise stays out to 8:20 p.m. on Fridays for the show; check the Friday listing for the price.
A fireworks sail leaves after dark, so it is not a sunset sail. To get both on one Friday, watch the sunset from the sand and board at 7.
Friday Night Fireworks Catamaran Cruise
★★★★★ 4.6 · 704 reviews · From $84.72
About 1 hour 45 minutes on Friday nights. Viator’s title does not name the boat; check the listing for where it boards.
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
What Time Is Sunset in Waikiki?
Every boat here chases the same moment, and it moves more than an hour through the year. In October, the month this guide went up, the sun sets around 6:20 p.m. on the 1st and about 5:56 p.m. by the 31st. It sets earliest in late November, just before 5:50 p.m., and latest in early July, about 7:18 p.m. That is why Kepoikai II and Holokai leave half an hour earlier from October through February.
| Month | Sunset on the 15th |
|---|---|
| October | 6:07 p.m. |
| November | 5:50 p.m. |
| December | 5:53 p.m. |
| January | 6:11 p.m. |
| February | 6:30 p.m. |
| March | 6:41 p.m. |
| April | 6:51 p.m. |
| May | 7:03 p.m. |
| June | 7:15 p.m. |
| July | 7:17 p.m. |
| August | 7:02 p.m. |
| September | 6:35 p.m. |
Sunset times for Waikiki on the 15th of each month, October 2026 to September 2027, from sunrise-sunset.org.
Sunset Sails in Whale Season
From winter into spring, a sunset sail can turn into a whale watch. The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources puts it this way: humpback whales “begin arriving at the main Hawaiian Islands as early as September and stay as late as May with the peak season occurring in the months of January and February.” DLNR also says the highest concentrations are between Maui, Lanai and Molokai, off Kauai’s north coast and off the Big Island’s Kohala coast, so off Waikiki a whale is a bonus, not a promise.
Moana Sailing Co is the one boat here that includes humpback whale watching at no extra charge, from November to May, and Kepoikai II says whales, dolphins and sea turtles are regular visitors in season. For shore lookouts, dedicated whale cruises and the best months, see our guide to whale watching on Oahu.
What to Wear, Seasickness and BYOB Rules
- Shoes you can kick off. On the beach boats you board from the sand, usually barefoot. Holokai says to wear easy-to-remove shoes; Kepoikai II says slip-ons. On the harbor boats and the Star of Honolulu, any shoes work.
- A towel and a light layer. Maitaʻi suggests a towel for splashes, and Mana Kai does not provide towels. Once the sun drops, the wind on the water feels cooler than the beach, so bring a long sleeve.
- Sun gear for the ride out. Sunglasses, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen. Holokai hands out sunscreen; Mana Kai does not.
- Seasickness. Holokai is the only operator that lists a motion-sickness aid as an onboard amenity, and the Star of Honolulu, with its stabilizers, is the steadiest ride here. Otherwise the usual travel advice applies: take an over-the-counter remedy before you board, sit near the middle of the boat and keep your eyes on the horizon.
- BYOB. Only Kepoikai II and Kahala Kai welcome your own drinks, and both ban glass, so bring cans. Kahala Kai’s BYOB is for adults 21 and up. The other boats serve their own drinks, and the included alcohol is for 21 and up with ID.
- Private charters and vow renewals. Sunset sails are a popular backdrop for a vow renewal, but none of the sunset pages we checked publish a private charter price, so call the operator. Manu Kai lists a private morning ceremony sail for up to 49 guests at $800. Holding the ceremony on land instead? Our Oahu wedding venues guide compares the options.
Waikiki Sunset Cruise Questions
What is the best sunset cruise in Waikiki?
It depends on what you want from the night. Kepoikai II is the cheapest beach sail at $50 with BYOB. Holokai and Maitaʻi run the fullest open bars from the sand. Na Hoku II sails from a dock at Kewalo Basin with drinks included, so nobody gets wet feet. Star of Honolulu is the only sit-down dinner cruise.
How much is a sunset cruise in Waikiki?
On the operators’ own sites in September 2026, catamaran sunset sails ran from $45 (Mana Kai general boarding) to $80 (Holokai), with several at a flat $50. The Star of Honolulu dinner cruise was $128.88 per adult for the buffet and $178.95 for the five-course dinner.
Which Waikiki sunset cruises are BYOB?
Kepoikai II, which boards on Waikiki Beach, and Kahala Kai, which sails from Kewalo Basin. Both ban glass, so bring cans. Kahala Kai is BYOB for adults 21 and up and supplies coolers and ice. The other boats serve their own drinks.
Do you get wet on a Waikiki catamaran?
On the beach-launch boats, often. You board from the sand, usually barefoot, and the operators warn that you may get splashed on the way out. The Kewalo Basin boats and the Star of Honolulu board from a dock, so your feet stay dry.
What time do sunset cruises leave Waikiki?
Most leave between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Several start earlier from October through February, when the sun sets around 6 p.m., than from March through September, when it sets closer to 7.
Can you see the Friday fireworks from a boat in Waikiki?
Yes. Hilton Hawaiian Village’s fireworks are Fridays at 7:45 p.m., and Maitaʻi, Ke Kai and Manu Kai all run Friday fireworks sails timed to the show. The Star of Honolulu stays out later on Fridays for it too. From the sand, the show is free.
Can kids go on a Waikiki sunset cruise?
Yes. Maitaʻi charges $40 for ages 4 to 12 and Holokai $45, and both let infants ride free. Kepoikai II charges the same $50 for anyone 3 and up, and under 3 rides free. Ke Kai, Na Hoku II and Manu Kai take all ages, but they run bars on board and say so.
Can you book a private sunset charter in Waikiki?
Ask the operators directly. None of the sunset pages we checked publish a private sunset charter price. Manu Kai lists a private morning ceremony sail for up to 49 guests at $800.
Leave a Reply