~ A Personal letter from Captain "Bob" Sundown! ~

My Name is Bob. Also, called Capt. Sundown. I am
one who likes to run my own boat. I think I'm the last one left doing such on Kauai. My crew are my sons and their friends. My daughter handles all the reservations and emails.

I live and work on Kauai. I run a 40' Sailing Catamaran, FROM HANALEI BAY on Kauai's North Shore. My crew and I take 17 visitors at a time on my sailing expeditions.

During the winter season I offer a Morning Whale Watch, Fishing and Sightseeing tour! This is my favorite time of year to invite passengers on board to kick back, relax and really enjoy some fishing! We'll always be on the lookout because the winter months make for very effective Humpback whale and dolphin watches.

During the Spring, Summer, Fall, I'll offer a 6 hr. sailing expedition (with snorkeling and lunch) of the entire Na Pali Coast. I'll show you all 8 of the Na Pali valleys on this tour.

In the Summer season when the days are long and we're able to offer two spectacular Na Pali sailing tours in one day, I'll offer a 3 Hour Na Pali Sightseeing Sunset Sail which showcases 6 out of the 8 total Na Pali valleys! We'll travel from Hanalei Bay to the Honopu Archway (made famouse by the King Kong film) and you'll return to beautiful and romantic Sunset views over Makana Mountain, better known as Bali Hai.


Even I can hardly believe anyone could be so lucky as to make a living this way. In Hanalei, on a sailing cat designed and built for my backyard.

But what really makes me a bit different and allows me to work from here in Hanalei is a matter of touring STYLE.

STYLE demands that I take a few passengers, rather than fifty.

STYLE is why I depart from lovely Hanalei Bay. You'll see amazing beauty before we even leave the mooring.

STYLE is why I designed and built a swift, smooth, fumeless, quiet sailing boat for the waters and remote landing sites of Kauai.

By departing from Hanalei Bay, you will immediately see the Famous Na Pali Mountains and cliffs. This port allows me to show you ALL 8 Valleys of the Na Pali Coastline, ALL the waterfalls, and ALL the beaches of Na Pali in a leisurely manner.

In fact Hanalei Bay itself is such a special place that environmental laws designed to protect it allow us to take small, personal, loads only. I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO RUN FROM HERE.

Another reason for the small and personal type tour is where it allows us to snorkel. You see, boats carrying more than 18 passengers are not allowed to enter the only safe turtle and fish filled bay, at the extreme west end of the Na Pali, called Nu'alolo Kai. It is a restricted and classic snorkeling place.

You will find no cattlemarans associated with Capt. Sundown.

Captain Sundown has no loudspeakers or microphones and NO Diesel motors.

I offer affordable prices, private charters, dolphins, whales (in season), flying fish, turtles, fishing.

It's a big ocean........just ask. I promise a day on the water you won't soon forget.

As a matter of fact, it is so real that there are those who remember it forever just because it is so natural. I sail for real, especially on the day run. The Sunset tour is toned down a bit so you have a romantic evening.

God Bless,
Capt. Bob

Any other departure point requires 60 minutes to get to the Na Pali, and 60 to get back. On most such tours you will see very little of the Na Pali, and certainly not in any kind of a leisurely manner.

If you must go from the West side, verify that you will actually see the green valleys, both archways, and the waterfall inside the cave. These are the true splendors of Na Pali. To come so close and miss them is tragic.

Departing from those distant harbors does allow those boats to take large passenger counts, like 49 or 150 at a time. And these operations are absolutely needed to fuel the time-share sales programs. We just don't gear our operation to depend on it. It requires more crowded boats than are allowed to go from Hanalei.

There are those who would have you believe there are no boats running from Hanalei. We are here, since 1971. Running daily an order from a Federal Judge. What I really wonder is what else they will try to bull you about if such is their sales style.

If you hear from some activities people that we are not running from Hanalei, they are likely Timeshare sponsored and trying to get you to go from Port Allen. You'll not likely see the whole coast on those rides.