MANA Cruises + Charters · Ko Olina Marina
A 46-foot yacht leaves Ko Olina Marina with six guests at most, a hosted bar and a tasting menu the crew plates on board. It is the most personal sunset on Oahu we list, and the only one rated a full 5.0.
MANA Cruises + Charters is a Native Hawaiian-owned charter company working from Ko Olina and Waikiki since 2017. This listing is its shared sunset sail from Ko Olina Marina, 92-100 Waipahe Place, Kapolei, on a 46-foot yacht with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a full kitchen and lounging areas. Six guests is the limit, so you share the boat with two or three other couples, or have it to yourselves if you book all six seats.
The listing describes a hosted bar with Hawaiian bottled water, soft drinks, spirits, sparkling wines and beers, and a tasting menu with short rib steak and seared ahi. MANA's own page lists the rest of its current pupu tasting menu: a seared ahi tuna green salad, local herbed chicken, a sweet and spicy yellowfin sushi spoon and Hawaii style fried rice, subject to change. The crew keeps an eye out for spinner dolphins, turtles and, in season, humpbacks.
Two honest notes. One solo traveller wrote that the food is premade and served at room temperature, a let-down at the price, and felt out of place among couples. And Ko Olina is on the west side, a long drive from Waikiki; transport and parking are not included. MANA's Ko Olina sunset sails leave at 4:30 PM from September to March and 5:00 PM in summer, and the crew asks you to check in 15 minutes early. Barefoot on board.
Meet the crew at the marina in Kapolei. Shoes come off at the dock.
Departure is 4:30 PM in the cooler months and 5:00 PM in summer, per MANA. Grab a drink as the sail goes up.
The crew watches for dolphins and turtles along the west shore.
The captain and crew plate the tasting menu as the sun goes down.
Allow time for the drive back to Waikiki.
★★★★★This was an incredible excursion. Travis’ and Andi’s attention to detail was astounding. We saw dolphins, turtles, had the most incredible meal, and our glasses were never empty.
★★★★★Beautiful boat with a very knowledgeable and friendly crew. [...] The cruise is a great length. And the food was delicious. We were lucky enough to see a pod of Spinner Dolphins on our cruise and beautiful sunset.
★★★★★This sunset cruise is a wonderful experience - it's limited to a small group which means that it's calm and relaxing and you get much more personal attention.
★★★★★The food is amazing, the company was fantastic- it being a small group, we had the chance to have real conversation [...] I do not get my sea legs easily but the Captain kept it from being too crazy even with a good deal of wind and waves.
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Ko Olina Marina, 92-100 Waipahe Place, Kapolei, on Oahu's west side. Check in 15 minutes before departure.
Six at most. The listing caps each booking and each sailing at six travellers.
A tasting menu plated on board: the listing names short rib steak and seared ahi, and MANA's site adds an ahi green salad, herbed chicken, a yellowfin sushi spoon and fried rice, subject to change.
Yes, with an adult. Children 3 to 16 have a child price and infant seats are available. Alcohol is for 21 and over.
Ready to book
A 46-foot yacht for six at most, with a chef's tasting menu and hosted bar.
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