Can You Travel Between Hawaiian Islands By Boat?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The Open Sea Between Molokai and Oahu


When sailing around the Hawaiian Islands, you rarely venture out into the open ocean

. Most travels keep you near the islands or in the semi-protected channels between them. The only time you will travel through the open Pacific is when you go directly between Oahu and Molokai.

How do you travel between islands in Hawaii?

By far the best way to travel between Hawaii’s islands is

by plane

. In almost all cases it’s also the only way to travel too. There are three main airlines that operate regular daily flights between Hawaii’s main islands, Hawaiian Airlines, Mokulele Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Can you take a boat to island hop in Hawaii?


No. There are no bridges

. Travel between Hawaiian islands is limited to inter-island flights and limited ferries.

Can you take a boat from Kauai to the Big Island?

The Ferry Between Kauai and the Big Island

However,

there are no longer any ferries operating between the Big Island and Kauai

. This is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future due to environmental concerns. So plan on traveling by plane to and from the Lihue airport.

Is it worth island hopping in Hawaii?

And is it worth the trip?

Island hopping in Hawaii is absolutely worth it

. The islands are all incredibly different and it’s easy to get from island to island. But it’s important to know that island hopping can be time consuming so you want to make sure your trip is long enough for these extra travel days.

Can you sail from Honolulu to Maui?


A multi-day sailing adventure in Hawaii starts in Oahu and then takes you across the Kaiwi Channel to the windward neighbor islands of Molokai, Lanai, Maui or possibly the Big Island

. Crossing the Kauai channel to the west is a longer blue water passage, but is possible if the conditions are right.

How long does it take to sail from Oahu to Molokai?

HAWAII FERRY OPTIONS

The Molokai Ferry leaves twice a day from Lahaina, Maui, to Molokai. The ferry trip takes

90 minutes

.

Can you sail your own boat to Hawaii?

Basically,

a sailboat can go from California bay to Hawaii due to its close nautical vicinity

. A boat trip from California to Hawaii covers approximately 2,500 nautical miles and can take up to two weeks to complete.

Can you travel between islands in Hawaii Covid?


There are no travel restrictions for travel into Hawaii from the Continental U.S. as well as travel within the Hawaiian Islands

. As of March 26, you no longer need to quarantine, take a COVID-19 pre-travel test or show proof of vaccination.

Why are there no ferries between Hawaiian Islands?

Ferry operations were suspended in March, 2009 after

the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a state law allowing the Superferry to operate without a second complete environmental impact statement was unconstitutional

. The company went bankrupt as a result of these actions preventing service in Hawaii.

Can you do day trips between Hawaiian Islands?

Whether you’re staying on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, or the Big Island, visit any of the others with these

one-day guided trips

! See Pearl Harbor, the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Road to Hana, Mount Haleakala, or the famous Volcanoes National Park from any island, all without needing a hotel or rental car!

Can you take a boat from Maui to Big island?

In the case of Maui to the Big Island, however, your options are more limited. Sadly,

there are no ferry services connecting these two islands for your day trip

, so you’ll have to fly. Right now, there are a few commercial airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines, offering services from Maui to the Big Island.

How much does it cost to travel between Hawaiian Islands?

Hawaii inter-island: Using Honolulu to Maui or Kauai as example routes, fares during most travel times typically range from

$118 (this week’s sale) to as much as $239 round trip

. Based on a distance of 100 miles even, that comes out to between $0.59 and $1.19 per mile.

Can you take a ferry from Kauai to Oahu?

How do you travel between Oahu and Kauai? You must fly.

There is no passenger ferry service

.

Can you take a boat from Oahu to other islands?

Travel by Ferry


It is not currently possible to take a ferry directly from Oahu to the outer islands

. Ferries run only between the islands of Maui and Lanai and between Maui and Molokai. Catch a ferry between Lahaina on Maui and Manele Bay on Lanai with the Maui-Lanai Expeditions company.

Can you see Maui from the Big Island?

I think Hapuna beach is the best one in Big island. It has not only white sand, life guard, and enough tree shade, but also a spacious view. I was so surprised to see Maui island over sea.

How long is a boat ride from Oahu to Big Island?

How long does it take to sail from Oahu to Big Island? It has taken as long as

26 hours

(small boat with poor conditions) and as fast as 6 hours but that was on a Navy ship and they not only have power but don’t have to pay for their own gas.

Which is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit?


Oahu

is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $2,625. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in nearly $1,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $3,600.

Can you drive from Honolulu to Maui?

Renting a car is a great idea, but

you can’t drive to Maui from Honolulu because they’re on different islands

. Instead, you’ll either have to take a ferry (unfortunately, cars aren’t allowed on it) or an airplane.

Can I fly to Hawaii and then cruise the islands?

Book a cruise from Hawaii to home:

You can fly to Hawaii

, enjoy your vacation there and then take a cruise back home. This option allows you to spend as much time as you like in Hawaii prior to your cruise portion.

Which Hawaiian island is best for sailing?

Not only is

Oahu

the capital island with the largest population, but Honolulu on the island of Oahu is also home to Hawaii’s three ASA affiliated sailing schools, Sail Hawaii, Waikiki Sailing School, and Honolulu Sailing based out of Kewalo and Ala Wai harbors, next to the world famous Waikiki Beach.

How long does it take to sail around the Big Island?

It’s a trans-equatorial route, so you’ll be passing through light air near the equator, which can be slow and may take some motoring. It’s a little over 2,500 miles, taking

between 10 and 20 days

, depending on your speed.

Can you live on a yacht in Hawaii?


Ala Wai and Keehi Lagoon are the only state harbors that allow people to live on their boats

. According to DLNR, the Ala Wai Boat Harbor may have up to 129 people living on their boats and 35 can live aboard at Keehi Lagoon Harbor.

Can you take a boat from Big Island to Honolulu?

The only way to get to the Big Island from Oahu is to fly.

There is no ferry

.

Can you sail around Oahu?

If the plan is to circumnavigate Oahu, with regular Trade Winds (east/ northeast, less than 25 knots),

it’s best to go around the island counter-clockwise

. The roughest, the upwind part will be in the beginning, passing Diamond Head buoy and beating to windward around Koko Head and Mokapu’u Point.

Is there still a ferry from Maui to Molokai?

Unfortunately, in the case of Maui to Molokai, your options are rather limited. For several decades, a ferry service was available from Lahaina in Maui direct to Molokai. It was a very scenic and popular crossing, but

the ferry has recently ceased operations

, so the only way to get to Molokai from Maui is to fly.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.