Sunset Cruises

[Reviewed by HawaiiActivities.com Staff]

​The evening began with a warm welcome as guests boarded the catamaran around 5:00–5:15pm, accompanied by live music at the dock. Light snacks were available and an open bar offe... morered a variety of tropical cocktails and local beers, creating a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The boat was quite full, which led to long lines at the bar and limited snacks at times. The sail departed around 5:30pm and lasted about an hour. Ocean conditions were still a bit rough following recent storms, but we were still able to spot a few whales, which added a special touch to the experience.

​After returning to shore, we headed straight to the luau and arrived while dinner and entertainment were already in progress, so we likely missed some of the pre-show activities such as hula lessons and cultural demonstrations. Dinner was described as a buffet, but it was actually set up more like a series of food trucks, kiosks, or booths, where guests visited different stations to receive plated items. While this setup provides a wide variety of options, it can also lead to using multiple plates per person.

​The food​ was catered by Moani Island Bistro, which was flavorful and well-prepared. Seating was first-come, first-served for this event, ​but even though​ we were seated in the back, we still had a good view of the stage. The show itself featured engaging storytelling, Polynesian dances, and impressive production elements like lighting and visuals, giving it a polished, theatrical feel.​

Overall, the combo offers a unique way to experience both a sunset sail and luau in one evening. However, timing overlaps may cause guests to miss some activities, and those sensitive to motion may find the boat portion challenging.

We enjoyed the performance combining traditional hula, music and dance with contemporary lighting and video. The food is great. Staff is friendly, welcoming and helpful. Beautiful setting. A few tweaks to the overall exp... moreerience will likely be coming as they work through these opening weeks. Waiting in lines at the "food trucks" takes some time, and the hot food was getting cold by the time we got to our tables. Perhaps the sweet bread and cold food could be plated ahead of time and more personnel added to the hot food stations. The "welcome drinks" could also be poured as guests were arriving and served on trays to speed up entry. Perhaps different colored wristbands (or stickers) on arrival could designate drink eligibility rather than adding another wristband. We got there early, but did not have time to visit any of the activities--would have liked to visit the drumming, etc.

Everything was smooth sailing from our pick up at the Hyatt to being delivered back to the Hyatt after. Boarding was quick and easy. We had a member with mobility issues and even though the boat was rocking a little bi... moret while going through the buffet she made it safely back to her seat with all her food still on the plate. Our waiter was Ryan and he was great. Very efficient and he loves to dance. He led us on a music train around the room, then got up and danced on the stage.
Food was decent, what I will say is it is typical buffet food. Nothing stood out as a WOW. The entertainment was good and lively. Also typical Polynesian dances if you've been to a Luau. Fireworks at the end of the night were spectacular and watching them from the water was a highlight.

Very friendly team. Highly recommend. Thank you very much

Friendly staff. Good drinks. Clear directions and information.

We booked this charter primarily for snorkeling, with sightseeing and fishing as secondary goals. Despite calling twice before the trip to express concerns about a 30 mph wind forecast, we were repeatedly told it was fin... moree to proceed.

On the day of the trip, the conditions were so poor that other local companies canceled their snorkeling tours. Our captain even explicitly stated that snorkeling was unsafe. We pivoted to whale watching, but saw nothing due to the weather; the conditions were so miserable we had to cut the trip short.

Most disappointing was the company’s response. When I reached out, they claimed snorkeling was still possible "for strong swimmers"—a reckless statement considering we had children with us and the waves were objectively dangerous. It’s clear this business prioritizes keeping your money over customer safety and satisfaction. Avoid this company; they do not have their customers' best interests in mind.