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Day Trips · October 29, 2026

Lanai Day Trip From Maui

An early ferry from Ma'alaea, a morning of snorkeling at Hulopo'e Bay, lunch by Dole Park and the last boat home in the evening light. Our favorite island day from the bungalows.

Joel Bradshaw / Public domain

From the bungalows in North Kihei, Lanai sits on the western horizon every evening, a long low island across the channel. Most of our guests never realize they can be standing on it by breakfast. The Expeditions ferry leaves Ma'alaea Harbor, a short drive from our door, three times a day, and the crossing takes a little over an hour. In one day you can snorkel the clear water of Hulopo'e Bay, walk out to Sweetheart Rock, eat lunch across from Dole Park in an old pineapple town, visit more than 700 very relaxed cats, and ride the last boat home past the West Maui Mountains in the evening light. Here is how we plan it.

Lanai as a day trip from Kihei

Lanai is the quiet island of Maui County. It is about 13 miles wide and 18 miles long, with about 3,200 people, one small town and only about 30 miles of paved road, and about 98 percent of it is privately owned. After a few days of Maui beaches, that slower pace is half the reason to go.

The other half is the water. Hulopo'e Bay, a short walk from the ferry landing, sits inside a protected Marine Life Conservation District, and on a calm morning the reef just off the sand is full of fish. Spinner dolphins often come into the bay, and the tide pools at its eastern point are some of the best we know for kids. In 1997 Dr. Stephen Leatherman, the coastal scientist known as Dr. Beach, named Hulopo'e the best beach in America.

Up the hill, Lanai City is a plantation town built in the 1920s around a green square of tall pines. For about 70 years the island grew pineapple, and at its peak it produced roughly three quarters of the world's supply. The old plantation houses with their tin roofs still line the streets, and the cafes and shops face the park.

Lanai is also an easy day trip because you do not need a car to enjoy it. The beach is a walk from the harbor, and a shuttle runs up to town. If you want the wild side of the island, the red-rock Garden of the Gods and the north shore's Shipwreck Beach, you can rent a Jeep for the day.

Best of all, you come home at night. Lanai is a day trip for us, and there is nothing better than walking back into the bungalow, rinsing off the salt and sitting out with a cold drink, watching the island you just explored turn dark across the water.

The day at a glance

FerryExpeditions, from Ma'alaea Harbor
From the bungalowsAbout 10 minutes to Ma'alaea
CrossingAbout 1 hour 10 minutes
Out and back6:30 a.m. out, 5:30 p.m. back
Adult fareAbout $66 each way
BringCash, snorkel gear, mineral sunscreen

From the bungalows to Ma'alaea Harbor

The ferry to Lanai leaves from Ma'alaea Harbor, the small boat harbor at the north end of Ma'alaea Bay. From our bungalows in North Kihei it is about a 10-minute drive up North Kihei Road and the Honoapi'ilani Highway, which makes Kihei one of the easiest places on Maui to start this trip. If you walk Sugar Beach in the morning, you are looking straight at the harbor at the far end of the sand.

Since the 2023 fires, Expeditions sails only from Ma'alaea. Its Lahaina departures have not resumed, so Ma'alaea is the harbor to head for, even if an older guide says Lahaina. Our Lahaina guide covers what is open on the west side today if you want to pair the trip with a visit there on another day.

Plan to reach the harbor 45 minutes before your sailing. Boarding closes 10 minutes before departure, and the boat leaves on time. For the 6:30 a.m. ferry, that means leaving the bungalow at about 5:30 with coffee in hand. The road is empty at that hour and the drive is easy.

Parking at Ma'alaea Harbor is paid by QR code on the signs in the lot, so have your license plate number ready. Parking is $1 an hour, about $12 to $14 for a full ferry day. Leave yourself a few minutes to find a space, since morning snorkel and whale boats load from the same lot.

If you would rather not drive, a ride service drop-off works well at this hour too. Either way, the short trip from Kihei makes Lanai an easy day from our side of the island.

The Expeditions ferry schedule, fares and booking

Expeditions runs three round trips a day, every day of the week. Boats leave Ma'alaea for Manele Harbor on Lanai at 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and leave Manele for Ma'alaea at 8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. For a full day on the island, take the 6:30 a.m. boat out and the 5:30 p.m. boat back. That gives you nearly ten hours on Lanai.

Regular one-way fares are about $66 for adults and $34 for children 2 to 11, and children under 2 ride free. Military fares are $40 with ID. Hawaii residents pay $40 for adults and $15 for kids and seniors with a Hawaii ID. A round trip for one adult is about $132, and a family of two adults and two children pays about $400 for the day's ferry rides. Fares were last raised in October 2024 with approval from the state Public Utilities Commission, so check the booking page for the current price.

Book on go-lanai.com, where each direction is a separate ticket. Buy both legs at once so your seat home is held. Popular sailings fill up, so we suggest booking as soon as you settle on a day. You can also call Expeditions at (800) 695-2624 or (808) 661-3756.

Each traveler can bring two checked pieces and one carry-on. Extra bags, bicycles, surfboards over 7 feet, sailboards and kayaks cost extra and need to be requested in advance. E-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, one-wheels, electric luggage and their batteries stay off the boat, so leave those at the bungalow.

Looking ahead, Maui County plans to take over the Lanai ferry, with a target of mid-2027 and a long-term goal of four round trips a day. Until then, Expeditions runs the boat, and go-lanai.com is the place to check.

Expeditions ferry, Ma'alaea to Lanai, as posted in October 2026. Daily; confirm on go-lanai.com before you go.
PlanLeave Ma'alaea, MauiLeave Manele, LanaiTime on Lanai
Departures each day6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m.8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Full day6:30 a.m.5:30 p.m.Nearly 10 hours
Half day6:30 a.m.1:00 p.m.About 5 hours
Later start11:00 a.m.5:30 p.m.About 5 hours

Whales and island views on the crossing

The ferry crosses the 'Au'au Channel, the protected stretch of water between Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kaho'olawe, in about an hour and ten minutes. On the way out you leave Ma'alaea with Haleakala behind you and the West Maui Mountains to your right, and Lanai slowly grows from a gray line into red cliffs and green slopes. On a clear day you can see Molokai to the north and, far to the southeast, the peaks of the Big Island.

From mid-December to mid-May, this crossing is one of the best whale watches on Maui, and it costs the price of a ferry ticket. Expeditions counts December 15 to May 15 as whale season on the channel, and the heart of it, as on our own beach, is January through March. Humpbacks come to these shallow, warm waters to mate and calve, and it is common to see spouts, tail slaps and breaches from the boat. Our whale watching guide explains what to look for.

The captain keeps the boat at a respectful distance. NOAA requires boats to stay at least 100 yards from humpback whales in Hawaii, so bring binoculars and head up to the open-air top deck for the widest view.

The morning crossing is usually the smoothest of the day, since the trade winds tend to build in the afternoon. If you are prone to seasickness, take your remedy before you board and keep your eyes on the horizon. Most guests are too busy watching for whales to notice.

When you step off at Manele, take a minute to look back across the channel. Maui sits on the horizon with the West Maui Mountains on one side and Haleakala on the other, and somewhere along the low shoreline between them are our bungalows in Kihei.

From fall into early spring, the sun sets over the channel on the ride home, and in whale season you are often watching humpbacks in the last light. In summer you cross in daylight with the Maui coast in view. It is one of our favorite hours of any Maui trip.

Hawaiian spinner dolphins surfacing in the channel off MauiPhoto: National Marine Sanctuaries / Public domain

Manele Harbor and Hulopo'e Beach Park

The ferry docks at Manele Small Boat Harbor on Lanai's south shore, tucked into Manele Bay below dry, golden hills. You step off the boat into a small harbor area with restrooms and showers, and the day begins. If you are heading straight up to Lanai City, your shuttle or taxi meets you here.

Manele and its neighbor, Hulopo'e, are two bays side by side, separated by an old volcanic cone. The seaward edge of that cone has worn away to form the cove below Pu'u Pehe, the sea stack known as Sweetheart Rock. Manele Bay was once a Hawaiian fishing village, and the shoreline still holds its ruins. The two bays together form the Manele-Hulopo'e Marine Life Conservation District, set aside by the state in 1976.

From the harbor, Hulopo'e Beach is about a 10-minute walk. Follow the other passengers carrying beach bags. Even with little ones or a lot of gear, it is an easy first stretch for the day.

Hulopo'e is the beach most Lanai day-trippers come for, and we see why every time we go. It is a wide crescent of soft white sand facing south over clear blue water, with a grassy park behind it.

Hulopo'e Beach Park has restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables and barbecue grills, which makes it an easy base for a few hours. Bring a picnic from Kihei, or pick up lunch in Lanai City later in the day. Claim a shady spot when you arrive and set up your towels there.

Most of the year the bay is the best swimming and snorkeling spot on the island, and summer is especially good for swimming. Swells roll in from time to time, so pick a calm morning, watch the water for a few minutes before you go in and stay where the waves are small. Swim with a buddy and keep an eye on the kids at the water's edge, since Hulopo'e has no lifeguard tower.

Go early. On the 6:30 a.m. ferry, you are on the sand by about 8 a.m., while the light on the water is soft and the bay is at its calmest. Hulopo'e is a community beach park for island families too, so give local picnics their space, keep the grills tidy and pack out everything you bring.

Snorkeling Hulopo'e Bay

A shallow reef runs just offshore of Hulopo'e Beach, and it is the snorkeling most of our guests remember. Swim out from the sand toward either side of the bay, where the rocks meet the water, and you will find coral and reef fish. Around the point, Pu'u Pehe Cove below Sweetheart Rock has clear water 10 to 15 feet deep and plenty of marine life. The way down is steep, so we enjoy it from the trail above.

The whole bay is a Marine Life Conservation District, which is why the fish are so plentiful. The rules are simple. Do not take, feed or touch any fish, coral or other marine life. Do not take sand, coral or rocks. Fishing is allowed only with a pole and line from the shoreline, and boats may not operate or anchor in the main part of the bay, except for paddled Hawaiian outrigger canoes.

For your own comfort, snorkel in the morning before the wind picks up, wear a rash guard and fins, and use a well-fitting mask. Reef shoes help on the rocky entries at the edges of the bay. Stay off the coral, float rather than stand, and if you meet a sea turtle, give it at least 10 feet of space, as NOAA asks.

Lanai is part of Maui County, so the county's rule on sunscreen applies here too: only mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be sold or used. Pack yours from Kihei.

If you love the snorkeling here, our South Maui snorkeling guide and our page on snorkeling near Sugar Beach cover the reefs close to the bungalows for the rest of your week.

The tide pools and the spinner dolphins

At the eastern point of Hulopo'e Bay, on the left as you face the water, a shelf of old lava holds a row of large tide pools. They are calm and well protected, and at low tide they fill with small fish, hermit crabs, sea stars and 'opihi, the limpets that cling to the rocks. Kids can spend an hour here crouched over a single pool.

Walk slowly, since the rock can be slippery, and wear reef shoes or sturdy sandals. Look with your eyes and leave every stone and shell where you found it, because the pools are part of the conservation district too. Low tide in the morning is the best time to go, so check a tide chart the night before.

Hulopo'e is also one of the places where Hawaiian spinner dolphins often come in to rest. They feed offshore at night and come into sheltered bays during the day, so a pod circling slowly in the bay in the morning is usually a group of tired dolphins taking a nap. You may see one leap and spin in the air, which is how they got their name.

Enjoy them from the beach. Federal law, enforced by NOAA, bans swimming with spinner dolphins and approaching within 50 yards of them, about half a football field. The rule applies to swimmers, paddlers and boats within 2 nautical miles of shore, which includes the whole bay. If dolphins swim toward you while you are snorkeling, stay calm, do not follow them and move away slowly.

Watching from the sand is a treat in itself. Binoculars from the bungalow are worth the space in your bag.

Lava shelf and tide pools on the Manele Bay shore, next door to Hulopo'e, at dusk in the 1970sPhoto: Charles O'Rear / Public domain

The Pu'u Pehe trail and Sweetheart Rock

Pu'u Pehe, or Sweetheart Rock, is the 80-foot sea stack that rises from the water between Manele and Hulopo'e bays. It is the island's best-known landmark and the photo everyone takes home. A short trail leads to the lookout above it.

The walk starts near the tide pools at the eastern end of Hulopo'e Beach and follows the cliffs southeast. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes each way at an easy pace. The path is rocky and exposed, so wear shoes, carry water and go in the morning or late afternoon when it is cooler. Stay back from the cliff edge, especially with children.

From the top, you look down on the rock and the deep blue cove below it, with Kaho'olawe and Maui across the water. Pu'u Pehe is also a nesting site for wedge-tailed shearwaters, ua'u kani in Hawaiian, which you can watch from the coastal trail. Keep to the path.

The rock comes with a sad old story. A heartbroken warrior, the legend goes, leapt from its summit after his wife died, and the rock has carried the name Sweetheart Rock ever since. A sign near the lookout tells more of the history.

The way down to the cove itself is steep, with loose lava underfoot, so enjoy the view from the top. This walk is the classic way to end a morning at Hulopo'e before heading up to town.

On the half-day plan, walk it right after snorkeling, at about 10 a.m., and you still have time for a last swim and a rinse at the beach showers before the walk back to the 1:00 p.m. ferry.

Pu'u Pehe in silhouette, seen from the shore of Manele BayPhoto: Joel Bradshaw / Public domain

Getting up to Lanai City

Lanai City sits about 8 miles inland from Manele Harbor at about 1,700 feet, a drive of about 20 minutes up the Manele Road through old pineapple fields lined with tall Cook pines. Rides on Lanai work by reservation, so book your shuttle or taxi before you board the ferry, since the island has no public bus.

The simplest way up is Rabaca's shuttle, which meets the ferry at Manele and runs to town. Recent fares are about $15 per person each way, cash only, so a round trip for a family of four is about $120. Call (808) 559-0230 a few days ahead to reserve your seats, and confirm your pickup times for the ride back down to the 5:30 p.m. ferry.

Dela Cruz Taxi, (808) 649-0808, the local ride service Holoholo and a few independent drivers also take bookings by phone.

If you want to explore beyond town, rent a Jeep for the day. Lanai Car Rental, (808) 565-3100, and Lanai Cheap Jeeps, (808) 489-2296, both rent on the island, and Expeditions can book a Jeep with a shuttle from the harbor to the rental office for $20 per person round trip. We cover the Jeep day in its own chapter below.

Bring cash for the day. The shuttle and some of the cafes take cash only, though there are ATMs in Lanai City. A small envelope with fares and tips set aside before you leave Kihei keeps it simple.

Cook pines along the Manele Road above old pineapple fields on the way to Lanai CityPhoto: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US

Dole Park and Lanai City

Lanai City is laid out on a grid around Dole Park, a big green square shaded by rows of towering pines. This is the heart of the island. Locals sit on the benches, kids play on the grass and the shops and cafes face the park on all four sides. At 1,700 feet, the air is noticeably cooler than at the beach, and the breeze through the pines is a welcome change in the middle of the day.

The town was planned by James Dole's Hawaiian Pineapple Company in early 1923, soon after the company bought nearly the whole island. Dole laid out the streets around the park so that everything connected to the green in the center. The bank, the theater, the stores, the plantation clubhouse and a Buddhist church all stood around it, with the plantation manager's office and post office in the Dole Administration Building above the park.

Many of the original plantation houses still line the side streets, small wooden homes painted green, yellow and blue under tin roofs, with tall pines behind them. A slow walk around the blocks off the park is the best way to see them. Please remember these are people's homes and enjoy them from the sidewalk.

Around the park you will find a few small shops worth a browse. Local Gentry is a little boutique with clothing and gifts, and the Lanai Art Center on Seventh Street shows and sells the work of island artists, from ceramics to paintings. Hale Keaka, the town's movie theater, is on Seventh Street too.

For a deeper look at the town, the free Lanai Guide app has a self-guided walking tour of Lanai City, plus hike and driving directions for the rest of the island.

The carved pineapple sign at Dole Park in Lanai City, under the town's tall pinesPhoto: Calbear22 / Public domain

Lunch and coffee in town

Lanai City's cafes are small, family-run and friendly, and lunch here is part of the fun of the day. Most cluster around Dole Park, so you can look at a few menus before you choose.

Our first stop is Blue Ginger Cafe on Seventh Street, across from the park. It bakes its bread daily and is known for homemade hamburgers on its own buns, along with sandwiches and baked goods. Blue Ginger opens at 6 a.m. (6:30 on weekends) and stays open until 8 p.m., or until 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, holidays included. Order to go if you want to eat in the park under the pines.

Coffee Works on Ilima Street, with its big black coffee-cup sign, has long been the town's espresso stop and a good place for an iced coffee before the ride back down. Other places to eat in town include Ganotisi's Pacific Rim Cuisine, No Ka Oi Grindz, Pele's Other Garden and the Lanai City Service Station. Hours in a small town can change with the season, so check before you plan a meal around one.

For a picnic to take back to Hulopo'e, the town's small grocery stores sit near the park, with drinks and snacks.

Bring cash, since some of these spots take cash only. On a Jeep day, we do the bumpy back roads in the morning, so lunch is a nice chance to sit still under the pines. Our where to eat in Kihei guide has dinner ideas for when you are back on Maui.

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center and the pineapple years

The Lanai Culture & Heritage Center is the island's small museum, in the old Dole Administration Building at the top of Dole Park. It tells Lanai's story from the first Polynesian settlers, through a century of ranching that began in the 1850s, the roughly 70 years of pineapple and the island's turn to visitors. Its own site lists weekday hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., so call ahead to check it is open. On a weekend trip, spend that hour walking the plantation streets instead.

The pineapple story is the one most visitors come for. In November 1922, James Dole's Hawaiian Pineapple Company bought nearly the entire island for about $1.1 million, with the goal of building the largest pineapple plantation in the world. At its peak, about 20,000 acres were planted, and a workforce of about 3,000 produced roughly three quarters of the world's pineapples. Workers came mainly from the Philippines, Japan and China.

The last pineapple harvest on Lanai came in 1992. You can still see the old field rows from the Manele Road, now grown over in grass and lantana, and the island still celebrates its history with an annual Pineapple Festival.

The town, its people and its history make a visit feel personal, so take a little time here before you head back to the beach.

The Heritage Center also offers virtual exhibits, and it is behind the Lanai Guide app we mentioned, with cultural sites and stories from across the island. A few minutes with it on the ferry over makes the whole day richer.

Plantation-era houses with tin roofs and Cook pines on a street in Lanai CityPhoto: Halibut Thyme / Public domain

The Lanai Cat Sanctuary

The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is one of the island's best-loved stops, and for many of our guests it is the highlight of the day. Since 2006, the nonprofit has given a home to Lanai's stray and feral cats, and today more than 700 rescue cats live there.

The sanctuary is open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission is free. Donations keep it running, so bring a few dollars, and the sanctuary sells T-shirts, mugs and hats online. No reservation is needed. It is at 1 Kaupili Road, about 5 minutes from Lanai Airport and about a 20-minute drive from Manele Harbor.

Inside, cats lounge in the sun, sleep in the shade and wander up to visitors for a scratch. Kids love it, and so do the grown-ups who swore they were only coming along for the kids.

Wear closed shoes and clothes you do not mind sharing with a little fur, and wash your hands before your next snack.

Plan your ride before you go, since the sanctuary is outside town. Your shuttle or taxi can include it as a stop, or it fits easily into a Jeep day. Allow about an hour, and be sure you are back on the road in time for the ride down to the 5:30 p.m. ferry.

Move slowly, let the cats come to you and keep little hands gentle. If someone in your group would rather skip the cats, the shops and benches around Dole Park make an easy hour while the rest of you visit.

Renting a Jeep for Lanai's back roads

Only about 30 miles of Lanai's roads are paved. The other 400 or so miles are dirt, and most of them run through the dry, open country of the north and west. To see the Garden of the Gods and Shipwreck Beach on a day trip, you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and a Jeep is the island classic.

Lanai Car Rental and Lanai Cheap Jeeps both rent on the island, and Expeditions can arrange a Jeep with your ferry and a shuttle to the rental office. Rates have run about $200 or more per day in recent years, so call ahead for today's price and reserve early.

A few tips make the day go smoothly. Ask your rental company exactly which dirt roads its Jeeps may use, since each company sets its own rules, and get a map from them. Ask about insurance for unpaved roads, since many rental agreements leave it out, and check your own policy before you go. Pick a dry day: Lanai's red-dirt roads are best skipped after rain.

Drive slowly. The dirt roads are bumpy and rocky, and an easy pace is safer and more comfortable for everyone. Give other drivers the Lanai wave as you pass, fill up before you return the Jeep and carry plenty of water, since there are no stores outside town.

Lanai's open country is also used for hunting, so stay on the roads and the trails marked in the Lanai Guide app, and keep out of any area marked as restricted. Our Maui rental car guide covers driving back on Maui.

Keahiakawelo, the Garden of the Gods

Keahiakawelo, often called the Garden of the Gods, is a field of red, orange and purple earth scattered with boulders, rock towers and spires at the end of the Polihua Road on Lanai's northwest side. It looks more like the moon or the American Southwest than Hawaii, which is exactly why it is worth the drive.

From Lanai City it takes about 45 minutes, most of it on the unpaved Polihua Road, which is open only to four-wheel-drive vehicles and mountain bikes. The rock garden lies just north of Kanepu'u Preserve. Keahiakawelo itself was once part of a native dryland forest, and some of that forest survives nearby.

Keahiakawelo is a wahi pana, a storied place, and it has its own legend. Two kahuna, priests, one from Lanai and one from Molokai, held a contest to see who could keep a fire burning longest, with abundance promised to the winner's island. Kawelo, the Lanai priest, burned every plant around him to keep his fire going, and he won. The bare land left behind became Keahiakawelo, the fire of Kawelo. Geologists explain the bare red earth as erosion, sped up after hoofed animals were brought to the island in the 1800s.

The rocks glow brightest at dusk. On a day trip you see them earlier, with the colors still rich and, on a clear day, Molokai and even O'ahu across the channel. Walk among the rocks and leave them as they are, since moving or stacking them here is kapu, forbidden.

If you have time, the bumpy road continues past the rocks to Polihua Beach, a 2-mile stretch of empty sand on the north shore. It is a beach for walking and looking, so save your swim for Hulopo'e.

Red earth and scattered boulders at Keahiakawelo, the Garden of the Gods, above the seaPhoto: Halibut Thyme / Public domain

Kaiolohia, Shipwreck Beach

On Lanai's northeast shore, Kaiolohia, known to everyone as Shipwreck Beach, runs for about six miles of sand and lava rock facing Molokai and Maui. The name Kaiolohia refers to the calm, sheltered water of the bay at its eastern end, while the English name comes from the ships that have ended up on its reef.

The one everyone comes to see sits about 200 yards offshore: the weathered hull of the YOGN-42, a World War II era navy fuel barge built with a concrete hull and grounded on the reef on purpose. It sits upright, locked in the reef, and makes a striking photo with Molokai behind it. NOAA archaeologists have counted several other wrecks along this shore, because the trade winds funneling between Molokai and Maui push drifting vessels straight onto it.

To get there, drive north from Lanai City on the paved Keomuku Road, Highway 430, toward the coast. Near the bottom, a dirt road leads to the beach, followed by a short walk along the sand. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes from town each way. An off-road vehicle is the way to go here, and like the rest of the back roads, it is best on a dry day.

Shipwreck Beach is a place for beachcombing and long walks, so leave the snorkel gear in the Jeep, save the swimming for Hulopo'e and wear sturdy shoes for the rocks. Bring water and sun protection, and take a long look across the channel to Molokai and Maui.

The sand and reef at Shipwreck Beach, Kaiolohia, with Molokai across the channelPhoto: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US

A sample day from the bungalows

Here is how we lay out a Lanai day for our guests. The first version is the one we suggest most: beach in the morning, town in the afternoon, no car needed. The second swaps the afternoon in town for a Jeep and the north shore.

Both versions use the 6:30 a.m. ferry out and the 5:30 p.m. ferry home, which gives you the most time on the island and brings you back to Ma'alaea at about 6:40 p.m. From there it is a short drive back to the bungalows, in time for a late dinner on the porch.

Families with young children often prefer a half day. Take the 6:30 a.m. boat out, spend the morning at Hulopo'e and the tide pools, walk to Sweetheart Rock and catch the 1:00 p.m. ferry back. You are back at the bungalow by mid-afternoon with time for a nap and a swim at Sugar Beach.

Leave a little slack in the day. The best moments, a pod of dolphins in the bay or a quiet bench under the pines, are the ones you did not schedule. Our 7-day Maui itinerary shows where a Lanai day fits in a full week.

Book in this order: the ferry first, both legs, then the shuttle or taxi, then the Jeep if you want one. The ferry sets the clock for everything else, and the island's drivers and rental desks plan their day around the boat times. If the 6:30 a.m. start is too early for your group, the 11:00 a.m. boat arrives at about 12:10 p.m. and still leaves you an afternoon at Hulopo'e and in town before the 5:30 p.m. ferry home.

A sample Lanai day trip from North Kihei. Ferry times as posted in October 2026; confirm shuttle and rental times when you book.
TimeBeach and town dayJeep day
5:30 a.m.Leave the bungalows for Ma'alaeaLeave the bungalows for Ma'alaea
6:30 a.m.Ferry departs Ma'alaeaFerry departs Ma'alaea
About 7:40 a.m.Arrive Manele, walk to Hulopo'eArrive Manele, shuttle to the rental office
8:00-10:30 a.m.Snorkel, tide pools, Pu'u Pehe trail8:15-10:30: Garden of the Gods
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Shuttle up to Lanai City at 11Keomuku Road to Shipwreck Beach
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Lunch across from Dole Park12:30: lunch in Lanai City
12:30-1:30 p.m.Walk the town, Heritage Center on weekdays1:30-2:30: Lanai Cat Sanctuary
1:30-2:45 p.m.Lanai Cat Sanctuary2:45-3:45: Hulopo'e swim
3:30-5:00 p.m.Back to Hulopo'e for a last swim4:00-5:00: return the Jeep as agreed, back to Manele
5:30 p.m.Ferry homeFerry home
About 6:40 p.m.Ma'alaea, then home to KiheiMa'alaea, then home to Kihei

What a Lanai day costs

The biggest cost of a Lanai day is the ferry, and almost everything on the island itself is free: the beach, the snorkeling, the trail, the park and the Cat Sanctuary.

For one adult, the ferry runs about $132 round trip, the shuttle about $30 round trip and parking at Ma'alaea about $12 to $14, so the basic day is a little under $180 before lunch. For a family of two adults and two children aged 2 to 11, the ferry is about $400 and the shuttle about $120, or a little over $530 with parking.

A Jeep adds about $200 or more for the vehicle, plus fuel, and replaces the shuttle for most of the day, though you still need the $20-per-person round-trip ride between the harbor and the rental office. For a family of four, a Jeep at about $200 plus about $80 for the harbor-to-rental shuttle compares with about $120 in shuttle fares, and it opens up the whole island.

Lunch in Lanai City is casual, and a plate lunch or burger is the usual order. Bring cash for the cafes that need it, and a few dollars for the Cat Sanctuary donation box.

These numbers are based on fares and rates posted in fall 2026, and prices on a small island change, so confirm each one when you book. Our Maui week cost guide shows how a Lanai day fits into the budget for the rest of your trip.

Children under 2 ride the ferry free, and when you call the shuttle, ask about the fare for children too.

Lanai day trip costs, per person unless noted, as posted in fall 2026. Confirm each price when you book.
ItemAdultChild 2-11Notes
Ferry, round tripAbout $132About $68Under 2 free; Hawaii residents pay less
Ma'alaea parkingAbout $12-14 per car$1 per hour by QR code
Shuttle to Lanai City, round tripAbout $30Ask when bookingCash only; reserve ahead
Jeep rentalAbout $200 or more per dayPer vehicle; call for today's rate
Hulopo'e Beach, snorkeling, Pu'u Pehe trailFreeFreeBring your own gear
Lanai Cat SanctuaryFreeFreeDonations welcome
Pacific Whale Foundation sail instead$149.96-$199.95$149.95 (5-12)From Lahaina; meals and gear included

Snorkel sails to Lanai from Ma'alaea

If you would rather someone else handle the logistics, a snorkel sail to Lanai is a lovely alternative to the ferry. You sail across the channel on a catamaran, snorkel in clear water off Lanai's coast and come home with lunch and gear included. You see less of the island itself, and in return, the whole day is taken care of.

Trilogy runs a Lanai snorkel sail from Ma'alaea Harbor, slip 62, with two departures, from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The boat docks at Manele and guests spend the day at Hulopo'e Beach, with snorkel gear and lessons, beach mats and chairs, a continental breakfast, a barbecue lunch and reef-safe sunscreen included. The day runs about 7.5 to 8 hours, check-in is 30 minutes before departure, and SNUBA can be added for guests 8 and older. Check Trilogy's site for the current price.

Pacific Whale Foundation sails a Lanai Snorkel & Dolphin Watch from Lahaina Harbor at 8 a.m., about five hours long, with breakfast, a grilled lunch, gear and naturalists aboard. Adults are $199.95, or less when you book online, and kids 5 to 12 are $149.95. It pairs nicely with a day you are already spending on the west side.

Trilogy follows the Dolphin SMART program for viewing dolphins, and in whale season both sails double as whale watches.

If snorkeling is your favorite part of Maui, you might also compare a Lanai sail with a snorkel trip to Molokini Crater, which also leaves from Ma'alaea and is a shorter morning out.

Lanai through the seasons

Lanai is a year-round day trip, and each season brings its own treat. The ferry runs daily all year, and Lanai City, at 1,700 feet, stays a little cooler than the coast.

Winter, from mid-December into spring, is whale season. Expeditions counts December 15 to May 15 as whale season on the crossing, and January through March is the peak. Plan your Lanai day for a calm morning and you may see more whales from the ferry than from a whale watch. At Hulopo'e, pick the calmest mornings for your swim. Our Maui in winter guide has more ideas for the season.

Spring brings longer days, the end of whale season and warm, calm water returning to the south shore. It is a lovely time for the Pu'u Pehe trail and a long morning in the tide pools.

Summer is the best season for swimming and snorkeling at Hulopo'e, with warm, clear water and long evenings. The 5:30 p.m. ferry home runs in full daylight, so you can watch the coast of Maui all the way in.

Around the holidays and spring break, book the ferry a few weeks ahead to get the sailings you want. In December the sun sets in Kihei at about 5:45 p.m., so the evening ferry home crosses in the glow of dusk.

Fall brings quiet beaches and warm water. It is one of our favorite times to send guests over, and the first whales usually show up in the channel by mid-December.

What to bring

Pack the night before, since the morning starts early. A good day bag makes the difference between a comfortable day and a long one. Here is our list, most of which you will find at the bungalows or in Kihei.

Pack breakfast, snacks and plenty of water, since you will be on the sand before most of the island is awake and lunch in town is a shuttle ride away. Freeze a couple of bottles the night before so they stay cold into the afternoon. A small soft cooler fits easily on the ferry and keeps lunch cool at the beach. Keep your ferry confirmations on your phone, and write down your shuttle or rental pickup times.

A dry bag keeps phones and wallets safe from spray on the ferry and sand at Hulopo'e. Tuck a zip-top bag in for wet swimsuits on the ride home, and a dry shirt for the evening crossing, when the breeze on the top deck feels cool after a day in the sun.

With kids, add a few extra snacks, a small toy for the boat and a spare set of clothes. Our Maui packing list covers the rest of the trip.

  • Ferry confirmations for both legs, and photo ID
  • Cash for the shuttle, cafes and the Cat Sanctuary donation box
  • Snorkel gear, a rash guard and reef shoes for the rocky entries
  • Mineral sunscreen (Maui County rule), a hat and sunglasses
  • Towels, a light beach blanket and a change of clothes
  • A light layer for the breeze in Lanai City and the evening crossing
  • Binoculars for whales and dolphins
  • Water bottles, snacks and a small soft cooler
  • Sturdy shoes for the Pu'u Pehe trail and Shipwreck Beach
  • Seasickness remedy, if you need one, taken before boarding
  • The free Lanai Guide app, downloaded before you leave
From Megan & Bryan

Book the 5:30 p.m. ferry home when you book the morning boat. Riding back across the channel in the evening, at sunset in the cooler months and sometimes with whales off the bow, is the best part of the day, and it brings you back to Kihei in time for dinner on the porch.

Coming home to Kihei

The 5:30 p.m. ferry pulls into Ma'alaea at about 6:40 p.m., and from there it is a short hop back to the bungalows. After a long day in the sun, that is a gift.

Rinse the salt off, hang the snorkel gear to dry and pour something cold. From the porch, Lanai sits on the horizon where you spent the day, and in winter you may catch a last spout in the channel before dark. If you want dinner out, Kihei's restaurants are minutes away, and our Kihei dining guide has our favorites.

Staying in Kihei, on the Maui side of the channel, makes Lanai an easy day for our guests. You get a full island adventure without packing a bag or changing rooms, and the next morning you are back on Sugar Beach with a cup of coffee. From the Best Ocean Views and Modern Ocean View bungalows you look out over the same water you crossed, and the Family Favorite and Couples Getaway are just as close to the beach.

If you are still planning your week, see all four bungalows on our stays page, read what guests say on our reviews page and check our things to do in Kihei guide for the days in between.

Rinse the snorkel gear and reef shoes in fresh water before you hang them up, and they will be ready for Sugar Beach in the morning. And if you loved your day, try the other plan, the beach-and-town day or the Jeep day, as a second trip later in the week.

From Megan & Bryan

Plan Lanai for the middle of your stay, after a day or two to settle in. If the morning looks calm from the bungalow, that is your Lanai day.

Common questions

The Expeditions ferry to Lanai leaves from Ma'alaea Harbor in central Maui and arrives at Manele Harbor on Lanai's south shore. Lahaina departures have not resumed since 2023. From our bungalows in North Kihei, Ma'alaea is about a 10-minute drive. Plan to arrive 45 minutes before your sailing.

Expeditions sails daily. Boats leave Ma'alaea at 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and leave Manele Harbor on Lanai at 8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. For a full day trip, take the 6:30 a.m. ferry out and the 5:30 p.m. ferry back. Confirm times on go-lanai.com before you book.

As of fall 2026, regular one-way fares are about $66 for adults and $34 for children 2 to 11, and children under 2 ride free. Military fares are $40, and Hawaii residents pay $40 for adults and $15 for kids and seniors. A round trip for one adult is about $132. Book online at go-lanai.com.

The crossing from Ma'alaea Harbor to Manele Harbor takes about an hour and ten minutes across the 'Au'au Channel. From mid-December to mid-May, humpback whales are often seen along the way, so bring binoculars and sit near the rail. The morning crossing is usually the smoothest of the day.

Yes. Take the 6:30 a.m. ferry from Ma'alaea and the 5:30 p.m. ferry home, which gives you nearly ten hours on the island. That is enough for a morning at Hulopo'e Bay, the Pu'u Pehe trail, lunch in Lanai City and the Cat Sanctuary, or a Jeep drive to the Garden of the Gods.

Rabaca's shuttle meets the ferry and runs up to Lanai City for about $15 per person each way, cash only; call (808) 559-0230 to reserve. Taxis and a local ride service also take bookings. The drive is about 8 miles and about 20 minutes. Hulopo'e Beach is a 10-minute walk from the harbor.

Hulopo'e Bay is the best snorkeling on Lanai. It is part of a Marine Life Conservation District, with a shallow reef just offshore, plenty of reef fish and spinner dolphins that often rest in the bay. Snorkel on calm mornings, leave all marine life untouched and stay at least 50 yards from dolphins.

Yes. Keahiakawelo, the Garden of the Gods, is at the end of the unpaved Polihua Road, about 45 minutes from Lanai City, and is reached by four-wheel drive or mountain bike. Jeeps rent in Lanai City for about $200 or more a day. Ask the rental company which dirt roads its Jeeps may use.

Sources

Dates, hours and prices change. We checked these in October 2026; confirm with the organizer before you go.

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