A Napali Coast + Snorkeling + Cruise experience by Holo Holo Charters. Back to all Kauai tours.
Tour Summary: EXCELLENT value 7-hour Napali Coast tour to Niihau with snorkeling, breakfast, lunch, and drinks included.
The Holoholo catamaran moored at a snorkeling spot off Lehua island. Image: Holoholo Charters. 
Lehua crater. Image: Holoholo Charters. Holoholo is a powerful, sleek, and comfortable, 65-foot power catamaran. Image: Holoholo Charters. - Large photo
The approximate 90+ nautical mile route you will take. Image: Holoholo Charters. - Large photo
Holoholo in front of Kalalau / Napali coast. Image: Holoholo Charters. Holoholo in front of Kalalau / Napali coast. Image: Holoholo Charters. You will find lots of marine wildlife at the chosen snorkeling spot. Image: Holoholo Charters. The Keyhole Rock formation. Image: Holoholo Charters. Lehua crater. Image: Holoholo Charters. The deep waters directly off Lehua make for GREAT snorkeling conditions. Image: Holoholo Charters. Holoholo is a powerful, sleek, and comfortable, 65-foot power catamaran. Image: Holoholo Charters. You will find lots of marine wildlife at the chosen snorkeling spot. Image: Holoholo Charters. Snorkeling gear and floatation devices are provided. Image: Holoholo Charters. The waters off Lehua and Niihau are considered some of the best in all of Hawaii and are known to offer over 100 feet of visibility on some days. Image: Holoholo Charters.
3 Tour Highlights:
- 7-hour tour covering over 90 nautical miles on a fast and stable catamaran.
- Snorkeling off the coast of Niihau at Lehua, a small crescent-shaped crater.
- Continental breakfast, gourmet deli lunch, drinks, and snorkel instructions and equipment are included.
Important: Not suited for pregnant woman and children under the age of 5. This is a full day of fun and adventure, most people can’t get enough, but for some people, seven hours may be too long on the water. Consider the stamina of everyone in your party to be sure no one is limited in their ability to have a good time!
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth |
|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $315 | $295 |
Tour Provider: Holo Holo Charters
Activity: Napali Coast + Snorkeling + Cruise
Tour start time: 6 am
Duration: 7 hours
Departure from: Port Allen
Pick-up available? No
Included: Continental breakfast, gourmet deli lunch, drinks, and snorkel instructions and equipment are included.
Cancellations: All no-shows or tours cancelled within 24 hours of check-in time is a 100% charge of full fare. Larger groups of 6 or more have a 7 day (1 week) cancellation policy. There is a late rescheduling fee (24 hours prior to check in) of $25 per person plus tax.
Read more: about napali coast in our Kauai napali coast guide.
Read more about this tour
This award-winning Napali Coast Tours by local outfitter Hole Hol Charters takes you up the majestic Napali Coast and across the Kaulakahi Channel to Lehua Crater off the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau—all in one amazing day! With breakfast, snorkeling, lunch, and drinks included—this unforgettable 7-hour Kauai tour to Niihau is excellent value. Say yes to adventure!
The Holoholo
The Niihau & Napali Coast Tours takes place on the Holoholo. This is a powerful, sleek, and comfortable, 65-foot power catamaran fitted with twin Cummins QSB diesel engines. She can comfortably cruise up to 22 knots (about 25 miles or 40 km per hour), making it possible to cover more than 90 nautical miles during this tour. Finally, Holoholo’s low center of gravity and hull design provides for a secure, comfortable ride and spares you the extra bounce associated with some double-decker boats.
Holoholo is a powerful, sleek, and comfortable, 65-foot power catamaran. Image: Holoholo Charters.
What happens during a typical tour?
Your adventure begins with a continental breakfast at sunrise as the group leaves Port Allen and cruises by Kauai’s westside to the world-famous Napali Coast—with its 4,000-foot cliffs, an abundance of waterfalls, lush emerald valleys, magical sea caves, rainbows, turtles, monk seals, and dolphins. Napali is more than a coast; she’s a force, and no trip to Kauai is complete without a visit! Your Captain will narrate the journey with the legends, stories, and history of this absolutely mind-blowing stretch of Kauai’s northern coastline.
The Nāpali coast seen from the water is one of the iconic images Kauaʻi is famous for. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Vincent Lim
Crossing the channel to Lehua Crater
Once we’ve sufficiently basked in Napali’s glory, it’s time to open up the engines and let Holoholo cruise across the 17-mile Kaulakahi Channel to Lehua Crater off Niihau’s coast. The crescent-shaped crater is a State Wildlife Sanctuary so there are sea birds galore, including several endangered and native species. We also love Lehua Crater’s “keyhole” rock formation, which is definitely one of the coolest things to experience.
The Keyhole Rock formation. Image: Holoholo Charters.
Niihau is a fascinating place, your captain will share how it got its nickname “The Forbidden Island”, but long story short, it’s literally forbidden for almost everyone on the planet to go there. You know what that means?
Amazing snorkeling!
There are several snorkel options along the outside of Lehua Crater or off the coast of Niihau, and your captain will determine what’s best for the day based on wind, swell, currents, and other conditions. We’ll set you up with the right size fins and goggles. Next, we’ll go over some safety things and splash—you’re snorkeling!
The waters off Lehua and Niihau are considered some of the best in all of Hawaii and are known to offer over 100 feet of visibility on some days. Image: Holoholo Charters.
The waters off Lehua and Niihau are considered some of the best in all of Hawaii and are known to offer over 100 feet of visibility on some days. Here you will have the opportunity to see endemic fish species found nowhere else in the world, endangered monk seals, manta rays, underwater lava cathedrals, and much, much more. Make sure you bring your underwater camera to capture all the moments.
Snorkel time can be up to an hour, depending on the day. Of course, if snorkeling isn’t your thing, you can always just chill on Holoholo and shoot the breeze with your fellow passengers or lay out on the nets and get your tan on!
Lunchtime and your trip back
Post-snorkeling, it’s lunchtime. Water, juice, and soft drinks are available throughout the entire day, but after snorkeling—now this is the time to start cracking the cold ones for those who choose—we’ve got a nice selection of beers, wines, and seltzers for you to enjoy all the way back across the Kaulakahi Channel.
About Holo Holo Charters
Holo Holo Charters has been offering Niʻihau boat tours from Kauai since 1997, longer than any other Kauai boat tour company. Overall these years, they modified and upgraded their boat, refined the menu, and dialed in all the details. They consistently strive to give you the most fun, exciting, and visually stunning day of your Hawaiian vacation!
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