If you lie on Waikiki Beach for a few hours, you will see catamarans come and go, launching into the Pacific and returning a while later. Before long you are likely to inquire about cost and the length of the excursion. You will return to your towel and think it over, watching more catamarans set sail and return. Finally, you will indulge yourself and whoever you are with. So, why not cut out all the uncertainty, the waiting and debating? Plan ahead. After all, we both know you will end up on the water no matter what. Here is what you should know about catamaran cruises in Waikiki.
Outrigger Catamaran offers a truly memorable experience, setting sail along Oahu’s pristine coastline. They will kill the engines and let the trade winds take you along the Pacific in quiet, as you watch Waikiki Beach fall into the distance. You will see Diamond Head Crater and Black Point in ways you never could on land. The boat you will be aboard is the Outrigger Catamaran, a former championship racing catamaran that is forty-five feet long and twenty-four feet wide. Able to accommodate forty-nine passengers, the Outrigger Catamaran is equipped with two 25 horsepower Honda engines, a digital Bose sound system, custom fitted Spectra nets for lounging, luxury mid-deck seating, two restrooms, bar, and lifeguard certified crew. Located right on Waikiki Beach in front of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach Hotel, they offer a ninety-minute excursion for $30, plus tax and fees. Outrigger Catamaran operates daily. Visit Outrigger Catamaran at their website at http://outriggercatamaranhawaii.com/index.htm and click on Daily Sailing for more information.
Maita’i Catamaran also launches off of Waikiki Beach, and is located between the Halekulani Hotel and the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The forty-four foot catamaran carries up to forty-seven passengers but they limit numbers to ensure maximum comfort. Their ninety-minute cruise is $23 but does not include refreshments, which are made available for purchase on board. Check Maita’i Catamaran out online at http://www.leahi.com/ for further information.
Na Hoku II is the bright yellow catamaran with the red and yellow striped sails. The Na Hoku II ties off right near Duke’s Barefoot Bar (and usually draws some of Duke’s crowd). Their ninety minute catamaran cruise costs $30 and includes beverages such as beer (Bud and Coors Light), Mai Tai’s, vodka, gin, scotch, and bourbon drinks. This tour may be a bit rowdy but it’s a lot of fun. Check out their website at http://www.nahokuii.com/ to see if this is the catamaran tour for you.
Aloha, and enjoy your catamaran cruise in Waikiki.
