WEST MAUI - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 72

gamut from small inflatable rafts to massive two-tiered catamarans which can fit almost
150 people. It's important to match the tour company you go with to the type of experience
you're looking for.
SAILBOATS
The company with the largest number of snorkeling charters out of Lahaina Harbor is Tri-
logy (808/874-5649, www.sailtrilogy.com ) , which offers all-day cruises to Lana'i as well
as a four-hour snorkel along the West Maui coastline. While a couple of other boat com-
panies also travel to Lana'i to snorkel for the day, Trilogy is the only one with a commer-
cial permit to have crew and facilities based on the island. The all-day experience is truly
in a class of its own.
Departing out of Lahaina Harbor at 10am (during busier times of the year there can also
be a 6:30am departure), the 60-foot sailing catamarans travel to Manele Harbor on Lana'i
where passengers will disembark to snorkel at Hulopo'e Bay. Since Hulopo'e faces south,
during summer there is the potential for large surf, so the snorkeling can be subpar. While
this is only during a handful of days in summer, winter is nearly guaranteed to have pristine
conditions. On the beach itself, Trilogy has exclusive access to the left side of Hulopo'e
Bay and it is the only company with lifeguards, beach mats, beach chairs, refreshments,
beach volleyball, and all of the snorkeling gear right on the beach. Also included with the
price is an optional guided van tour of Lana'i City.
The other sailing catamaran departing out of Lahaina Harbor and heading to the island
of Lana'i is Paragon (808/244-2087, www.sailmaui.com ) , a 47-foot boat which only takes
24 passengers and is the island's fastest catamaran under sail. The seven-hour, $159 trip
departs at 8:30am and docks at Manele Harbor on Lana'i. You're unsupervised while you
snorkel (since the crew doesn't have permission to operate on shore) and you're given a
picnic lunch to the enjoy while at the beach. The trip returns to Lahaina around 3:30pm,
and on lucky days the crew might even hook up with an ono or mahimahi while trolling
the fishing lures under sail.
While it mostly focuses on sunset sails and sailing charters, Scotch Mist II (808/
661-0386, www.scotchmistsailingcharters.com ) is a 50-foot Santa Cruz monohull that also
operates four-hour sailing and snorkeling charters along the western shoreline of the island
for $109.
POWERBOATS
Of the larger diesel boats which operate out of Lahaina Harbor, Pacific Whale Found-
ation (612 Front St., 808/942-5311, www.pacificwhale.org ) offers the most options. Its