Hawaii Ocean Rafting

It was a wonderful trip! We went on a full day snorkeling trip from lahaina to lanai. It was my first time in the ocean let alone snorkeling and I do not know how to swim. I’m so happy that I chose them for my first time. The captain and his assistant were really so helpful and took care of me so well as I was so scared of getting into the water. Thanks for the amazing experience! I would recommend you to choose them and you’ll definitely have an awesome snorkeling day.

I cannot say enough about Captain Sean and Miss Noni! They gave my family and I a once in a lifetime day, complete with fish, sharks, turtles, dolphins and amazing reefs. The personalized service was better than any other snorkeling trip we have been on. Noni took our boys under her water wing and showed them how amazing the ocean can be. The added bonus of seeing a submarine emerge from the depths was fantastic. Thank you so much for an absolutely amazing day and for taking such great care of the boys! We will remember it forever!Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!!

What an amazing afternoon! We received this excursion as a gift from our daughter who lives on Island ... she said it was the best and she did not disappoint! I wish I remembered the names of the Skipper and the Guide, because they were both so knowledgeable and personable. And, I know this is a small thing, but it stood out, they were asked about other companies and how they compared. Their answer was they are all friends on the island, they share information, and they support each other. I dont know if that is true or not ... but I thought that was such a classy answer and I love it that two women will represent us in that way.But on to the trip ... I felt safe, it was fun running around on the ocean, and wow, are those whales incredible! Yes, I wish one would have decided to come over to take a closer look at us as I saw in a picture, but I have no complaints at all. Everywhere we turned we saw splashes, tails in the air, mommies with their babies. Honestly, just being in their presence was was enough for me. I felt honored. Two hours was the perfect amount of time. I recommend highly and would go again in a heartbeat.

Great outing with the boys of Hawaii Ocean Rafting - we found the whales right off the start on the 7:00 am trip 2-22-20. Great information and knowledge about the whales and kept us on the downside of the sun so we could take photos when they showed up. I would recommend these folks as a first rate group - Mahalo

What a great snorkel trip we had. Our guides were excellent. Provided a lot of knowledge about the area and took us to great snorkel spots. We had the good fortune of being able to view humpback whales up close which was awesome. While this was a snorkel trip it turned into the BEST whale watching trip ever. Snacks on the boat were perfect. Everything about the adventure was great. We will do this again for sure with this company the next time we are in Maui.

These guys are the BEST! We had been on one of their trips seven years ago and they were our first stop when we traveled back to Lahaina! Mona got us our tickets on site and we snacked on pineapple and cake while we waited for the tour to start. Its migration season so there were lots of whales out, but a good captain is essential and our captain - Captain Jeff and assistant Angela - were awesome! They helped everyone relax and get ready for a great time, and we saw tons of whales!! We had a very energetic baby that must have breached 8 times while we were hanging around the area they were in. Captain Jeff wanted to give the momma and baby a break so we went looking for more and did we ever find them! We had a huge momma (or male escort) breech three times in front of us and it was magnificent!! Then her baby followed suit and practiced their breech several times ... truly magnificent. Angela and Capt Jeff shared all kinds of knowledge with us, and their respect for these beautiful animals was greatly appreciated. Will be back for sure - probably before we leave this vacation! Thank you MONA, CAPTAIN JEFF, AND ANGELA!!

Both the skipper and the guide where amazing. They shared a lot of knowledge and where eager to get us close to the whales. We were seeing whales almost all the time. Both diving under us and come just a few meters close while gaping and getting there head high out of the water and looking in our eyes. One of the guests on the boat had tested all the whalewatching companies several times and gave both the skippers of Hawaii Ocean Rafting the best evaluation.

I booked this knowing that whale watching is a great thing to do on Maui.My girlfriend and I ran into car trouble and so had to call Mark. We explained our situation and that we were going to be late. Mark understood and let me know that it would be alright to reschedule us for a different time. That was my first indication of how awesome this was going to be. Nice people running a great operation.We got to the wharf and the staff was friendly and helpful. Sean and Angela were onboard with us during the excursion. They were knowledgeable, welcoming and extremely professional. They explained facts about the whales, made sure to answer all our questions and make us feel safe.I highly recommend them!

Our tour guide and captain were fantastic and did an excellent job. They provided a lot of fun facts during our whale watch.

This is the best trip for whale watching in Lahaina on Maui

Captain Sean was absolutely amazing! The whole experience was exceptional and we were absolutely thrilled. The facts they could provide about the whales were fantastic, and the whale watching was astounding. We were able to get close to baby whales, breaches, and at one point they were swimming under the boat. Highly recommend!

Stay away- owner is very mistrustful and demanding of visitors personal information. Rude treatment upon inquiry to book.

Paul and Captain Sean are amazing and fun! I had the BEST Lanai Snorkel trip today where I saw Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins and had the most extremely awesome up close Humpback Whale encounter!! They came right up to our boat, two young males and looked right at us for a long time!! It was an experience I will never forget!

One of those days of a life time!1) the great service.. Mahalo Mona !2) the crew on the raft.. Knowledge of the ocean, of the whales !3) Whales were kind enough to share them selfs and come up to and under our raft. I got some awesome video of them going under the raft.4) Best birthday cruse !5) Whalefies Selfies with whales

We loved this trip! I have been whale watching twice before and they were both experiences of squinting in the distance trying to find the tiny spout or fin that some others were seeing. This was not that. We were right up close. The backs, bodies and action were easy and close to see. The naturalist was excellant with her enthusiasm, love and knowledge of whales and whale behavior. The capt was, of course, water and boat savvy but also loved whales and their behavior . I have an underwater camera, tho not a go-pro, and it has not great telephoto ability, so you can see in the attached photos how close we were. (Not sure why it will not let me attach photos)

Went on a 5 hr snorkel tour with this company. They did any incredible job showing us best spots. The captain (Jeff) and crew (Emily) were knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. They above and beyond to make sure every party member was happy.

These guys and gals are the best.

Excellent rafting tour with amazing knowledgeable and funny guides on March 1st. Weather was it the greatest but we were so blessed to have seen many groups of whales and a few babies too! Reasonable prices too!

If youre looking to do something special, away from the crowds, with a bit of adventure and almost guaranteed to see dolphins, this is the trip for you! you get individual attention from a very friendly crew, and its as close to a private charter as it gets with very small groups on board. highly recommended!

This is a great way to see whales. The rafts are really fast and can get the whales much quicker that any of the other boats. The guides are very knowledgeable about the whales and will also drop a microphone in the water so you can hear the Humpbacks.

Wonderful experience from start to finish yesterday. Captain Sean and Nick were great, engaging, knowledgeable and helpful with any needs anyone on the boat had. They were very environmentally conscious and cared about preserving the reef. It was great to be on a faster boat, able to outrun bigger boats and not feel like you were spending your whole trip getting to your destination. We had 2 snorkel stops, both had turtles and plenty of fish and coral. We also had about 15-20 minutes of riding directly alongside dolphins. This was great because our feet were in the water and the people on a bigger boat tour that was next to us were standing on the deck at least 4-5 feet up. I thought it was very competitively priced. Would highly recommend.

The best on the island!!! Smaller groups. Up close and personal with the whales. We captured the most amazing pictures and the crew were great!!!! Jana we just loved you!!! Very informative and personal!! Highly recommend this tour!! Stay away from the big boats!!!! Toooooo many people.

Cant recommend more highly. Both Captain Sean and Molly really cared about not just our experience but also the comfort of the marine life that we were going to see (and boy! Did we see some incredible animals). They are patient and helpful and excited about what they do. 6/5 stars.

We had a great experience with Hawaii Ocean Rafting. We were a little skeptical about the smaller boat but it turned to be the perfect choice for this type of tour. It is faster and more maneuverable up near the coast. We were able to see things you just can get to with the bigger boats. The staff was great too! This was the first snorkeling experience for our daughters and they made them feel safe and comfortable, going out of their way to ensure it was a great day for all of us.

Highly recommended captain Paul and crew Sean! They’re super professional and friendly. Every details was done perfectly.

I cannot comment on the actual tours, but have to give a shout-out to how accommodating Hawaii Ocean Rafting was to us. When I originally saw that our scheduled port arrival was not until after all available snorkel tours were due to depart, I contacted Hawaii Ocean Rafting and they offered to delay their departure time by an hour to allow us to make it. I immediately pre-paid for both a snorkel tour and then a later whale watch. Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency we had to cancel our scheduled reservation less than a week out. When I contacted them and explained the situation, they fully refunded our bookings. (We had other scheduled tours on other islands for this trip that were not refunded.) Once we do make it to Maui, I will definitely be reaching out to Hawaii Ocean Rafting again.

Awesome trip. Small nimble zodiac that got up close to the whales. One went under boat!

My girlfriend and I had a phenomenal time with Hawaii Ocean Rafting. Captain Shawn and Linda did a fantastic job of ensuring we had the adventure we were hoping for, even against the uncontrollable force of mother nature. We saw an entire pod of dolphins within arms reach of the boat, a number of sea turtles at multiple locations, and the beautiful island of Lanai. I would highly recommend Hawaii Ocean Rafting for anyone looking to make the most of their vacation.

They were very helpful in getting us a private boat whale watching tour when it was very busy. Crew was great and very fun, made the trip a unique experience!

Weve been on the Hawaii Ocean Rafting whale watch about 10 times over the last 4 years and have had such an amazing time every time that we always come back for more. The crew are always helpful and entertaining, and we have multiple whale sightings every trip. The raft is always a smooth ride and keeps you feeling closer to the whales. I definitely recommend this whale watch to anyone who visits Maui.

Had a great trip with a friendly crew that did their best to get us in great viewing areas

WE HAD A WHALE OF A TIME!!! Captain Sam was awesome and we were ALWAYS to the whales first! I would do it over and over again - she was always on point where we needed to go, super informative, and super fun!! IF you guys go on any tours, you should definitely go with Captain Samantha with Hawaii Ocean Rafting!! IT was amazing!

It really makes a difference to go out in a smaller boat. My wife and I went on a snorkel excursion in a bigger boat and did some whale watching then as well but it was not quite the same. It was still cool on the bigger vessel,but it was a much more intimate experience. With the rafts you really get to see the whales up closer and learn about the behaviors they were displaying.

Great Whale watching tour with Linda and Linda. They were great and got us up close to a family of whales. Informative and fun. Raft-boat really moves!

We saw white tip reef sharks, turtles, hundreds of dolphins, and whales. It was awesome!!!!!! Shawn was a great captain and even extended our trip to watch whales that were spotted on our way in. They also offered yummy healthy snacks which was a bonus. It was a small group which made it really personal & one of the guides swam with our group the entire time and pointed out harder to see things like sharks under coral. We would highly recommend this company!!!!!!!

Went on a whale watch in Jan 2019 but did not see much. One was up close but all the others were far away. We had better views from the road. He was more interested in telling stories than looking for whales. So disappointed in the end. The boat ride was the best part of the trip.

The rafts are comfortable with padded seating running the length of the raft, all passengers facing out toward the water so no one has to elbow their way to a great view. Most of the seating has a back to lean on as well. The captain kept us a respectful distance from the competition pod we were enjoying and the crew provided good information about whales without intruding on our enjoyment. There are public restrooms near the dock. Allow enough time to park and walk to the dock as it can be a bit challenging to park in Lahaina.

Safe and fun boat. Safe and fun captains and crew. Get to go to more than one spot at Lanai and have snacks and drinks and a meal with personalized attention and help and gear for a very reasonable rate. Did the half day Lanai Snorkel and saw tons of fish and coral and a turtle and dolphins. Had an 8 year old and three teens with us and they were never bored or struggling to keep up/be involved in everything the rest of the group was doing. Their rafts hold small groups which seems so much more desirable than the apartment building sized boats leaving at the same time for snorkel trips.

Paul and Darryl were awesome guides. Had the best time and even got to see spinner dolphins and snorkel with turtles (Honu). Great trip. Highly reccomend. Thank you Mona for the info and the booking.

Took a whale watching tour. Whales were plentiful but none came to the boat to say Hi which was sad. The crew was great and very detailed explainations.

Jeff and Tom were great! Small group in a small boat made it more personal. Saw beautiful fish while snorkeling and quite a few turtles up and close! Dolphins dolphins dolphins!! It was amazing to watch the hundreds that were close enough to touch if we had tried! Great trip; great company; and great guides! Thanks gentlemen!

Absolutely the highlight of my hawaiian holiday I travelled to all the islands and this was my favourite experience. The weather wasnt fantastic and we actually had to detour because it was a little rough. It was the start of the whale season, we were on the lookout! All the operators work together in tandem to help find the whales which is very commendable they arent competing against each other but working in harmony to help everyone. We had whales go underneath the boat and I saw them with my own eyes. Youre not allowed in the water with the whales but you can dunk your head in with a certain physical challenge. Amazing!

That was amazing. Excellent, funny, experienced crew. They were courteous, And even shared a go pro underwater video of a whale that came right up to the raft! An excellent two hours the flew by way too fast, but is worth even more than they charge. Maybe we just got lucky, but even so, the risk is very much worth the reward!

It was nearing the “end” of whale watching season so we were not expecting much, but Captain Sam and Linda went above and beyond! We saw three herds of whales in different locations. Captain Sam sped us all over the bay to make sure we saw Bottlenose Dolphins and Spinner Dolphins too! Linda’s educational facts kept us all up to speed on what we were seeing. It was a magical experience with unbelievably enthusiastic tour guides whose knowledge of the water made the trip beyond memorable. These are your people for whale watching when you’re looking to choose!!

Our favorite whale watching company was booked and we booked 2 trips with this company. After the first trip we found out that boats they use are too small which makes the ride really bumpy when it is windy and they are no so fast, crew doesnt even have a PA speaker, poor guys tried to talk over the wind. The RIDICULOUS things started happening later though. Luckily we found out our favorite company we used for years had an opening for Lanai trip, so we decided to cancel the trip with Hawaii Ocean Rafting. If you ever need to cancel a trip with them- do it on a phone. Since we did it in person, company’s representative got really upset and I even heard her saying when I was leaving that she “hates this type of people”. While we were waiting for one of our trips right there she proceeded to go to 3 other booths making sure we heard she was talking about us. This is how we learnt we were “mother f***ers”, and some other names. We were shocked how unethical her behavior was. It is sad, because this type of company’s “face” will kill their business. We just were trying to enjoy our vacation and get the best from it.

Had a private whale tour with a group of 15 and it was the BEST experience of our week long maui trip. Mona was great with communication and captain Shawn and his staff were incredible with our family and making sure we had a memorable experience. We saw dolphins, toms of whales (one came under our boat) and we got a chance to swim with our kids in the ocean. Thought it was very reasonably priced, but would have paid double given the experience they gave us.

Capt Sean & crew promised 2 or 3 dives on the island of Lani. We got 1 dive on Lani and a lot of boat driving and finally back to Maui for no more dives. Wasted time and $ because we wanted snorkeling, not the life history of a salty dog. We’ve had better dives from the shore than with these guys.

Awesome trip in March 2018. Would definitely go again!

Great whale watching trip.

Worth every penny!

We had a great morning whale watching - we had numerous sightings with a few of the whales swimming right underneath our boat. The guides we extremely knowledgeable and were great with the kids on board. Would definitely suggest riding along with these guys.

We went on a two hour zodiac whale watching last week. We saw about 20 whales - mamas with babies and once saw mama, papa & baby! It was great! Sammi is fantastic - she made the experience really fun & she truly loves her job & the whales. She did everything possible to make sure when she spotted a whale in the distance - to rush over to the spot. She really wants to make sure we find the whales out there! Jenna who was part of the crew was great too - very informative! Loved it and would use this company again! Thanks!

Been on their trips several times and have always been impressed. Last trip we were on with them though, the motor was left running while we were setting still and this caused excessive exhaust smelling, which made it fairly uncomfortable. But overall I have enjoyed their services.

Great trip. Captain worked hard to get us to the whale sightings. Such a fast boat.Beautiful scenic views of Lahaina town and Lahaina harbor. Highly recommend this adventure activity.Slip 8 Lahaina harbor

The trip was very easy to book online and with a 10% discount. There was a reminder email with clear instructions to the dock. The crew fitted us for snorkeling and were careful to get everything right. It was fun and educational. They could not have been nicer fokls and quite entertaining! We saw dolphins, turtles, fish and reef sharks. I would highly recommend this excursion and if we make it back to maui we will be sure to book them again! Very family friendly and what a great experience!

This was truly an outstanding experience with one of the smaller rafting tours that exist. They are knowledgeable, caring and truly define the spirit of adventure. I am grateful for the incredible experience with dolphins and all the beautiful snorkeling. Thank you! Will visit again next time I am in Maui.

Great experience. Stephanie and Sean were great. I think being on a smaller boat is the way to go. Even on our way back in Stephanie turned around so we could see some dolphins.... much appreciated! Highly recommend this company.

The girls were excellent. We probably saw 15 whale breaches on the 4:00 ride. Several were double breaching. Beautiful weather and scenery.

We were mugged by 2 whales and able to don masks and stick our head in while someone held our legs for a closer look. Saw lots of whales up close. My 2nd time with Kim and Tom this trip and would highly recommend this excursion.

We had a fantastic time on the raft and saw quite a few whales. Much better that taking a boat because the raft can go more quickly to the whales and no more than 16 allowed on the raft vs larger number on a boat ride to see whales.

Captain and crew were amazing and knowledgeable (we got Jeff and Rhianna), the boat and group were small for great views and there were so many whales!! At such a great price I cannot recommend this experience enough.

Really awesome time with Sam and Rhianna. Thanks guys!

If my wife could rate it with 10 stars it would not be enough. We ended up going three different time during our stay. We were there several years ago and now we have another trip scheduled and Hawaii Ocean Rafting is most likely the first place we will go when we arrive..

Great experience

I signed my boyfriend and I up for a snorkeling trip with Hawaii Ocean Rafting. My boyfriend had never been snorkeling so he was super excited to go. We arrived in the morning for the trip at the dock. The weather was perfect to go out on the water. The staff was very nice and personable. The group going out was very small, (9 people) which I really appreciated. I feel like the trip was less stressful because you dont have 50 people trying to snorkel in the same spot. They took us to two spots to snorkel. After snorkeling at the first site they fed us a light breakfast. On the way to the second spot we got to see deer on the mountainside. They also took us around the side of the mountain so we could get close enough to see the waves crash up on the rocks. It was so beautiful! When we got to the second site we saw a pod of dolphins. They came right up to the boat. There was even a baby dolphin doing tricks in the air for our group! While snorkeling I got to see many fish and coral. The dolphins did not come back to the boat to snorkel with us but we could still see them in the harbor before we left. When we were done snorkeling they fed us a light lunch. I also got to hear the guide talk about his awesome scuba diving excursions that he has done personally in the past. This was a great trip and I would recommend this company hands down if you want a personal, non commercialized excursion.

They are very personable and knowledgeable, we loved the small group experience we saw hundreds of spinner dolphins and learned a great deal about the environment we were exploring.

Great price. Saw lots of whales.