★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
Great views, the captain's facts about the area, and a friendly bartender.
Aileen · July 2026
Kauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise
Nawiliwili Bay, not Na PaliDrinks, no foodNo swimming
This is the short evening: an hour and a half on the east side of the island, near Lihue, with a drink in your hand. The boat cruises the bay, then noses up the river past an ancient fishpond while the captain tells its stories. You finish on the bay for the sunset. It does not go to the Na Pali Coast, and at $114 a person it costs well under half a Na Pali evening.
Your evening on the bay, at a glance
Ninety minutes
Short enough for small children, a late arrival or a ship's evening in port.
A river as well as a bay
The boat heads up the river past the fishpond and the refuge.
The captain's stories
Local history and legends, in English, with music.
Drinks in the fare
Wine, beer, Wiki Wiki Tiki cocktails, juice and soda.
$114 a person
The lowest fare of any boat we list.
Nawiliwili, not Na Pali
The first thing to know is where this boat goes. It leaves Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor on the east side of Kauai, next to Lihue, and stays in and around Nawiliwili Bay. The Na Pali cliffs are on the far side of the island. If they are what you came for, this is the wrong trip, and the Na Pali evening aboard Lucky Lady is the one to book.
What you get instead is short, calm and close to town. The harbour sits beside Lihue, the island's main town. Kauai Beach Boys runs the trip on the Kalapaki Kai II, sold as a 50-foot catamaran, and nothing in the fare promises a sail.
Up the Huleia River
The route runs past Kalapaki Beach, Ninini Point and the Haupu range, then turns into the Huleia River. On the way you pass the Alekoko Fishpond, a 900-foot stone wall across a bend in the river that tradition credits to the Menehune, and the edge of a national wildlife refuge set aside for endangered species. The captain explains each as you go.
The river leg is the part many guests remember. One traveller spent more than 45 minutes on it before the boat came back out for the sunset. On a night when the open sea is rough, the river is sheltered water, which makes this trip a good fallback when the Na Pali boats stay in. Things to see on land nearby are on things to do on Kauai.
Sunset on the bay
The boat comes back out onto the bay as the light goes. Hawaii keeps no daylight saving time, and sunset on Kauai moves by almost an hour and a half over the year. Book the start time the booking page offers for your date, and check the month-by-month times on the best time to sail Kauai.
What the fare pours
The $114 a person fare pays for the cruise, the narration and the drinks: wine, local beers, the house Wiki Wiki Tiki cocktail, fruit juice, soda and bottled water. The listing names no food, so eat before or after. Tips for the captain and the bartender are extra. Every evening boat, this one beside the Na Pali dinner cruises, is compared on Kauai sunset cruises.
Your ninety minutes, stop by stop
- Slip 100, Nawiliwili. Board the Kalapaki Kai II beside the Coast Guard station.
- Across the bay. Past the beach, the point and the mountains behind them.
- Into the river. Up the Huleia past the fishpond, with the captain's stories.
- The refuge. Views over the land set aside for endangered species.
- Back out for sunset. Drinks and music on the bay as the light goes.
- Ashore at the slip. Ninety minutes after you boarded.
Who this suits: a short, calm evening near Lihue
Book this if
You have one evening and not five hours. You are staying near Lihue, or your ship is in at Nawiliwili. You worry about seasickness, or you are travelling with children who would not last a long day at sea. You want a sunset drink, some local history and an early night.
Book something else if
You came to see the Na Pali cliffs: take the Na Pali evening aboard Lucky Lady, five hours with dinner. You want to swim: the morning snorkel and sail on Leila stops at a reef. You want a real meal on the boat: this one pours drinks but lists no food. Every Na Pali morning is on Na Pali snorkel tours.
What's included
In the fare
- Nawiliwili Bay and Huleia River cruise
- Narration about the Kalapaki area from the captain
- Fruit juices, soda and bottled water
- Wine, domestic and premium local beers
- Wiki Wiki Tiki cocktails
Not in the fare
- Tips
- Transport
- Food: none is listed
- The Na Pali Coast: this cruise stays on the east side
Finding slip 100 at Nawiliwili
Board the Kalapaki Kai II at slip 100 in Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, the slip closest to the U.S. Coast Guard station. Parking at the harbour is free. The booking page shows the start time for your date, and the operator's phone is 808-246-6333.
There is no hotel pickup, but you may not need one: the harbour is a short drive from Lihue Airport and the town. The harbour and the drive from Port Allen are on the Kauai sailing map.
Know before you go
- Eat first. The listing includes drinks and no food.
- Look for the Coast Guard station. Slip 100 is the one closest to it.
- Park free. The harbour lot costs nothing.
- Bring a light layer. You finish on the water after the sun goes down.
- Check the age limit. The operator's own site lists the cruise for ages 6 and up.
- Carry cash for tips. Gratuities are not in the fare.
What travellers say about the bay and the river
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
Booked at the last minute, and it beat every expectation.
Ashley · February 2026
★★★★★
The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
A fun evening that taught them far more than they expected.
Kandy · May 2026
Frequently asked questions
Will I see the Na Pali Coast?
No. This cruise stays on Nawiliwili Bay and the river, on the other side of the island. For the cliffs at sunset, take the Na Pali evening aboard Lucky Lady.
Is food included?
No food is listed. The fare covers wine, beer, cocktails, juice, soda and water, so have dinner before or after.
Does the boat sail?
No. It is sold as a 50-foot catamaran with no mention of sails, so expect a motor cruise.
Is it good for children?
It is the shortest trip we list, in sheltered water. Kauai Beach Boys' own site lists it for ages 6 and up, so check before booking a younger child.
What happens if the sea is rough?
The river is sheltered water. On one May evening with a 6- to 7-foot sea, the boat spent its time on the river instead, and you can still cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You get the full fare back if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead.
Other ways to spend a day on the water
Ready for an evening on the bay?
Check the evenings still open, with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availability