Reviews for 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

Absolutely wonderful experience. We rode the Seiko 2 and it is the perfect size. Large enough to provide a less rigorous ride but small enough that you had a more relaxed (and less crowded) experience. Staff was super knowledgeable and skilled. It was too rough to snorkel (no surprise in December) but they were able to maneuver under a waterfall and got quite close to some of the caves. Can’t recommend enough. One caution - take sea sickness meds before! Especially in winter the strongest stomachs can have trouble. We took Dramamine before and had no issues whatsoever - others on our boat did not and thus became well acquainted with the barf bags :)

Product: Makana Charters

Sean and Kana were the best! Request them if you can

Product: Makana Charters

Phenomenal family owned business. Makana and his uncle took really good care of us, even when half of the crew was motion sick. Would definitely book with them again

Product: Makana Charters

It was a great experience and would do again!’ Great tour guides and loved the information about the land

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

Had a great time but not much luck seeing whales close up! But that is the chance we take! Very friendly staff! The captain should have used the microphone in the beginning because you cannot hear him when sitting near the back. All in all it was a great trip and they certainly did try their best!! Thank you!!

Product: Makana Charters

The most legendary boat trip on the Napali coast. The crew is attentive, the boat- super comfortable and the scenery- insane! You think you can’t get close to caves and waterfalls because you’re not getting beat up on a raft?! You’re WRONG! You think you’re done when you have literally ridden under waterfalls and been in caves- WRONG again! Spinner dolphins (on payroll 😝) perform while you eat lunch, followed by the grand finale- humpbacks! What an epic adventure! Book these guys

Product: Makana Charters

I went on this tour with my family to see the beautiful Napali coast. We met the captain and crew at the marina and the tour left on time. The boat was clean and seats were padded and comfortable to sit on. During our tour, we were able to sail next to dolphins. We also saw a few whale spouts and a humpback whale surface. The captain and crew were friendly and entertaining to listen as they told stories of the island and the sights along the coast. The surf was big and a handful of people got sick on the ship. If you have a weak stomach, don’t try it. This is the best way to see the coast, I recommend it if you are not prone to getting sea sick.

Product: Makana Charters

Fantastic trip. Everything running on time in a comfortable boat. The geography and geology of the coast are incredible and Sean and Tony, being from Kauai, know it like the palms of their hands. We were very lucky to see two separate pairs of humpbacks plus a big pod of spinner dolphins. Not the norm I know but you can’t see them if you stay on shore!

Product: Makana Charters

This was the most amazing tour I have ever been on. The views of the ocean and the Nepali would make me do a tour again, but the crew is the reason I would use Makana Charters only. The staff was amazing and it was evident that they truly loved their home. There was a small incident where a seal popped up directly in the boat’s path, the captain stopped abruptly and he kept verifying with the crew that he did not hit it. It was evident in his voice that he was very concerned for the well being of the seal and the other crew members were as well. The history and knowledge they shared was also very interesting. At one point of the tour Liliana came to sit next to me and I asked her a few questions about the plants and she sat and shared her experience and knowledge with me for a while. Thank you all for such an amazing time.

Product: Makana Charters

Afternoon boat tour in winter season. Spotted a whale under the sunset. Ride on the tide is smooth yet exciting. Beautiful coast. Friendly guide.

Product: Makana Charters

Best overall experience. Amazing staff and service. Very good explanation of the history, local values and traditions. Natalie coast is amazing and thanks to Makana charters for making it memorable.

Product: Makana Charters

We had an amazing time! Charlie, Elijah, and Makana were so fun and knowledgeable. We saw so many whales and waterfalls! Highly recommend!

Product: Makana Charters

This boat tour of the Nā Pali coast was the highlight of our trip! The views were so beautiful and the staff (Makana, Charlie, and Eli) were so nice and knowledgeable! Makana was the boat captain and he got us up close and personal with the caves. It was super cool!! I know other tours didn’t get nearly as close and they were surely feeling jealous of us. We had a great time and would 10/10 recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kaua’i!

Product: Makana Charters

Every effort was made by the company to reschedule us due to bad weather! The tour guides were amazing! They showed us all the sites promised & more, personalizing it to what the passengers wanted. The cost is high but they made it worth it.

Product: Makana Charters

We had a great experience!! Saw a bunch of whales, danced and sang to some great boat tunes!! Awesome captain and crew’s we will be back!

Product: Makana Charters