Moana Sailing

I sailed with Moana (cue Disney song) in 2022 and had a blast. I'm not sure how I found them and picked them out of all the other catamarans available, but I honestly think I selected them from the combination of price and style. They offer what seems like a quieter sailing expedition than others, and I think I got lucky because there was only one other family who booked this experience at the same time, so our journey was more private and relaxing.The tour I chose was Sea Turtle Snorkel Adventure from 2:30-4:30pm, and it was "discounted" to $75 per person for 2 hours. The pricing seems to fluctuate based on season or timing. When I took this tour, they did not offer complementary drinks, but it seems they do now. The tour takes you to Turtle Canyon, which is the location of coral reefs near Waikiki where turtles and sea life hang out. We mainly saw turtles and fish, but on the ride there, we spotted some dolphins as well.For the adventure, you must sign a waiver prior to boarding. You should bring clothes that will get wet - we just wore our swimsuits with a shirt over them so we could easily change, though there was a restroom on board (that you can't take a dump in). I also highly recommend sunglasses and sunblock, because there's pretty much no shade on the catamaran. You also need your own towel - though we dried off pretty quickly - and they provide you with snorkel gear (mask, flippers, and mandatory vest or floaties).They depart from piers next to Kewaio Basin Park, and we found reasonable paid parking in adjacent lots, so it was no problem driving here. You go through rows of docked water vessels categorized by letter (D), find the gate number (108), and wait there. It is recommended to arrive half an hour before departure. After getting a run down of the catamaran, safety guidelines, etc. and taking your shoes off to be on the boat, you take a nice roughly 20 minute ride to the area. I typically get motion sickness from rocking motion, but this was completely fine for me because of the fresh air, wind, and pretty smooth ride.When you arrive at Turtle Canyon, you get around an hour to snorkel and/or chill. There are other catamarans vaguely nearby doing the same experience, and you may even see some party boats. As someone who considers herself an average swimmer, I thought it was kind of rough floating out in the water while trying to go under a bit to see the turtles. The water wasn't too clear, so I was squinting while pushing my upper body down through my floaties, while trying to use flippers that I have no experience with, while holding my breath for an extended period, while making sure I didn't drift too far away from the catamaran, while battling eye discomfort from goggle suction. This part would have been way easier if I was more fit or an advanced swimmer, but it was still cool and interesting. I enjoyed the rest of my time chilling on their comfy bean bag chairs vibing to their playlist and taking photos (staff are very helpful and nice about them) until 4pm, which is when we started to head back to shore.I felt so grateful and calm from having this experience, and would recommend it for anyone as an activity to do around Waikiki. My specific tour with Moana Sailing had way less people than the other catamarans I saw, so I was really happy about that too. The staff was incredible, as they had really chill vibes and made sure everyone felt comfortable and at home, and were extra observant in pointing out the turtles and other sea life they spotted. Fun fact: I still had full bars 5G reception from T-Mobile the entire trip.

When you have a national weather alert on your phone in the morning and you have a scheduled event in the afternoon, you'll get initially worried. My daughter-in-law confirmed with Moana Sailing it was still a go, so my husband and I trusted Moana Sailing especially when we love to fish (even though this wasn't a fishing excursion) in the rain while in Alaska. Location is easy to find. They're located in the back at Pier D in the Kewalo Basin area. Prior to boarding, we were greeted and signed a waiver. Once boarded, Bella introduced herself along with the rest of the crew who were also lifeguards and went over safety rules.Very efficient, friendly and engaging. When we anchored, they were all situated to watch everyone as we swam around. (Note: They have floaties and life vests for use)You're able to bring food but they also have a bar for non-alcoholic or alcoholic drinks (the prices were pretty reasonable for a charter company).The weather conditions were great despite 80% cloud cover because the Sun did come out!The sailing back to the pier was peaceful. Overall, great experience for anyone looking for a reasonable priced water activity to do while visiting or doing a staycation "playing tourist". Highly recommended

It was such a fun experience! All of the employees were flexible and genuine. Recommend for a girls trip activity.

Staff was amazing, cruise was amazing. We saw a full rainbow! The cruise was lovely. Drinks were a heavy pour. I had a fantastic time. Thank you Moana!

What a beautiful experience! The highlight of my day and one of my favorite things to do in Oahu so far. Sentir la brisa fue tan refrescante. Observar el atardecer y sus colores desde el catamarán se sentía mágico. Ver Diamond Head y la ciudad encenderse a medida que fue cayendo el Sol, una imagen que nunca se me borrará de la memoria.% recomended. The crew was very kind and the music was the perfect complement for the whole journey. Grateful for this experience.Los zapatos se quitan cuando uno se sube a la embarcacion. Esten preparados para un salpicon de vez en cuando si van en la parte de alante.

The crew was awesome and the ride was beautiful. Highly recommended. He had an all chick staff and they ran the boat amazingly.

Moana Sailing is the PERFECT way to spend time in Waikiki waters. A luxury cruise that's smooth and relaxing, with expert crew, and a beautiful scenery, what more could you ask for?! Captain Jenna did an amazing job navigating the sea. Even with a nice strong eastern breeze Jenna's skill made it feel like we were cruising along a glassy river. She set the sail up for perfect unobstructed views of diamond and a glorious sunset. And the play list! I cannot forget to mention the play list! Expert captain and DJ all around!Crew members Claire and Sophia were incredibly tentative to the guest, assuring that each person was comfortable and having a great time! They moved effortlessly through the deck refreshing drink, getting the perfect shot for guest photos and bringing great energy to the overall experience. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening to remember forever! I cannot wait to get back out on the water with Moana Sailing!

Today we went snorkeling with Moana Sailing and it was spectacular! My family of 6 includes a small child and even though he couldn't swim, the Moana Sailing team made an effort to include him! They took him close to the water and showed him all the turtles and fishes in the reef, he had a blast! The rest of us had a lot of fun in the water, we saw so many fish and the turtles were so cute I love that there's a bar, my mom and dad got piña coladas that were delicious and the captain explained the snorkeling in detail, it was very beginner friendly. They helped with our masks, our fins, and stayed by our side even in the water. The boat ride itself made me nauseous, but the crew was so kind and patient and accomadated me immediately. They are all very protective of everyone in and out of the water, I felt safe knowing they were all lifeguard certified. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars, I will definitely be sailing with them again!

literally the best cruise! its not like the basic snorkeling cruise - they take you to swim. the drinks they make are great!! the girls are really friendly and it's the best bang for your buck!

Absolutely gorgeous! The sunset sail was everything you want it to be. The captain and crew were very nice and attentive! My four year old LOVED it as much as we did! I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this and do it again! Pro tip bring a jacket it gets a little chilly especially if you get splashed or drizzled on like we did.