Ferry Travel in Hawaii

You may or may not have heard of the recent start up (and quick demise) of the Hawaii Superferry, which promised quick and easy travel between the main Hawaiian Islands. It’s a long story (on both sides) as to what happened to the Superferry, but suffice to say that it’s no longer an option for interisland travel.

So what is left for Hawaii ferries between the islands? Well, the main form of interisland travel in Hawaii is still via air travel and it doesn’t appear that that will change in the near future. However, if you’ll be staying on Maui and want to get to either Lanai or Molokai you do have the option of traveling by ferry as well.

Maui to Molokai by Ferry

• There are two departures daily (one on Sundays) between Lahaina harbor on Maui and Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai.
• If you need more than just transporation, day excursion packages are available, as well as guided tours. For details, please visit MolokaiFerry.com.
• Adult ticket prices are currently $40 one way, not including the fuel surcharges.

Maui to Lanai by Ferry

• The Maui-Lanai ferry is run by Expeditions and costs $30 per adult ticket each way, plus a fuel surcharge.
• There are 5 departures from Lahaina daily starting at 6:45am through 5:45pm. From Lanai, depart between 8am to 6:45pm.
• Activity packages, including golf, hotel, and day trips can be arranged as well.

Keep in mind that the channel crossings can be quite rough, so if you are prone to seasickness, you may want to read the tips here. Morning crossings are generally more calm than the afternoon ones, as the winds are a bit calmer. All that aside, ferries in Hawaii can be a really unique way to travel between the islands – depending on the season, you may see dolphins or even humpback whales!