Reviews for Makana Charters

The crew was amazing. We have been with several other Napali cruises but Makana was by far the best

Product: Makana Charters

We had a great experience with Makana Charter, from the first call with Hili to the helpful text and email confirmations with clear and accurate directions. Our day out was especially calm and sunny for a late December excursion. Everyone in our group, from my 81-year old dad to my 4-year-old nephew, had a blast. The guides were knowledgeable and shared information on the early Hawaiians who lived along the Na’aPali coast, as well as other fun facts. We saw several whales spouting, diving and one tail slap! I highly recommend this group for reasonable rates, professional and clear booking arrangements, and a blast out at sea. Special thanks to Captain Tim, Lionel and Leroy for making the trip extra fun. Our family has been to Kauai many times and this was a truly memorable experience. Mahalo!

Product: Makana Charters

We had the best possible experience on the Na Pali Kai III. The crew were spectacular and provided lots of interesting information. The boat was full but did not feel crowded and the drinks and lunch were appreciated. I especially appreciated the sincere care and interest the crew took in making sure every member of our party was comfortable and had a great time - not an easy task for a group of 11 ranging in age from 9 to 80. I would 100% recommend this boat and crew again! Best money spent during our trip!

Product: Makana Charters

This is a must see for anyone visiting the island. The hosts are exceptionally talented and knowledgeable. The views were stunning and we very very happy to see lots of dolphins swimming close to us. We were given ample of time to enjoy. Also exciting (to me) was that we had the opportunity to swim in the middle of the ocean. Thank you!

Product: Makana Charters

Awesome trip! The hosts are wonderful. I recommend Makana charters

Product: Makana Charters

My husband and I recently took a trip back to our favorite place on earth...the Hawaiian Islands! This time to Kauai in December! This was our first time there and started looking online for some fun things to do while we were there. Number 1 on the list was this Charter around and up the Na Pali Coast. We researched the best day and booked our trip the day before on the Amelia K. It was easy to book and the communication was great! They sent an email to us with further details on how to make our 4 hour trip the best and it included a lunch! The day turned out beautiful and we got to see dolphins, including mamas and their babies right next to the boat which was so wonderful and special! They did a great job of taking us out to where dolphins and whales could be spotted that time of year and we seen whales in the distance too! How cool! The captain of the boat was a multigenerational genius and even though the waves were rough, he was able to navigate us right into the mouth! So close that he got us under the waterfall coming off the mountain to get my husband and some others soaked! Also, so cool! We would HIGHLY recommend this Makana Charter tour for multiple reasons! 1.) Easy to book and great communication with all the details. 2.) Great and knowledgeable staff that served us all so well and we learned so much from them about Kauai itself, the ocean and history! 3.) Captain was top notch and we felt safe, protected and had a blast! Thank you Makana Charter for making our trip a dream trip! We would love to bring our family back to enjoy this as well!

Product: Makana Charters

Good time. Water was too rough for snorkeling, but the captains kept it fun and found a spot to jump off and relax.

Product: Makana Charters

Wonderful tour of the Na Pali Coast on the Na Pali Kai III. The crew was wonderful with the service, fun facts and made the experience so enjoyable. I highly recommend for any visitor to Kauai for this very family friendly experience

Product: Makana Charters

Great people and great tour, our family thoroughly enjoyed!

Product: Makana Charters

Very professional! Knowledgeable! Par excellence hospitality! Kind to all passengers! Kept entire travel alive! Balaji

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

Very much enjoyed this water adventure. The crew and office staff were exceptional - friendly and helpful.

Product: Makana Charters

We had so much fun exploring the coast and learning the history of the Hawaiian people. We saw bottle nosed dolphins, spinner dolphins, humpback whales, and turtles. Make sure to take Dramamine or Bonine if you're going in the winter. Some people did get sick but the crew took good care of them and give them some ginger chews. It was well worth the trip

Product: Makana Charters

Had a wonderful trip up the NaPali coast. Captain Mike maneuvered the boat into caves giving us a very closeup look. Crew member Eli provided very informative narration as we went up the coast. The other part of the trip was looking for whales. Just as we were getting ready to head into the harbor, several humpbacks started entertaining us with breaching, fluke waving and blowing. Great ending to the trip.

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

We had a great experience. Makana was an awesome captain and made sure we had a safe ride but also got to see a lot of cool places and wildlife. Lilly and Asia (the crew) made sure we had everything we needed throughout the whole trip. We would recommend this experience to anyone coming to Kaua’i!

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

Captain Mike and crew were awesome. Certainly a great way to spend time in Kauai and would highly recommend.

Product: Makana Charters

We had a wonderful experience on the Amelia K! Cannot recommend enough. The crew and captain were kind and knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. This was the highlight of our visit and we are so glad we chose Makana Charters!

Product: Makana Charters

Overblown reviews; lacking the basic hospitality promised. I really wanted to love this tour, but our experience with Makana Charters felt lackluster compared to the glowing reviews. A common theme we noticed during our trip is that many of these small businesses seem to be cutting corners, and unfortunately, this tour was no exception. The "Beverage" Situation: The listing explicitly promises a "variety of assorted tropical juices, bottled water, and sodas." In reality, we were offered a single small bottle of water—and that wasn't until three hours into the trip. We could see they had other drinks on board, but they were never offered. While we could have asked, you shouldn't have to beg for basic hospitality when it’s part of the package you paid for. The Tour Experience: We booked the morning tour specifically for the snorkeling. We understand that conditions can be unpredictable, but it was still disappointing that snorkeling was canceled due to choppy water. Bottom Line: The views are beautiful, but the service feels stingy. If you’re expecting the "aloha spirit" and proactive service, you might be disappointed. The reviews for these local spots feel a bit overblown compared to the actual level of care provided to guests.

Product: Makana Charters