The northwestern coast is the most secluded part of Oahu, and is only accessible via hiking, helicopter or by boat. It's also the best place to see dolphins, whales and other marine life. Experience this wonderful place with our dolphin watching and snorkeling cruise. Looking for a great sunset cruise and you still want to go snorkeling?
We will take you to see a sunset where the sun actually sets into the ocean. But first, experience an hour of snorkeling and dine on a hot Hawaiian buffet and maybe a Mai Tai or two! Looking for a one-of-a kind experience to celebrate a birthday, retirement, wedding reception or maybe just an exclusive cruise for you and your loved ones?
We will take you to see a sunset where the sun actually sets into the ocean. But first, experience an hour of snorkeling and dine on a hot Hawaiian buffet and maybe a Mai Tai or two! Looking for a one-of-a kind experience to celebrate a birthday, retirement, wedding reception or maybe just an exclusive cruise for you and your loved ones?
Services
Kai 'Oli'Oli translates to "joy on the ocean." In ancient Hawaii, a name was chosen because of a specific feeling that would follow a spirit. Wanting to express the true nature of our boat, our crew, and our adventures with guests, Kai 'Oli'Oli, or "ocean joy" was the perfect fit! The Kai 'Oli'Oli is Hawaii's most state-of-the-art power catamaran in its class!
Being a family-run business, we hold true to the local tradition that family comes first. We strive to find the best people to join our Ocean Joy Cruises ohana because we beleive if our people love what they do and are proud of their company, it will reflect in the quality of service they provide to you, our guests.
We are blessed to live and operate on the Wai'anae Coast of O'ahu, Hawai'i. We happen to share this pristine coastline with several resident pods of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins. They live and play on this side of the island and we are honored to be able to witness them in their natural environment. Sadly, over the years we've seen a growth in swim-with-dolphins tours here on our coast.
On each regularly scheduled Ocean Joy cruise, one of our crew members is a professional photographer. Our professional photographer captures images of you and your party enjoying the boat, breathtaking scenery, marine wildlife and your unforgettable snorkeling experience to capture the priceless memories you will cherish for years to come!
Reviews (25)
Rainy
Dec 20, 2021
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Troy Topp
Dec 10, 2021
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Steven B.
Oct 03, 2021
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Aaron Thompson
Sep 21, 2021
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Jay C.
Sep 19, 2021
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I vacationed solo from L.A. to O'ahu from 9/6th-11th. On 9/10th, I went on the O'ahu Catamaran Cruise.
PROS:
-Booking w/ Viator's Customer Service was great, especially complaining about my experience. They told me that they would partially refund me for the price I paid for the photos.
-The Kai' Oli' Oli Ko'Olina Hawai'i boat arrived on time
-Boat was cleaned & snorkel gear was bleached
-Free food & drinks including alcohol since it's part of the package I purchased
-SPF & Ginger Root chewables (for sea sickness) avail
-I loved the scenic views
PROS:
-Booking w/ Viator's Customer Service was great, especially complaining about my experience. They told me that they would partially refund me for the price I paid for the photos.
-The Kai' Oli' Oli Ko'Olina Hawai'i boat arrived on time
-Boat was cleaned & snorkel gear was bleached
-Free food & drinks including alcohol since it's part of the package I purchased
-SPF & Ginger Root chewables (for sea sickness) avail
-I loved the scenic views
Rhondu S.
Aug 17, 2021
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Jazmyne A.
Jul 23, 2021
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I can't say enough great things about this company and their snorkeling cruises! We had the best time on our anniversary trip to Oahu and this small part of our day really made it so much better!
Captain Mason and his crew provided top notch service and friendliness. They really went above and beyond to make sure we had the best time possible! Mason did a wonderful job at providing us with information about the scenery and location of the west coast area that we cruised on. Very knowledgeable staff.
The food and drinks provided were delicious!
When we return to Oahu in the future, I will
Captain Mason and his crew provided top notch service and friendliness. They really went above and beyond to make sure we had the best time possible! Mason did a wonderful job at providing us with information about the scenery and location of the west coast area that we cruised on. Very knowledgeable staff.
The food and drinks provided were delicious!
When we return to Oahu in the future, I will
Justin T.
Jul 22, 2021
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My friend group and I had a wonderful experience aboard the Kai 'Oli Oli and it's crew. Captain Patrick and his crew made our experience unforgettable by showing us the unbelievable views of Oahu's coastline and getting up-close to see dolphins. We also stopped in the middle of the ocean to snorkel for about 30 minutes, which is included in our package. All of the equipment is provided and sanitized before being handed out to passengers. During the snorkel session, you will see plenty of Oahu's native sea life. On our way back to port, we enjoyed authentic Hawaiian cuisine along
Lisa Movassaghi
Jul 18, 2021
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My husband and I really enjoyed everything about this excursion. Best catamaran excursion we have taken. The crew was amazing. They were very well organized, disciplined, and very attentive to all our needs. The captain interacted with many of the patrons and really made it a personal experience!
The views were beautiful. Everything that is described is fulfilled and it is a different experience than the plans offered in Waikiki since where this tour passes the waters are with fewer waves and it makes the experience more pleasant. Snorkeling experience very well organized and executed. We spent
The views were beautiful. Everything that is described is fulfilled and it is a different experience than the plans offered in Waikiki since where this tour passes the waters are with fewer waves and it makes the experience more pleasant. Snorkeling experience very well organized and executed. We spent
Shanice S.
Jul 14, 2021
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Booked for April 2021 (still during COVID restrictions)
Service 5/5
Food 4/5
Drinks 5/5
Husband and I decided to book a morning snorkel cruise for his birthday. We were first thinking of doing a charter, but changed our minds and decided to just invite friends to book with us if they wanted.
The crew is beyond friendly. We loved them. They're funny, they become your friends, they're serviceable, etc. Even up to booking, the phone calls were never awkward.
The boat is relatively large and spacious. Although, they were at half capacity due to COVID restrictions, I'm thinking during
Service 5/5
Food 4/5
Drinks 5/5
Husband and I decided to book a morning snorkel cruise for his birthday. We were first thinking of doing a charter, but changed our minds and decided to just invite friends to book with us if they wanted.
The crew is beyond friendly. We loved them. They're funny, they become your friends, they're serviceable, etc. Even up to booking, the phone calls were never awkward.
The boat is relatively large and spacious. Although, they were at half capacity due to COVID restrictions, I'm thinking during
Niha H.
Jul 09, 2021
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One of the BEST tours/cruises I've ever done! The staff was so genuine, nice, and helpful! They make you feel comfortable especially for someone like I who has no swimming experience. They sanitize all equipments and take covid precautions. The lunch was great and open bar! I'd recommend their dolphin/fish snorkeling cruise!
Allison C.
Jul 06, 2021
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We loved our snorkel trip with Ocean Joy Cruises! We opted for the morning calm cruise and it was very enjoyable. We spent an hour cruising along the coastline and found several pods of spinner dolphins. Then we spent about an hour snorkeling and saw a good variety of fish. Then spent the rest of the cruise enjoying lunch, drinks, music, and a fun ride! We enjoyed Captain Mason & crew! Great value & service for the cost.
Lou DAmico
Jun 29, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Value
What an amazing experience. We got to see the beautiful coast line of Oahu, be out on the ocean and see some ocean life. We got to see spinner dolphins, a sea turtle and some of the most beautiful fish and reefs in Hawaii. The staff was amazing, the food was good and the photographer (Meg) took some amazing pictures.
What an amazing experience. We got to see the beautiful coast line of Oahu, be out on the ocean and see some ocean life. We got to see spinner dolphins, a sea turtle and some of the most beautiful fish and reefs in Hawaii. The staff was amazing, the food was good and the photographer (Meg) took some amazing pictures.
Holly P.
Jun 02, 2021
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I've done quite a few of these types of boat rides and this one has been my favorite by far. We saw SO many different types of animals. A pod of dolphins swam around our boat for like 10 minutes, a turtle swam by -- a different turtle even swam up to my husband and was like a yard away before he saw it, and we got to snorkel in a school of fish --they were all around us it was magical. The captian was a great tour guide and gave us awesome fun facts. I definitely recommend
Stetson B.
Apr 01, 2021
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Captain and crew very rude. Â On 28 march 2021, I was ordered by the captain to vacate a public use offshore mooring because the mooring "belonged to him." Â I don't know how long this dufus has been operating boats, but you can't stick a flag in the ocean and call it your property. Â These moorings were installed by the state over the last 20 years and are clearly for public use. Â Captain, if you're reading this you can download or pick up the DLNR pamphlet labeled "Oahu's public day use moorings." Â The title says it all.
Vince A.
Mar 09, 2021
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Very affordable and friendly I went with some family members and one of them was with a cane and they took the time to make sure she was able to get outside and mobile even during going through the surf they slowed down whenever she was moving and I really appreciated that
And yes. During season we got some great views
And yes. During season we got some great views
Esther C.
Jan 16, 2021
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Oceanjoy cruises was such an awesome experience! The staff were extremely friendly and personable (pat, meg, and captains name..?). At the start of the trip Captain Shane greeted us and took the time to get to know us and get us updated on the agenda for the day. We saw whales, turtles, and a ton of fish. The captain was hilarious and had a wealth of info to share about the wildlife. The boat was quite large and there were only 8 of us on a 50 passenger boat due to covid. I also felt reassured and safe because 2 of the staff members were swimming around with us when we were snorkeling and showing
Bruce H.
Jan 05, 2021
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#grateful this turned out to be a amazing whale watching in Hawaii tour Cruise the captain and all the employees made this Advent extremely special it was early in the morning when we took off but everybody seem to be up and motivated excited to be working again it's always awesome when someone is able to work and do their passion at the same time you can tell all the employees are doing their passion I'm getting paid what a great experience I will recommend this to all my friends and family I am personally never leaving the island this will be the Bowtie Charter when I do my pedal out
Lydia Bell
Dec 02, 2020
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We had an awesome time on the Ocean Joy Sunset Cruise tonight! Our Sailing Crew Patrick, Pat and Mani were so great! The ride was so smooth, the afternoon was perfect and Mani was so attentive taking so many awesome shots of us and the ocean wildlife! They were all so personable, helpful and friendly. We felt like we were in good hands and the food was good too!
Trudy A.
Apr 09, 2020
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I've now taken 3 trips with Ocean Joy Cruises and each one has been fantastic! The first time I went out was March 2018, when my dad was visiting from Washington. We had such a great day with the awesome crew of Kai'Oli'Oli. Captain Jen did a wonderful job, she found us dolphins and took us to the perfect snorkel spot! Her awesome wahine crew of Mani, Dani and Summers kept everyone happy and comfortable throughout the trip. We had a great time snorkeling, the scenery along the way was gorgeous and the boat is super comfortable.
I had such a great time on my first trip that I took
I had such a great time on my first trip that I took
Tameka R.
Sep 05, 2019
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Robert R.
Aug 07, 2019
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From start to finish Ocean Joy knocked it out of the park. Very friendly and professional.
Weather didn't look great the day we were planning on going they said they could switch the days around if needed.
If there was room on the other cruises.
We did the sunset cruise.
Dinner was great.
Snorkeling was awesome. Use their masks we used full face masked that we brought and were messing with them for half the time. Get the pictures for 40 bucks.
Well worth it.
Out of all the things we did for 2 weeks this was one if not the favorite of my family.
Weather didn't look great the day we were planning on going they said they could switch the days around if needed.
If there was room on the other cruises.
We did the sunset cruise.
Dinner was great.
Snorkeling was awesome. Use their masks we used full face masked that we brought and were messing with them for half the time. Get the pictures for 40 bucks.
Well worth it.
Out of all the things we did for 2 weeks this was one if not the favorite of my family.
Jason S.
May 10, 2019
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I have experienced several snorkeling tours around the world and never have I had such an amazing experience with such a caring and thoughtful crew. They genuinely were there to serve the guests on the ship. Starting with the safety briefing followed by departing the marina, cruising the coast line, stopping periodically to scope out dolphins, snorkeling on the reef and spotting turtles, and the Hawaiian Buffet lunch we're all amazing. We were the only family with children (5, 7, and 10) on our tour and they made sure all three girls had a great time and a special experience.
We stayed at
We stayed at
Andrew L.
Dec 06, 2018
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A less than ideal experience, for a number of small reasons. I think any other day, it would have been something awesome. When I read all the other comments, people seen to have a good time on these things, so maybe my experience was a fluke.
Firstly, morning bus ride from Waikiki was long, like about an hour just in town, before the 40+ minute ride to the boat. That's nearly two hours on a bus. Not really ideal to start the day. Also, we were told to wear our swim outfits on the bus ride, of which the air conditioner was on, full blast. So it was a freezing cold two hour bus ride.
Firstly, morning bus ride from Waikiki was long, like about an hour just in town, before the 40+ minute ride to the boat. That's nearly two hours on a bus. Not really ideal to start the day. Also, we were told to wear our swim outfits on the bus ride, of which the air conditioner was on, full blast. So it was a freezing cold two hour bus ride.
Christie S.
Dec 03, 2017
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Had the honor of sailing aboard the beautiful Kai'Oli'Oli catamaran during a Rotary Club fundraising event for local community groups - a women's shelter and foster childrens home last month. One of my chapter's fellow Rotarians Shane Griffin is the owner of Ocean Joy Cruises and generously hosted our Rotary Club fundraiser. Sailing on the Kai'Oli'Oli w/ 40 other Rotarians and their families & friends was absolutely amazing!
What made the Ocean Joy Cruises sail aboard the Kai'Oli'Oli for the Rotary Club fundraising event awesome:
-We saw a family of
What made the Ocean Joy Cruises sail aboard the Kai'Oli'Oli for the Rotary Club fundraising event awesome:
-We saw a family of
