AdventureInHawaii.com | Hanalei Na Pali Rafting

Ocean Adventurer Na Pali Raft departs from Hanalei Bay

The Ocean Adventurer operates from Hanalei Bay April - September

Ocean Adventurer Na Pali Raft departs from Hanalei Bay sea turtle

Snorkel with sea turtles as you anchor above the coral reef

Ocean Adventurer Na Pali Raft dolphin encounter

Explore sea caves and sea cliffs along the Napali coast

Ocean Adventurer Na Pali Raft departs from Hanalei Bay map

Starting from Hanalei gets you to the Na Pali Coast quickly

Enjoy a fantastic day exploring the Na Pali - from above & below the water line!

The Ocean Adventurer - speed and comfort - with twin 225HP motors!

Dolphins frequently join alongside and race your boat!

Loading onto the raft for your next adventure!

Get a natural shower along the sea walls!

Hanalei Rafting operating season for 2020 will begin on April 20th. Book those summer dates NOW to guarantee your space! This tour sells out weeks in advance … you CANNOT wait until you arrive on the island and hope to get seats at the last minute!!! BOOK NOW!!!! You’ve been warned! ;-)

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The Hanalei Na Pali Rafting adventure begins when you leave the shore of scenic Hanalei Bay in a dingy which takes you out to the Ocean Adventurer – anchored just offshore. The 40 foot raft departs from the north shore in Hanalei. Minutes after leaving the bay, the spectacular Na Pali Coast comes into view and you see why its dramatic cliffs and beaches have enchanted painters, authors and travelers for centuries!

As you travel down the coast, your and Captain and crew entertain and educate you with stories of the Hawaiians who once made this coast their home. From sea-level you really get a feel for the tremendous scale of the cliffs of the Na Pali coast. Keep an eye out for dolphins, turtles and seabirds.

Capacity for this vessel is 25 and she flies down the coastline powered by twin 225HP motors. She has two water-level entry points with dive ladders and a fresh water shower. With plenty of shade, stadium-style seating for every passenger — and the all-important enclosed marine toilet — this boat is designed for comfort as well as speed and safety.

New for 2020, this tour is now longer (5.5 hours instead of 4 hours) and will typically include a second snorkel spot near the Kilauea Lighthouse!

Depending on the ocean conditions on the day of your raft tour, you’ll stop and snorkel at two of several protected and shallow areas which will be teeming with tropical fish. If you’re new to snorkeling, the crew will be on-hand to provide instruction and pointers so you can get the most from your adventure. After you have a chance to snorkel and relax on the Na Pali Coast, a tasty lunch sandwich is served before returning to Hanalei Bay.

Schedule: Monday through Saturday April through October. They run two boats for a 7am or 7:30am check in, and we will reserve whichever time is available for your requested date.

Reserve Morning Tour

General Information

Reservations: Due to extremely limited availability we recommend reservations be made weeks prior to your arrival! A credit card is required to confirm your date as the tour operator will charge for this event when your reservation is finalized.

Check In: Check in is in downtown Hanalei at the parking lot behind the Tahiti Nui restaurant. Guests park in “downtown” Hanalei and are shuttled by van to the departure point. The vessel leaves from near the Hanalei Pier.

GPS: 5-5134 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714 Click to view map

Tour includes: Lunch and beverages

Gear Provided: Snorkeling equipment (corrective lenses available), locally made reef safe sunscreen, and flotation aids

Tour length: 5.5 hours

What to Bring & Wear: Wear a swim suit and bring a towel and dry clothes to change into after snorkeling.

Restrictions: Minimum age is 6. No pregnant women and no one with neck or back injuries are permitted on the tour. Full face snorkeling is prohibited.

Vessel: Rigid-hull inflatable boat with twin 225hp outboard motors

Capacity: 25

Cancellation Policy: For parties of 1-5, cancellation must be made at least 48 hours before the start of the event. For parties of 6 or more, cancellations must be made a full 7 days prior to tour.

The Ocean Adventurer operates from Hanalei Bay

Snorkel with Hawaiian sea turtles

Cruise Ship Passengers

The Ocean Adventurer morning tour with a Hanalei departure does not work for cruise ship passengers. The morning tour starts too early for any cruise ship passengers to make it to check in. While Pride of America stays overnight, the second day doesn’t work either as you wouldn’t have time to get back to the ship after your tour.

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Activity Tips

Kevin Ditamore – Owner / Manager

I’ve been on numerous Na Pali boat tours, but a day on the water with the Na Pali Explorer took me further along the Na Pali coast than I’d ever been before. Their closer departure point to the Na Pali allows more time to explore this spectacular area. Their two different rafts allow for a choice in your vessel that you don’t have with other companies.

For people who are considering a Na Pali adventure and are staying on the east or south sides of Kauai, I don’t think the choice is between this raft company and other raft companies … their closer departures make this company an absolute winner. The question is, “Which one of their rafts is the best choice for my adventure?”

For guests staying in the Princeville / Hanalei area, it is better to do the north shore departure … if (and this is a BIG if) … you are PLANNING AHEAD. There is VERY limited availability for north shore departures as the state of Hawaii and county of Kauai have greatly restricted commercial tour permits on the north shore. If you wait until you arrive on Kauai and hope to stroll down to the Hanalei pier at your leisure and hop on the next available boat, you’ll be standing there a long LONG time. Every seat sells out well in advance almost every day. And keep in mind that north shore departures are only possible in the late spring, summer, and early fall due to large swells that hit the north shore in winter months. Tours that depart from the north shore are more expensive … the shorter season means that they can’t run all year and have far fewer operating days upon which to turn a profit (and everything about running a boat is expensive … from the purchase of the vessel, to the maintenance, the fuel, the insurance, the crew, etc.)

As a resident of Hawaii, I consider the Na Pali coastline to be the most scenic and most sacred place in the islands. There are better places in Hawaii to snorkel, but nothing compares with the dramatic scenery and raw natural beauty of this wild coastline.

If you’re staying on the south shore, you may want to consider Na Pali Explorer Rafting, and if you prefer more of an adventure select a tour with a beach landing. We suggest Kauai Sea Tours Rafting.

Just a word about additions to this tour in 2020. The tour has gotten longer (5.5 hours instead of 4 hours) and the typical itinerary will also include a second snorkel stop near the Kilauea Lighthouse! This is a very scenic area …. you’ll get to see Kauapea (Secret Beach) as well as the beautiful waterfall that cascades over a lava shelf and into the ocean just below actor Ben Stiller’s house! Of course specific destinations each day are based upon weather, surf, and wind conditions, but we think this is a great addition to features of this rafting excursion.

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