Lanai Snorkel and Dolphin Watch from Maui

Very nicely organized tour, sadly we couldn’t see any dolphins, but overall experience was great! Thank you!

Crew and captain were extremely professional, and the catamaran was beautiful. While we couldn't go to Lanai due to weather conditions(pending hurricane), the captain took us to a safe location to snorkel. As an added bonus, we were "up close and personal" to MANY dolphins going to the sight and returning back. They swam directly under and beside the boat. Incredible!

No time share presentation! LOL Great crew. The education obtained on the outing was outstanding. A great blend of adventure, education, fun and socializing!

Qualified, professional staff, attentive to everyone's needs and helpful. The photographer Dana is very good. Very nice tour. Spacious and clean catamaran. Good food and drinks

Snorkeling was great and the crew was excellent.

There were 15 of us, ranging from 8 to 82. Everyone enjoyed the ride, the snorkeling, the sights, and the shared information. I would definitely recommend this sail to anyone looking for something to do while visiting Maui!

Was every excited to take this trip esp. because most locally-born Maui Islanders, including expats like me now living on the East Coast, almost never get to experience their Island from the channels between Maui, Lāna'i, & Moloka'i. Was also happy to choose this trip to support our PWF 501(c)3 vs. other similar sailings around Lāna'i. The crew was very welcoming & skilled @ handling & sailing the vessel. Capt. Dan is a particularly skilled pilot highly vigilant of his passengers' safety, assisted @ all times from departure to return by Crew Members Connor, Jake, & Jordan. As an experienced Maui waterman myself, I was quite highly impressed with how Connor secured our anchorage @ Hale Palaoa offshore from Lāna'i by diving down 20 ft. or so to tie our vessel to the underwater mooring. Very cool, Connor!🤙🏽 The continental-style breakfast was highly appreciated by all in light of having to get up so early @ our accommodations either in Kīhei/Waile'a or in Kā'anapali & drive to Mā'alaea Harbor to arrange pay-to-park via an app. Note: PWF website listing for tour parking information should be revised to read less confusingly as "pay-to-park via phone app" vs. just "paid parking". Many of our fellow passengers perceived "paid parking" as "parking is already paid for you if you purchase this tour". Good thing they asked me (the expat Maui local boy) well beforehand to clarify. The snorkeling experience itself: Hale Palaoa does not seem to be the best location for this tour, judging from the continuing slow recovery from extensive coral bleaching as well as from the 99% juveniles of the handful of fish species we saw in 1 hr. of time my husband & I spent actively IN the water. Aside from 2 surgeon fish species & yellow tang, there were no other fully adult species seen. I know that even way prior to the years Club Lāna'i was in operation by several different ownerships that there was at one time underwater fresh springs originating from the windward side of Lāna'ihale which might still have their effect on this location. The point being, then, few fully adult fish populations to view in more colorful coral formations @ Hale Palaoa. The better thrill was the school of mālolo flying fish performing their typical surface ballet forward of our bow during our crossing, esp. when they display their bright orange pectoral fins/wings. Alas & alack! Spinner & other dolphins were shy & did not show all day to/from Lāna'i nor while Capt. Dan navigated up/down the Kā'anapali Coast looking. Not their fault, certainly! What WAS blatantly lacking here for me personally, however, were (3) things in mind: 1) Our tour was on 9/11/2025 & no mention was made to honor the (3) First Responders on board. I identified them as we filed down from the PWF Store to the Ocean Spirit by the (2) NYC Firemen who were wearing T-shirts bearing their company unit logos & the (1) Connecticut Policeman wearing his precinct bracelet. Guess what? After talking w/ him throughout the day, I discovered Capt. Dan IS ALSO a native of Connecticut! Small world. 2) PWF really needs to stop-and-desist w/ the ever-present Jawaiian music, or, the very, very, very least, SEVERELY ATTENUATE it. Maui Nui is @ the heart of Hawai'i & always has been. If PFW's message is native & endemic preservation of Hawai'is marine biome, why not include that message through its more traditional Island music? If passengers will not recognize the talented artists they hear, part of PFW's message can be to explain or find out from a digital screen who is playing or singing over the speakers. Capt. Dan, Connor, Jake, & Jordan are all highly intelligent people without doubt. I can see them easily adding this knowledge to their seafaring skills. Added benefit: CDs from traditional Hawaiian artists can be sold & the PWF Store. I'm certain this will enhance PWF bottom line. 3) Finally, although no dolphin showing (again, beyond PWF's control) there was EXTENSIVE opportunity for PFW to present in its place cultural narrations about Pu'u Keka'a, Kā'anapali, Wāhikuli, Ukūmehame Valley, Launiupoko, Olowalu as we plied past these areas searching for dolphins. Also, there are many opportunities to present the 2023 Lāhaina wildfires & the slow yet steady recovery of housing & businesses in a real, sensitive & respectful way. I realize that Capt. Dan, Jake, Connor & Jordan are all Maui Islanders now; however, as members of the Maui community-at-large, they have every right & duty to inform the general public of this event, highlighting the strength & resilience of the Maui community-at-large, again, in a real, sensitive & respectful way.🤙🏽

Overall the crew worked really hard to make the experience the best they could. We were able to make it to Lanai but only one dolphin was out today (not the crews fault). There were a lot of fish in Lanai around the reefs where we snorkeled. All staff was very knowledgeable on marine life, which was great! Felt safe the entire time with crew in the water ensuring safety. Things to note, only about an hour to hour and a half of actual snorkeling since most of your time will be sailing to/from Lanai. I’d probably opt for turtle town next time around to maximize snorkeling time. Thanks to Capt Emily and crew for such a great time.

Totally enjoyed the day on the ocean. It was windy so we ended up on the north end of Maui rather than Lanai. Snorkeling was great. Lots of fish and turtles. Saw two types of dolphins multiple times. Food was great and crew were fantastic.

Saw spinner dolphins, and some bottle nose on our way back, snorkeling was good. Knowledgeable crew, very friendly and professional. Good food