Lahaina Maui: Sunset Sail aboard Alihilani

About This Experience

ʻAlihilani is Sail Maui’s catamaran, and the name means “the place where the horizon meets the sea”. This sail runs about 2.5 hours in the ʻAuʻau Channel, with Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi across the water, for at most 49 guests. Once out, the crew raises the sails and switches off the motors. You can sit on the forward trampolines or in shaded cabin seating.

Sail Maui sells it as a sunset sail from Lahaina Harbor, and from December through March the listing adds whale watching to the trip. Treat the whales as a bonus: sightings are never guaranteed, and numbers drop off late in March. Reviewers from January to March 2026 describe seeing dolphins and several whales, once a group jostling for position, and others simply describe a good evening on the water with a sunset.

Check the departure time and the dock on your voucher before you go. Lahaina Harbor reopened for limited commercial operations in December 2025, after the August 2023 wildfire. As of August 2026, the County describes it as daytime use only with no power yet, and rebuilding runs into 2027–2028 (MauiRecovers). Sail Maui’s sister listings ask guests to meet at the County lot at 116 Prison Street and walk with the crew to the harbor. The County lots close at 6 p.m., so confirm parking with Sail Maui. Follow the crew and the signed route, and keep out of fenced areas.

Appetizers and an open bar are included: sparkling wine, white wine, local beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Bring a passport or ID card. The listing says the trip is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Lower-rated reviews are worth reading before you book. One says the sail was rough in strong wind, so moving around for food and drinks was hard. Another reports seasickness on board. A third says guests were dropped off across the harbor, a long walk from where they had parked.

It rates 4.8 from 371 reviews and costs from $127 per person, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If you would rather board from a beach, Teralani’s cocktail sail from Kāʻanapali is the closest alternative; see our review.

Highlights

• Sail the ʻAuʻau Channel with views of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi
• Motors off once the sails are up, for a true sailing run
• Golden-hour light over the water as the evening comes on
• Whale watching is part of the trip from December through March
• Capped at 49 guests on the catamaran ʻAlihilani

What's Included

• ✓ Light appetizers
• ✓ Open bar with sparkling wine, white wine, local beer and cocktails
• ✓ Assorted non-alcoholic drinks
• ✓ About 2.5 hours under sail on the catamaran ʻAlihilani
• ✓ Seating on the forward trampolines or in the shaded cabin

Not Included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Gratuities for the crew
• Guaranteed whale sightings

What to Bring

• A passport or ID card, which the listing asks for
• A windproof layer for spray and wind once the sails are up
• Motion-sickness medicine taken well before boarding, if you are prone to it
• Your voucher with the departure time and dock
• Cash or a card for crew tips

Good to Know & Caveats

• Sail Maui lists this sail from Lahaina Harbor. The harbor reopened for limited operations in December 2025, and official sources describe it as daytime only, so check the departure time and dock on your voucher.
• Sail Maui's sister listings meet guests at the County parking lot at 116 Prison Street and escort them to the harbor. The County lots close at 6 p.m. (County, as of August 2026).
• Whales are part of the trip from December through March only. Sightings are never guaranteed.
• The catamaran sails with the motors off. In strong wind it can heel and spray, and one reviewer found it hard to move around for drinks.
• A reviewer reports being dropped off across the harbor from the boarding point. Ask where you will land if you have parked nearby or have limited mobility.
• Not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Capacity is up to 49 passengers.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Reviews mention occasional last-minute cancellations, usually for weather.

Meeting Point

Sail Maui lists this sail from Lahaina Harbor; the GetYourGuide listing names only Lahaina, so take the exact check-in spot, dock and departure time from your voucher.