Niihau + Napali Super Tour
Duration 7 Hours
Adults $310
Children 5-12 $290
Check in at 6:00 a.m.
For safety, no children under 5 allowed on this tour
Niihau + Napali Super Tour
Head across the channel to the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau.
Experience the adventure of a lifetime on our premier, award-winning tour that takes you up the majestic Napali Coast and across the Kaulakahi Channel to Lehua Crater off the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau—all in one amazing day! With breakfast, snorkeling, lunch, and drinks included—this unforgettable 7-hour Kauai tour to Niihau is also an excellent value. Say yes to adventure!
The adventure begins with a continental breakfast at sunrise as we leave Port Allen and cruise by Kauai’s westside to the world-famous Napali Coast—with its 4,000-foot cliffs, an abundance of waterfalls, lush emerald valleys, magical sea caves, rainbows, turtles, monk seals, and dolphins. Napali is more than a coast; she’s a force, and no trip to Kauai is complete without a visit! Your Captain will narrate the journey with the legends, stories, and history of this absolutely mind-blowing stretch of Kauai’s northern coastline. Say “cheese!”, because this is the ultimate photo opportunity!
Once we’ve sufficiently basked in Napali’s glory, it’s time to open up the engines and let Holoholo cruise across the 17-mile Kaulakahi Channel to Lehua Crater off Niihau’s coast. The crescent-shaped crater is a State Wildlife Sanctuary so there are sea birds galore, including several endangered and native species. We also love Lehua Crater’s “keyhole” rock formation, which is definitely one of the coolest things to experience.
Your captain will share the stories of this unique area and culturally significant land. There is a small population of native inhabitants on Niihau, so we never land onshore or disrupt their environment. Niihau is a fascinating place, your captain will share how it got its nickname “The Forbidden Island”, but long story short, it’s literally forbidden for almost everyone on the planet to go there. You know what that means, amazing snorkeling!
We’ll head to our snorkel location, we have several options in the area, so your captain will determine what’s best for the day based on wind, swell, currents, and other conditions. Snorkel locations are along the outside of Lehua Crater or off the coast of Niihau. A crew member will dive in, tie us off securely to the mooring, and then we’ll set you up with the right size fins and goggles. Next, we’ll go over some safety things and splash—you’re snorkeling!
The waters off Lehua and Niihau are considered some of the best in all of Hawaii and are known to offer over 100 feet of visibility on some days. Here you will have the opportunity to see endemic fish species found nowhere else in the world, endangered monk seals, manta rays, underwater lava cathedrals, and much, much more. Make sure you bring your underwater camera to capture all the moments.
Snorkel time can be up to an hour, depending on the day. Of course, if snorkeling isn’t your thing, you can always just chill on Holoholo and shoot the breeze with your fellow passengers or lay out on the nets and get your tan on!
Post-snorkeling, it’s lunchtime, woo-hoo! We’ll serve you up some ono grinds (delicious food). Water, juice, and soft drinks are available throughout the entire day, but after snorkeling—now this is the time to start cracking the cold ones for those who choose—we’ve got a nice selection of beers, wines, and seltzers for you to enjoy all the way back across the Kaulakahi Channel.
Holo Holo Charters has been offering Niihau boat tours from Kauai since 1997, longer than any other Kauai boat tour company. Over all these years, we’ve modified and upgraded our boat, refined our menu, and dialed in all the details. Come adventure with us and have the most fun, exciting, and visually stunning day of your Hawaiian vacation!
This is a full day of fun and adventure, most people can’t get enough, but for some people, seven hours may be too long on the water. We encourage you to consider the stamina of everyone in your party before choosing your adventure, we want to be sure no one is limited in their ability to have a good time! If you have questions or want to discuss further, please call our staff at 808-335-0815 so we can assist in finding the right adventure for you and your guests.
Your Tour Includes
Lehua Crater, Niihau’s North Shore, the Napali Coast, marine life, and more!
Continental breakfast and gourmet deli lunch
Free beverages all day — with beer and wine served after we snorkel
All snorkeling equipment and instruction
The chance to see humpback whales (peak season Dec-Apr)
Tour Details
Check in at 6:00 a.m. at our Port Allen location (time varies by season).
Located in: Port Allen Marine Center
Address: 4353 Waialo Rd #5a, Eleele, HI 96705
Tour length: 7 hours
For safety, no children under 5 are allowed on this tour.
Tax not included
Note that tours often fill up 3 – 5 days in advance. Booking your tour early in your vacation window is a good idea in case the weather forces us to postpone your tour.
Continental Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs (Sautéed Veggies, Cheese): Vegetarian
Bakers Choice (Danishes, Muffins, Cinnamon Rolls, Croissants, etc.): Contains Butter + Eggs
Fresh Seasonal Fruit: Vegan/GF
Medium Roast Coffee
Oatmeal
Tea & Hot Water
[Served buffet style, to be served by 1 crew member]
Gourmet Deli-Style Lunch
Turkey + Cheddar Wrap or a Vegetarian GF Hummus Wrap
Somen Salad: Vegetarian
Veggie Crudite: Vegan/GF
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: Vegan/GF
Ranch: Vegetarian
Chocolate Chip Cookies & Oatmeal Craisin Cookies: Contains Butter + Eggs
Beer and wine available after snorkeling
[Served buffet style, to be served by 1 crew member]
We pride ourselves on creating fun and memorable ocean adventures for our guests. Your safety is our top priority; therefore, all tour routes, destinations, and snorkeling activities are dependent on ocean and weather conditions. Conditions around Kauai can change quickly, so our expert captains are constantly analyzing and may wait until check-in time to determine the best route for the day. If that occurs, you will have the opportunity to go on the altered tour, reschedule to another day, or cancel your tour at no charge if it is weather related.
Disclaimer: This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It may not be suitable for individuals who are physically challenged. Those who suffer from motion sickness should take precautions. Safety and your experience are always our top priority. Ocean conditions can sometimes turn rough, therefore all tour routes and destinations are subject to change due to weather. Snorkeling depends on ocean conditions. Please review our full Passenger Policy here.
COVID-19 Statement
Holo Holo Charters knows the importance of protecting beautiful Kaua’i. Our primary goal is to ensure the safety of our guests, employees, and small island community. We look forward to providing safe and exciting ocean adventures for you, our extended ‘ohana.
We are taking additional care to minimize the risks associated with travel and group activities. We ask that all guests follow the guidelines below and practice care with health and hygiene. If you or any member of your party has been feeling ill, please let us know as soon as possible.
Guests are required to complete a digital health waiver as well as a COVID-19 health screening prior to proceeding on tour.
If you or any member of your party have had symptoms related to COVID-19 including sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc. we request that you stay home and seek medical care.
Please sanitize your hands prior to entering our office and prior to boarding our vessel. Wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
Please follow social distancing guidelines at all times. Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and other guests who are not a part of your family/group whenever possible.
Please cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Holo Holo Charters – COVID-19 Company Policies
Holo Holo Charters is taking additional steps in our daily operations by cleaning, disinfecting, and updating protocols to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees. Our policies adhere to the U.S. Coast Guard’s COVID-19 safety requirements, CDC recommendations, and local requirements.
Our commitment to you:
We have increased our cleaning and sanitization procedures onboard the vessels to exceed CDC guidelines, including physical cleaning with EPA-approved disinfectant. Additional hand sanitizer stations are available throughout our office and the vessels for your safety.
Frequent wipe-downs of high-touch common areas are performed in our office and onboard our vessels.
Holo Holo checks all employee temperatures daily. Any employee having a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be permitted to work to ensure the safety of our employees and guests. Each employee is required to pass a health screening before clocking in for their shift.
All complimentary snorkeling gear (snorkel, mask, fins, and flotation devices), are cleaned and sanitized before and after every use, using protocols and products suggested by the CDC.
All onboard meals are served in accordance with state requirements.
Boat Details
If you’re looking for a spacious vessel, Holo Holo has got you covered! This 65-foot long and 24-foot wide, agile power catamaran was built with safety and comfort in mind.
Holo Holo was designed to eliminate side-to-side rolling motion by slicing though the water, resulting in a smooth ride. Twin diesel engines provide the power to get you to the beautiful sights of the Napali Coast and Niihau faster than any other vessel.
The Niihau & Napali Super Tour is Holo Holo Charters’ signature tour, on our signature vessel. In 1997, our flagship, Holoholo, was designed by our company’s founder and built right here on the south side of Kauai, specifically to take people safely and comfortably to dramatic locations like Napali, Lehua Crater, and Niihau.
Holoholo is a powerful, sleek, and comfortable, 65-foot power catamaran fitted with twin Cummins QSB diesel engines. Our signature vessel was made for these waters, and she can comfortably cruise up to 22 knots (about 25 miles per hour), making it possible for us to cover more than 90 nautical miles during this tour. Holoholo’s low center of gravity and hull design provides for a secure, comfortable ride and spares you the extra bounce associated with some double-decker boats. Holoholo is meticulously, lovingly maintained and she’s the vessel to carry you safely on your Niihau boat tour.
While Coast Guard certified for up to 65 passengers, we don’t exceed 49, which means more room to sightsee, snorkel, relax and enjoy your time on the water. Ample seating is available throughout the vessel, the bow provides an exciting and wet ride at times, while the stern has comfortable bench seating with unrestricted views of the coastline.
The cabin area features a bar and seating at two large tables, plus additional bench seating to keep you out of the elements, as well as space to store your belongings. Two heads (restrooms) are located on deck for your convenience (no need to climb or descend a ladder to use the facilities).
When it’s time to snorkel, you’ll find a swim step at the stern for ease of entry, and a ladder below the surface for quick and easy re-boarding. After snorkeling rinse off with a freshwater shower.
Cancellation Policy
• Holo Holo Charters reserves the right to refuse service due to safety and/or health conditions.
• All tour routes and snorkel destinations are subject to change or may re-route due to weather and sea conditions.
• All no-shows or tours cancelled within 24 hours of check-in time is a 100% charge of full fare. Larger groups of 6 or more have a 7 day (1 week) cancellation policy.
• There is a late rescheduling fee (24 hours prior to check in) of $25 per person.
linc c wrote a review
Wonderful experience!
We've been to Kauai numerous times and we wish we had done this sooner. We saw hundreds of dolphins and quite a few whales. Komma did a great job of sharing lots of information with us. The captain took our safety into account and we weren't able to go to the coast of Ni'ihau due to the weather, but better safe than sorry. The company gave us a partial refund, which totally surprised us.
If you have motion sickness issues, I'd strongly urge you to take something prior to the trip, but know the crew will do everything in their power to make you comfortable.
If you have motion sickness issues, I'd strongly urge you to take something prior to the trip, but know the crew will do everything in their power to make you comfortable.
jessie j
Three Forks, MT
Memorable Trip!
My husband and I took this cruise last week- the scenery was absolutely stunning! Leaving so early, we got a wonderful view of the sunrise over the water. The captain did a great job of getting us good photo ops. We couldn't make it out to Ni'ihau due to the size of the swells, so instead the captain took us around the entire island of Kauai instead. We saw whales, dolphins, and even a turtle. We got to snorkel somewhere else as well., which was fun. But I have to say the crew was one of our favorite parts. Due to a freak accident, (No one was at fault), my husband ended up going overboard from the front of the boat. It was terrifying, but Christian and Comma were absolute champs. Thankfully my hubby was unhurt and they got him back on board safely. They kept checking on him the rest of the trip. Despite the craziness, we would definitely do this cruise again (just without the extra swimming!) and we both enjoyed it. We recommend Holo Holo for your Na Pali Coast tour! And thanks again to the crew- you guys rock!