Head to Oahu's wild west side with AO Hawaii to spend a morning among wild dolphin pods, green sea turtles, and colorful reef fish. You cruise the calm Waianae coast on a big double-decker catamaran, snorkel in clear water, and watch the dolphins in their home waters from a respectful distance, all backed by a round-trip shuttle and a Hawaiian lunch.
Adults 12+ $179, Children 3 to 11 $159, infants free. Round-trip shuttle from the Waikiki and Ko Olina areas included.
This is a proper west-side ocean adventure with AO Hawaii, out of Waianae Boat Harbor on the quiet, sunny side of the island most visitors never reach. You board a roomy 40-passenger double-hulled catamaran and cruise a coast known for its clear water, its resident sea turtles, and the wild spinner dolphin pods that live here. The Waianae mountains rise behind you the whole way, and the vibe is easygoing and local.
Out on the water, the crew finds the dolphin pods and lets you watch them in the wild. Because these are wild Hawaiian spinner dolphins, the boat keeps a respectful distance of about 50 yards in line with NOAA guidelines, so the animals stay calm and undisturbed. When it is time to get in, you snorkel with Hawaiian green sea turtles and bright reef fish in the shallows, with gear and life vests provided so everyone can join in. From about December through April, humpback whales pass through these same waters.
Back on board there is a Hawaiian lunch of Kalua pork and cabbage over sweet potato, plus drinks and water, and you go home with a souvenir. The round-trip shuttle from the Waikiki and Ko Olina areas means you never have to touch a steering wheel. Just bring your swimsuit, a towel, and reef-safe sunscreen. One quick heads-up from the crew: bananas are not allowed on the boat, an old sailor's tradition they still keep.
Departure and pickup times are set when you book, so confirm your exact time and meeting point on your reservation. The order of activities can shift with the ocean and the weather.
Come in your swimsuit and bring a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. A wetsuit can be rented for a small fee ($10 for adults, $5 for children). Please note that bananas are not allowed on the boat.
There is no need to drive on this one. A round-trip shuttle is included from the Waikiki and Ko Olina areas and takes you out to Waianae Boat Harbor on Oahu's west side, about an hour up the coast from the hostel. Ask the front desk to confirm your pickup point and time when you book, since departure times are set at booking. The map below shows the harbor where the boat leaves.
The dolphins are wild, so for their safety and yours the boat keeps a respectful distance of about 50 yards, in line with NOAA guidelines. You watch the pods from the boat, and the in-water snorkeling is with Hawaiian green sea turtles and reef fish.
It leaves from Waianae Boat Harbor on Oahu's west side, about an hour from Waikiki. A round-trip shuttle from the Waikiki and Ko Olina areas is included. Ask the front desk to confirm your pickup point and time.
The round-trip shuttle, snorkel gear with a mask, fins, and life vests, a Hawaiian lunch of Kalua pork and cabbage with sweet potato, drinks and water, and a souvenir.
No. Gear and life vests are provided and the crew helps first-timers. A wetsuit can be rented for a small fee if you want extra warmth.
Adults ages 12 and up are $179, children ages 3 to 11 are $159, a ride-along seat is $159, and infants 0 to 2 are free. Ask the front desk about booking.
There are no refunds or rescheduling within 48 hours of the shuttle pickup time, or within 72 hours for groups of 6 or more. On the day of the tour, a wrong pickup location, wrong meeting time, or delay is treated as a cancellation with no refund.
