Captain Sundown
Napali Sea Tours-

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808.826.5585
Email Us!

Captain Sundown and Family Welcome You Aboard Our Hawaiian Sailing Catamaran
Phone: 808.826.5585    Email Us!

Frequently Asked Questions:  (updated as of 4/26/08)

Do you offer tours year round?

Yes! 

The best time of year in regards to the best sailing conditions for sightseeing (and snorkeling) the Na Pali Coast with our exclusive Hanalei Bay and North Shore departures are in the summer and early fall. 

Special Note for Fall/Winter Season Travelers: When traveling to Kauai in the fall (October) to the early spring time (April), please plan your ocean activity early in your stay if possible. This way you can roll over your sail in the event of cancellation due to inclement weather or ocean conditions. Please keep alternate dates clear in your schedule as a backup plan. 

Is there shade on the boat?

Yes! We have a cabin area with a new cabin top and there's cushioned seating as well! This way you have the benefit of sitting in the cabin to have time away from the sun but still be able to see outside the cabin as well. The sails also provide partial shade while you're out on deck. 

Do you offer any discounts/coupons for your tours?

What time should I leave my South Shore (for example: Poipu) Residence/Hotel to arrive on time for our North Shore check-in? 

We strongly recommend for you to leave your hotel or private residence two hours prior to your check in time to avoid traffic which may cause you to miss your check-in time. 

Other estimated driving times:

From: Hanalei/Haena/Tunnels/Ke'e: approx. 5-25 minutes

From Princeville: approx. 10 minutes

From Kilauea: approx. 15-20 minutes

From Wailua/Kapa'a: approx. 30-40 minutes 

From Lihu'e: approx. 45-60 minutes

From Hanapepe/Waimea: approx. 2-2.5 hours

Please try to anticipate traffic in your departure times.

Should I arrive early for check-in? 

You are welcome to arrive at 10-15 minutes early to the designated check-in time to get familiar with your surroundings and where we'll be meeting. 

Will I get seasick?

Everyone handles the Na Pali Coastline differently and it's difficult to be able to say how you particularly will take to being down the Na Pali. 

Is the Na Pali bumpy/choppy/rough?

The Na Pali Coast is a very rugged coastline comparable to white water rafting. We consider the Na Pali Coastline to be an "11" on a adventure scale of 1-10! Please prepare for a wet and wild adventure if you decide to join us on our Na Pali Coast Boat tours! 

As we mentioned earlier, there are certain times of the year that are better when planning for a Na Pali Coast tour with Captain Sundown's: the summer months of June through September are usually very nice. The ocean conditions are at their best and it makes for great sailing (and snorkeling) tours. 

By fall, winter, and spring months, there's an very good chance that there may be some unfavorable ocean conditions. If you are planning to join us from October through April, please plan to schedule your boat trip with us early in your stay and allow clear alternate dates in your planning in case we need to reschedule your reservation due to inclement weather and poor ocean conditions. 

Do you allow children under 7 (including infants and toddlers) years old?

How far is the NaPali Coast from Hanalei Bay ?
Captain Sundown's NaPali Sailing adventure starts from Hanalei Bay is only "7" minutes from most Princeville and North Shore resorts and is where the NaPali coastline starts.

Caution:  Not all NaPali boat tours are alike! You get what you pay for!

Departing from Port Allen requires an early morning  2.5 hour drive from Kauai's North shore resorts. This means you need to be on the road by 4 or 5 a.m. just to make check-ins, followed by a "23 mile boat ride" just to reach the NaPali from Port Allen.

But most importantly, many tour boats departing from the West side do not show you the green North end of the NaPali where all the waterfalls and lush valleys are. They simply don't have the time to run two tours and show you the NaPali too!  Some turn around as soon as they get to the Napali without even touring it.

It is incredible to us how many visitors, after coming all this way, don't get to see the NaPali because they chose the wrong boat company from the West side of the island. Be very sure when you book with the west side companies of where they are taking you, how much coast you will see and where you will be allowed to snorkel.

What makes Capt. Sundown's NaPali tour different from all the other boats?
Answer: Location, Location, Location!
Hanalei Bay departures insure you will enjoy the sights and sounds of Kauai's spectacular North Shore. Sites include the Hanalei Pier, rushing waterfalls, Piko Cave, Puff the Magic Dragon, and we guarantee the "entire" Na Pali Coast state park. Remember, the NaPali starts in Hanalei!

Will we see Dolphins?
We certainly do see a lot of marine wildlife during our tours and we hope that during our tour that we'll have the blessing of seeing these beautiful creatures along the way down the Na Pali! During our Na Pali tours, we not only hug the coastline, a popular destination of Spinner and Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, but we go offshore for extreme encounters with the large Dusky Dolphins, the deepest diving of the Dolphin species. Duskies often appear battle-scarred from encounters with prey and with each other. Dolphins are fearless and can swim extremely close to the boat (known as bow-riding), often swimming right under your feet! 

Do you ever catch fish on your tours ?
Yes! Captain Bob enjoys hauling the big ones on board and our passengers get to share in the excitement by reeling them in ! We have caught Ono, Ahi, Kahala, Mahi Mahi, and Barracuda just to name a few!

Where is Bali Hai ?
Sailing along "Nurses Beach",(Lumahai) the most photographed beach in the world, to the end of the road, we reach famous Makana, also known as "Bali Hai" a giant of a mountain rising 3,000 feet above sea level. While "Bali Hai" is the mythical name for this magnificent rock, the Hawaiians named it Makana, "the gift".

How far down the Napali coast does Captain Sundown's sailing tour go?
On our morning 6 Hour Total Na Pali Deluxe Snorkel Sail, we'll show you everything end-to-end Hanalei to Nualolo Aina. Enjoy sailing off shore for top to bottom views of this spectacular coastline!

On our afternoon 3 Hour Na Pali Sightseeing Sunset Sail, we'll show you everything from Hanalei Bay to Pohaku'au and beyond! You'll also get to see a magnificent and romanic Sunset over Bali Hai upon your return to Hanalei Bay. 

What time should arrive for check-ins?
Check in and departure times are subject to change. Please remember to check in with our office when you arrive on Kauai to ensure that all your information provided on your email confirmation is still accurate and up-to-date!

What should we bring for the tour?
The best recommendation we can give for packing for our Na Pali tours is to pack like you are going to be spending the day at the beach! Please prepare for the tour by wearing swimwear or beachwear, something you won't mind getting wet. Bring disposable cameras (or your regular camera, caution it could take a splash), a windbreaker style jacket is useful, hats, towels, sunscreen and a big Hawaiian smile!

Is there a toilet on board?
Yes, we have a marine toilet facility.

Do you provide snorkel gear?
Yes! We can provide snorkel gear or you can bring your own. If you require prescription or Optical masks please bring, we have regular snorkels, fins and masks on board.

What is the seating like on board and is there any shade ?
We have open deck seating. This means you may move about freely.  You may choose       to relax in our completely shaded and cushioned cockpit area, or ride in the warm tropical    sun on the padded deck seating, or for real fun in the sun, ride the wild and wet trampolines on the bow. Extensive shade is provided in the cabin/cockpit area by our new cabin-top.

Do we snorkel NaPali?
Yes! On our 6 Hour Total Na Pali Snorkel Sail, Captain Sundown insures you will snorkel NaPali in addition to sightseeing. We plan to snorkel at with Aawapuhi or Nualolo Kai located at the far end of the coast.

Note: Not all tour boats snorkel NaPali. Only boats with a C.O.I of 18 passengers or under may snorkel at Nualolo Kai!

Snorkeling is offered along the Na Pali when the ocean conditions permit during the Winter/Spring months. Otherwise if you have a south-eastern shore departure (Nawiliwili Harbor), you'll snorkel at Kipu Kai.

How long do we snorkel?
We provide about 45 minutes to 1 hour for your snorkeling.

What type of lunch is served?
Lunch is prepared daily by our local deli. We serve a roast beef or a turkey sandwich on French bread. Fresh island fruit, cookies, chips, soft drinks, bottled water and juices are offered complimentary. For any special diatary needs, the passengers must bring his own.

Why do we get to leave from Hanalei Bay while all other tour boats have had to relocate or shut down?
In the ten years that followed Hurricane Iniki an Illegal tour boat industry was allowed to flourish in Hanalei Bay at the expense of the community, the environment and our small family business. 

We were among a handful of boaters legally permitted (and coast guard documented) to operate in Hanalei Bay. Captain Bob, "Captain Sundown" operated his "one boat" sailing company for 31 years of his life right in Hanalei Bay ocean waters.
In an effort to "end the controversy" Governor Ben Cayetano ordered all tour boats out of Hanalei. 

Then in June 2001 by the grace of God and several profoundly good lawyers, we presented our case before a Federal Court Judge, who ultimately prevented the State from destroying our legally established businesses of over 25 years operation. 

Having been faithful to our State permit and operating an environmentally safe vessel we have been granted the opportunity to maintain our small family tour boat business in Hanalei Bay.
We now operate lawfully on the orders of the Honorable Judge Helen Gillmor. We are told ours is a landmark case.

To read more about this story, click here .