Maui Sailing Activities

Maui Sunset Cruise • Scuba Diving • Snorkeling • Snuba

The following are some of the many things you can do while sailing in Hawaii.

Maui Sunset Cruise

Our favorite thing to do is take a cocktail cruise at sunset. You’ll enjoy warm ocean breezes while sipping on drinks, indulging in tasty pupus, and watching a perfect Maui sunset while enjoying your time with your friends and family. Go big and go private.

Inter-Island Exploration

Maui County is perfect for exploration because it’s made of multiple islands. You can make day trips to Lanai and Molokai, or you can take an overnight trip to some of the outer islands (reserve the Island Star for overnight excursions.)La Perouse Bay in South Maui also has great snorkeling along the rocky volcanic coastline.DN Approved

Inter-Island Exploration

Maui County is perfect for exploration because it’s made of multiple islands. You can do day trips to Lanai and Molokai, or you can take an overnight trip to some of the outer-islands (reserve the Island Star for overnight excursions.) La Perouse Bay in South Maui also has great snorkeling along the rocky volcanic coastline.DN Approved

Scuba Diving

Closed Due To Maui Fires

Maui and Lanai are both famous for their scuba diving sites. The back-side of Molokini Crater is world-famous for diving as well as Lanai’s Cathedrals are famous for their cave diving.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling can be done off-shore with the rest of the masses, but it’s nice to get away and enjoy off-shore spots like Molokini Crater. This marine sanctuary is protected from swell and usually has high-visibility. You can also go to Turtle Town or to La Perouse Bay.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling can be done off-shore with the rest of the masses, but it’s nice to get away and enjoy off-shore spots like Molokini Crater. This marine sanctuary is protected from swell and usually has high-visibility. You can also go to Turtle Town or to La Perouse Bay.

Snuba

If you’re not completely ready for scuba diving, but you want more than snorkeling can offer you, Snuba is the solution. With Snuba you can dive deep without a tank on your back. Tubes run up to your tank, which floats on the surface and follows you as you explore.

Whale Watching

Humpback whales are famous for their surface activity. Watching them breach is one of the more exciting natural experiences you’re likely to observe. With a whale watch, you can sail beside these huge and graceful animals.

Whale Watching

Humpback whales are famous for their surface activity. Watching them breach is one of the more exciting natural experiences you’re likely to observe. With a whale watch, you can sail beside these huge and graceful animals.

Annual Sailing Canoe Festival

It has previously been stated that ‘canoe racing has been around as long as there have been two canoes,’ and Hawaii’s Wa’a Kiakahi Sailing Canoe Festival lives up to those ancient roots and engrained appreciation, respect and admiration of the ocean.DN Approved

Honolua Sailing Adventure

West Maui’s beautiful coastline is a mecca for snorkeling, whale-watching, and other great ocean activities.  Sailing up the West Maui coastline to Honolua Bay for some snorkeling and sunshine is an experience not to miss.

Maui sailing destinations
Maui sailing destinations

Honolua Sailing Adventure

West Maui’s beautiful coastline is a mecca for snorkeling, whale-watching, and other great ocean activities.  Sailing up the West Maui coastline to Honolua Bay for some snorkeling and sunshine is an experience not to miss.

Maui Sailing Charters

When sailing in Maui, there are many options. Below are some of our favorite Maui Sailing Tour boats.

Kai Kanani

Maalaea Harbor Slip #56
65ft Catamaran

Pacific Whale Foundation

Pacific Whale Foundation Ocean Store, 612 Front Street, Lahaina

Maui Classic Charters

Maalaea Harbor Slip #80 & 55
55ft Catamaran

Trilogy

Maalaea Harbor Slip #99 & #62, and in Lahaina too!
50 ft Catamaran

Fun Sailing Facts

Variation = error in a compass caused by the magnetic field of the Earth, which changes around the world.

Deviation = error in a compass caused by the large metal parts of the sailing vessel.

Leeway = is when a vessel drifts to one side due to the wind strength, which can further complicate sailing direction. Good captains take all of these factors into account when traveling to a particular destination.

Weather refers to the side of a boat that is getting the wind. Lee is the side that is calm.

Tacking towards the Starboard (right) gives you right-of-way over all vessels to your port side.

More About Maui

Maui County leads the Hawaiian Islands in whale watching because Humpback whales use the Auau Channel between the islands to enjoy winter. They spend their winters here to give birth and mate. Their journey consists of over 3,500 miles from Alaskan waters every year!

If you hear a local talking about humpbacks coming home, they’re right. Even though they spend most of their lives feeding in the cold waters up north, they were born here and are officially Hawaii’s largest locals.