How to Visit Lanai as a Day Trip from Maui

I haven’t done a full blown trip to Lanai yet (it’s on my list!) but I’ve been twice on a day trip from Maui: once on a sailing excursion and once on my own via the ferry. 

Maui and Lanai are actually the only two islands you can “hop” between via ferry in Hawaii since they’re so close. 

There are THREE ways you could visit Lanai as a day trip from Maui. 

How to Visit Lanai as a Day Trip from Maui

Discover Lanai Tour with Trilogy

Trilogy’s Discover Lanai Tour is their top rated snorkel tour and one of the best bang for your buck excursions on Maui. 

This 8 hour excursion picks up on Kaanapali Beach and cruises over to Lanai in about an hour. It’s kind of advertised as a “snorkeling tour” but it’s actually a lot more. 

The catamaran docks in Manele Harbor on Lanai and you spend the day at Hulopoe Beach. They have a great beach set up with chairs, shade, and snacks and you can snorkel right off of the beach. 

Spend over two hours snorkeling, swimming, lounging on the beach, exploring the tide pools, and hiking to the Puʻu Pehe lookout and then it’s time for a big BBQ lunch in a pavilion overlooking the harbor. 

What I love about this trip is you can basically spend the day doing whatever you want (don’t want to snorkel? Fine! Stay on the beach instead!) and it’s a great way to see Lanai while being 100% taken care of. 

The service from the crew is exceptional, they’re basically feeding you all day (on the boat coming and going, the bbq lunch, plus snacks on the beach), and it’s so nice not having to think about how you’re going to get around and where you’re supposed to go. 

Really, all you need is your swimsuit and a towel. They pretty much provide everything else…including sunscreen!

They advertise this trip as “the best day of your vacation” and honestly…they’re right ; ) 

This is my #1 way to do a day trip to Lanai.

Take the Ferry

The most economical way to visit Lanai for the day is by taking the ferry. I STRONGLY encourage you to read the updates on the ferry’s website as the situation is very fluid post fire. 

But currently, the ferry is running out of Maalaea Harbor with 3 round trips a day, 7 days a week. And it takes about 1.5 hours from Maalaea Harbor to Manele Harbor (on Lanai). 

Round trip tickets are $66/adult (12+) and $40/child (2+). 

If you take the early ferry (6:30AM) and come back on the late ferry (5:30PM) that gives you a really decent day on Lanai. 

You could arrange to pick up a rental car to explore the island on your own or do an excursion, but if you only have one day on Lanai, I would stick to spending the day around Hulopoe Beach. 

There’s a general store in the harbor where you can buy drinks and snacks right where the ferry docks and from there, it’s an easy ¼ mile walk to the beach.

This is a NICE beach to spend the day. You’ll need to bring everything with you though. Take chairs, towels, snorkel gear, and a cooler if you want the full beach experience although there are picnic tables and plenty of shade. 

The snorkeling right off the beach is excellent and there’s a short hike past the tidepools and along the cliff to view Puʻu Pehe rock. 

The Four Seasons Lanai sits at the southeast end of the beach and you can go up to the hotel for lunch and drinks if you don’t want to pack a picnic. 

If you’re there for the full day and you only want to spend a few hours at the beach, you could arrange to take a taxi up to Lanai City to look around. Rabaca’s taxi service offers trips and tours but you have to call - (808) 559-0230 - since they don’t have a website. 

Fly to Lanai

You can usually fly round trip to Lanai for about $120. Yes, it’s on a tiny plane. Mokulele Airlines offers multiple flights per day and they leave from Kahului Airport (OGG) but it’s from the commuter terminal so you don’t have to deal with the TSA and you just show up about 30 minutes before your flight. 

I would only fly though if you’ve got a tour or specific excursion lined up (or if you’re going to rent a car and do sightseeing instead of a beach day) as you’re more limited with what you can bring with you. 

Is a Day Trip to Lanai “Worth It?”

I LOVE going to Lanai for the day and I think it’s a major selling point for a trip to Maui that you can easily island hop like this. 

And I really do think that Hulopoe Beach is one of the nicest beaches in Hawaii (soft sand! great snorkeling! shade! views for days! close to the Four Seasons beach bar!).

But is it a “must do?” Here are some things to consider: 

If this is your first trip to Maui and you’ve got a week or less, I’d lean towards skipping it and saving it for a return trip. It’s lovely, but there’s sooooo much to see on Maui that I’d probably prioritize first. 

If you’re a bucket lister and you’re checking islands off your list, go for it!

If you’ve heard it’s hands down the best snorkeling in the Maui area and that’s why you’re wanting to go ...eh, I don’t know that it’s significantly better than most places on Maui. I don’t think I’d go out of my way just for the snorkeling…it’s more about the overall experience. 

If you have the funds, I’d definitely do the trip with Trilogy over taking the ferry on your own. It’s just SUCH AN EASY AND NICE DAY.