Makana Charters and Tours, a Native Hawaiian family-owned business based in Waimea on Kauai's west side, operates catamaran tours along the Na Pali Coast with a focus on maximizing time on the water and sharing cultural history. The company traces its guiding legacy to the early 1800s, when the family first led visitors along the coast aboard double-hull sailing vessels from the same west-side base it uses today.
According to the company, its family history on Kauai includes early roles in island governance, the founding of schools and churches, the naming of Lihue, and contributions to the island's early economy. That heritage is documented across the company's story and background. Makana Charters continues the legacy of Liko Kauai Cruises, with captains who share the island's history and cultural context as part of every tour.
The company describes its captains as cultural captains—local guides who connect the geography of the coast to Hawaiian history and the family's own lineage. Rather than treating the coastline as a backdrop, the captains narrate place names, history, and cultural meaning, which is a central reason guests cite when explaining why they tour with Makana Charters.
Makana Charters runs most of its tours from Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha, with the Amelia K departing from Port Allen. The west-side launch points sit closer to the Na Pali Coast than many other operators, meaning less transit time and more time spent along the coastline itself. Its office, open to visitors, is at 4516 Alawai Road in Waimea, the historic west-side town that serves as the gateway to Waimea Canyon and west Kauai.
The company's approach is reflected in its reputation: more than 15,000 combined five-star reviews on Google and Tripadvisor, a 4.9-star rating on both platforms, and recognition on Tripadvisor every year from 2017 through 2026. Its fleet of five custom-built power catamarans runs 4.5- to 5-hour Na Pali Coast tours that include snorkeling, sea cave exploration, and wildlife viewing, with snorkel gear, a deli lunch, and refreshments provided. Sea cave entry and snorkeling are weather- and ocean-condition dependent.
