Explore the Na Pali coastline—inaccessible to cars—on a 65-foot (20-m) double-decker catamaran before stopping off the shore of Niihau for uncrowded water time. Choose to snorkel or scuba-dive in the crystal-clear waters for a chance to encounter fish and sea turtles swimming above colorful reefs.

The journey from Port Allen starts with sightseeing along the Na Pali coast before crossing the 17-mile (27.35-km) wide channel to the forbidden island of Niihau. Gaze at the velvety green cliffs stretching more than 4,000 feet (1,219 m) skyward and take in the view of waterfalls cascading down the mountainside to the teal ocean while you enjoy a light continental breakfast and coffee.

Once the catamaran reaches Niihau, prepare to dive into the warm waters with visibility reaching up to 200 feet (61 m). With your snorkeling gear in hand, gently enter the water from the swim step or take the plunge from the waterslide. If you are scuba diving, get suited up with your instructor and get ready to explore at greater depths.

Back on the boat, savor a deli-style buffet lunch while the captain takes you back to port. Soak up the warm rays of the sun while sipping a specialty Mai Tai or other beverage of your choice and keep your eyes on the horizon in search of the playful dolphins calling this magnificent place home.

The Forbidden Island:

Niihau is the smallest of Hawaii’s inhabited islands. The island is known by its nickname of the ‘Forbidden Island’ as it is generally off limits to the public and only relatives of the island’s owners and invited guests are allowed to step foot on the land. The 4.9 million year old Island of Niihau is approximately 6 miles wide and 18 miles long and has only a few hundred permanent residents, almost all of whom are native Hawaiians. Our Niihau adventure offers an up close look at the the coast of Niihau and gives you the opportunity to swim, snorkel, and even scuba dive in its seldom explored crystal clear waters.