Are you planning a trip to Maui and want to do a day trip to Lanai? Keep scrolling to find out how to take the ferry from Maui to Lanai for the ultimate Lanai day trip.
This post about how to take the ferry from Maui to Lanai was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
So you’re planning a Maui trip and wondering if Lanai is worth adding to your itinerary? Short answer: yes, absolutely. And getting there is way easier than you might think.
I took the ferry over in March and honestly, it was one of my favorite parts of our entire Maui vacation.
The ferry ride itself turned into this amazing bonus whale watching experience because we went during humpback season. There were whales everywhere. I’m talking breaching, tail slapping, playing right next to the boat.
Let me tell you everything I learned so you can plan your own Lanai adventure.
Your Most Common Questions About the Ferry
How much does it cost? $30 each way, so $60 round trip per person. Honestly not bad when you think about what you get.
How long is the ride? About an hour and 10 minutes. Goes by fast, especially if you’re whale watching or just taking in the views.
Wait, where does it leave from now? Okay so this is important: it used to leave from Lahaina Harbor, but after the fires, everything moved to Maalaea Harbor. The address is 101 Maalaea Boat Harbor Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793. Don’t accidentally show up at the old location.
When should I book tickets? At least a couple weeks ahead if you can, especially if you’re going during summer or around holidays. The ferry’s pretty small and the good times fill up.
I get seasick easily. Will this be awful? The morning ride is usually smooth. Coming back in the afternoon can get bumpier. I took a Bonine before we left and felt totally fine. The ferry has a double-hull design so it’s pretty stable, but yeah, if you’re prone to motion sickness, take something about an hour before you board.
Can I actually see whales from the ferry? If you go between December and May, especially January through March, your chances are really good. My March trip basically turned into a cheap whale watching tour. It was amazing.
Do I need a rental car on Lanai? Depends what you want to do. The beach is a 10-minute walk from where the ferry drops you off. But if you want to see Lanai City or explore the island, you’ll need to book a taxi or do a guided tour. Uber and Lyft don’t exist there.
Is there food on the ferry? They sell water and soda. There’s a restroom too. I grabbed snacks before we boarded – there’s a store near the harbor.
What if the weather’s bad? They’ll cancel if it’s not safe and give you a refund. The ferry runs year-round but winter can get choppy.
Is it actually worth going? Yes. Lanai feels like you stepped back in time to old Hawaii. It’s so different from Maui, even though it’s right there.
Why Lanai is Worth Your Time
Most people visit Maui, Oahu, Kauai, or the Big Island and think they’ve done Hawaii. But Lanai? Hardly anyone goes, which is exactly why you should.
You can literally see it from West Maui. It’s that close. But visiting feels like a completely different world.
Here’s the thing about Lanai: Larry Ellison (the Oracle guy) bought 98% of the island back in 2012. Yeah, 98%.
There are two fancy Four Seasons resorts, but there’s also a free community pool, tiny grocery stores, and roads that aren’t even paved. No traffic lights. The whole island has like 3,000 people.
After visiting Hawaii more than 40 times as a professional tourist, I can tell you Lanai has something you just can’t find on the bigger islands anymore. It’s authentic. Quiet. A little bit quirky.
If you want help planning your whole Maui trip, check out my Maui Travel Guide for Families or join my free 7-day email course.
Three Ways to Get There
The Ferry (What Most People Do)
The Expeditions Ferry is the cheapest and most popular option. Three departures daily. Takes about an hour and 10 minutes.
There’s indoor air-conditioned seating and an outdoor upper deck. Get the outdoor seats if you can. Trust me on this. Especially during whale season.
Snorkeling Tours
Some boat tours go to Lanai but focus on snorkeling off the coast instead of actually exploring the island. Great if you’re really into snorkeling. Here are some good snorkeling tours on Viator.
Flying
You can fly with Mokulele Airlines. Takes about 25 minutes in a tiny 10-passenger plane. Definitely the fastest option but also the most expensive. Unless you really can’t do boats, the ferry makes way more sense.
Want to learn more about island hopping? I have a complete guide and a podcast episode about it.
Everything About Taking the Ferry
When It Runs
From Maui (Maalaea Harbor):
- 6:30 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 3:30 PM
From Lanai (back to Maui):
- 8:30 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 5:30 PM
Most people take the 11 AM over and the 5:30 PM back for a full day. You could also do a half day with the early ferry.
Quick heads up: on the second Thursday of every month, the 11 AM and 1 PM ferries don’t run because of Coast Guard safety drills. Just something to know if you’re planning around that.
Booking Your Tickets
Book a few weeks ahead if you can.
Where to Go
Again, it’s at Maalaea Harbor now, not Lahaina. The address is 101 Maalaea Boat Harbor Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793. Look for the Expeditions booth inside the DLNR/Harbor Building.
Parking Situation
There’s paid parking near the Maui Ocean Center and the dock. You pay by the hour – either at a kiosk or by scanning a QR code. Get there early if you’re catching the 11 AM ferry. The lot fills up.
When to Show Up
Get there at least 45 minutes early. You need to check in, get your boarding passes, and then line up. They stop boarding 10 minutes before departure.
Bring your ID. The name on your reservation needs to match exactly.
What the Ride is Actually Like
It’s about an hour and 10 minutes. Really comfortable. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Line up early to snag outdoor upper deck seats. And sit on the right side if you can – that’s where the whales hang out.
When we went in March, there were humpback whales the entire crossing. They were so close. Breaching, slapping their tails, playing. One of those moments you just don’t forget. My kids are still obsessed.
The ferry has bathrooms and they sell water and soda if you need it.
About Motion Sickness
Morning trips are usually pretty smooth. Afternoons can get rougher.
I took Bonine an hour before boarding just to be safe. The ferry’s built to be stable with its double-hull thing, but the Auau Channel can get choppy in winter. Better to take something if you’re at all worried about it.
What to Wear
Morning: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses. It’s sunny on the upper deck.
Coming back in the afternoon: bring a light jacket. It gets breezy and cooler on the water.
Layers are your friend.
The Whale Thing
Official whale season runs December 15 through May 15. Peak is January through March.
If you go during those months, you’re probably going to see whales. My March trip was basically a cheap whale watching tour that also happened to take us to another island. Win-win.
What to Actually Do on Lanai
Once you get to Manele Harbor, you have options. The ferry terminal is about 20 minutes from Lanai City, so if you want to go beyond the beach, you’ll need wheels.
Just Beach It
Hulopoe Beach is a 10-minute walk from the ferry. Beautiful beach, good snorkeling, right by the Four Seasons.
There are public restrooms so you can change before heading back.
Bring your own gear or grab snorkeling stuff on Amazon before your trip.
See Lanai City
You’ll need a taxi. Here are the numbers:
- Lanai City Shuttle: 808-559-0230
- Dela Cruz Taxi: 808-649-0808
- Don’s Car Service: 808-563-0150
No Uber or Lyft exists here.
Lanai City is tiny. Like, you can walk the whole thing in 20 minutes. It’s basically a park square with little shops and restaurants in old plantation houses. Super charming. Grab lunch, browse around.
Do a 4×4 Tour (My Favorite)
This is what we did and I can’t recommend it enough. We booked a guided 4×4 tour with ferry tickets.
Bruce picked us up at the ferry and drove us everywhere. Garden of the Gods (these crazy red rock formations), Shipwreck Beach, through Lanai City, all these random spots. He told us stories about growing up there and raising his kid on the island.
Most of the cool stuff on Lanai requires a 4×4 on dirt roads. If you only have a day, this is the way to see it.
The Cat Sanctuary
So apparently one of Lanai’s biggest attractions is the Cat Sanctuary where you can hang out with 600+ rescued cats. No appointment needed. Free admission (they love donations though).
They have a shuttle from the ferry terminal. Snacks and drinks too if you want to make a whole thing of it.
Random Tips That’ll Help
What to Bring
Sunscreen, water bottle, snacks, camera, jacket for the ride back. If you’re snorkeling, bring gear.
You can grab last-minute stuff near Maalaea before you board.
Bathroom Strategy
Use them when you can. There are restrooms at both ferry terminals and on the boat itself.
If you’re touring the island, definitely go before you leave the Manele terminal. Public bathrooms are rare out there.
Book Stuff Ahead
Tours, cat sanctuary shuttle, whatever you’re planning – book it. Especially during busy season. Everything’s small scale on Lanai.
Need Help Planning?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed juggling your Maui plans and adding Lanai, I offer travel consultations. I’ll help you figure out timing, book activities, make sure it all flows.
You’ll Need a Car on Maui
To get to Maalaea Harbor from wherever you’re staying. About 45 minutes from Kaanapali, 30 from Wailea, 20 from Kihei.
I always use Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they compare all the companies and have the best prices.
Is It Worth It?
Honestly? Yes.
The ferry ride during whale season is worth it just by itself. Add in exploring a completely different Hawaiian island with that authentic old Hawaii vibe, and it’s a no-brainer for $60.
Lanai feels so different from the bigger islands. It’s one of the easiest ways to island hop without dealing with flights.
Whether you’re lying on Hulopoe Beach, bouncing around in a 4×4, or cuddling cats, Lanai is just… different. In the best way.
More Help Planning Maui
Guides:
Free Email Courses:
Podcast: Listen to Hawaii Travel Made Easy for more tips. The island hopping episode is especially good if you’re thinking about visiting multiple islands.
Mahalo!
Looking for more Lanai Travel Resources? Trilogy Maui Discover Lanai Tours from Maui, Top 5 Breathtaking Lanai Hikes, and Cheap Places to Stay on Lanai!
