Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to snorkel Molokini crater for myself. The calendar picture of the crescent shaped island, surrounded by white sailboats, intrigued me for years. 

On our trip to Maui, we finally got to snorkel Molokini crater, and it did not disappoint! We did a snorkel tour with Sail Trilogy, and there were so many things I enjoyed about this. I’ll discuss it in this blog post and include some extra tips, so keep reading! 

We parked at the Ma’alaea Harbor, which was .50 cents per hour. Our tour was scheduled for about 6 hours (8-1:30pm) so we only paid $3 for parking. Not bad. 🙂 The tour sends more info on where to park, which is very helpful. Just be sure to follow the directions or you’ll end up walking forever to the right slip spot, like we did! There is more than one Sail Trilogy boat in the harbor so be aware of that and go to the right slip! 

Since I teach and perpetuate values of aloha on my blog, I notice when brands and companies align with these values too. Throughout the article I will share some of the values that I feel made this experience so great.

Even before we stepped onto the boat, the captain herself greeted us. She was so kind and welcoming, we felt like we were in good hands. The spirit of aloha was strong with all the crew members aboard. 

The boat had some reef-safe sunscreen to use, and the crew encouraged us to apply sunscreen at least an hour before getting into the water. So we put our belongings away inside the boat (there is no “secure” place to put your bag—it’s just a community area to put your bag) and put on sunscreen before choosing a spot to sit on the side of the boat. 

If you need help choosing reef-safe sunscreen, check out this list: Reef Safe Sunscreen for Hawaii 

Tip: There were two bathrooms on the boat, so that was nice to know! 

The tour took place during Hawaii’s mask mandate, so masks were required in the harbor. Once we left the harbor, however, we were free to take them off. 

Seeing Whales on the Tour

Tip: Traveling to Maui between December and March almost always guarantees whale sightings! We did a snorkel tour during this time—as opposed to a whale watching tour—because we knew we’d see whales anyways. Seeing whales on the way to Molokini was definitely a free bonus! 

I was so excited because there were plenty of whales to see! It really made the experience special. Some whales swam close to the boat, and some far. But I’d say that every 10-15 minutes there were whales to see. The captain killed the engine anytime the whales swam nearby, and the rest of us clambered to one side of the boat in order to get a close-up view. 

The captain explained to us that the younger calfs stuck close to their moms and usually mimicked them. So when a whale jumped up, you could expect to see another shortly after (if it was a female). 

Snorkel Molokini Crater Tour

The tour provided us with a cinnamon roll for breakfast. Something about Hawaii is that we love perpetuating things from the past. We learn and experience so much when we keep traditions (like with the value of “Nānā i ke Kumu”). The cinnamon roll was a recipe from Mom Coon, and it was delightful! It felt, somehow, like a piece of the company’s history handed down. The crew also gave us a cup of fresh fruit, and that was nice. 

Tip: I wish I had brought a small snack or granola bar because the cinnamon roll and fruit weren’t enough breakfast for me, so I was kind of hungry until lunch. If you have a bigger appetite, you might want to consider bringing something small to add onto this yummy breakfast!

As Molokini loomed in the distance, one of the sailors gave us a briefing on safe snorkeling, as well as best practices to mālama (care for) the reef and marine life. I really appreciated this, along with the reef-safe sunscreen. It was easy to tell that the crew members had a deep passion for the protection of the ocean, and doing what they can now to preserve it for years to come. 

The tour provided anti-fogging spray for the goggles, which really helped. The tour also required us to use one of the floaties provided. You could choose from a snap-on yellow flotation around the waist, a noodle, or a yellow vest that could convert into a floating device. 

When we arrived at Molokini, we jumped in to finally snorkel Molokini crater. A dream come true! I marveled at the beautiful fish and coral reefs. The captain said Molokini has some of the clearest waters, where we would be able to see at least 100 feet down. While the fish were amazing and all that, I couldn’t help being amazed at the sounds of the whales in the water. It sounded so beautiful and calming. 

After we snorkeled Molokini crater for about an hour, we got back on the boat. I wrapped up in a towel because of the chilly air and wind. In the packing list the tour provided us with, it did encourage us to bring a light jacket. I’m kind of weird because I don’t like wearing jackets if I haven’t rinsed the salt water off. So I just kept my towel wrapped around me as the ship sailed to the next snorkeling spot.

Tip: Bring an extra towel or something to keep warm! 

Snorkeling Another Spot

The captain directed us towards another snorkel spot. Online it said that most of the tours typically go to “Turtle Town” but this time, the captain decided to take us to a different spot. It was one of the crew member’s favorite spots, and we had the potential of seeing manta rays. 

It was a pretty spot, like almost all snorkel spots in Hawaii. But I wish we had gone to turtle town, as I’d heard lots of good reviews about it. I think we’ll have to check it out on another trip to Maui though! 

I got really cold snorkeling. But when we got back onto the boat, I was happy to find they had a little shower to rinse off with freshwater! No need to stay salty the entire boat ride back! 

When we settled down and started sailing back, the crew members immediately brought out lunch: teriyaki chicken with fried rice, green salad, and a roll. It tasted so good! 

The Values of Aloha on Sail Trilogy

What impressed me the most was the crew’s willingness to serve. They truly perpetuated the value of ho’okipa by hosting with a smile, always being happy to get whatever we needed, and taking initiative. Their love and passion for their work was so obvious. It reminded me of the value of ho’ohana—their jobs didn’t seem like “jobs” because they seemed to genuinely enjoy their work. It seemed so meaningful to them, and I loved that. 

I definitely felt full after lunch because the crew members came around with seconds. It was so relaxing and enjoyable to eat a warm meal, watch the whales in the distance, and just enjoy the moment. 

Shortly before we reached the harbor, we put our masks back on. The captain gave us a huge mahalo and thanked her crew members as well. When we left, we handed the captain a tip as a thank you. 

Tip: Bring some $$ for a tip—the captain mentioned a Venmo option but we didn’t use that method. 

Overall I’d love to sail with Sail Trilogy again. They have some other amazing tours, like a boat that goes out to Lanai and spends the day there. Wow, that would be so neat! 

My favorite part of the snorkel Molokini crater tour was the overall spirit of aloha that the crew members and captain perpetuated. Each of them welcomed us with smiles and they were all willing to laugh and help us have a good time.

The other thing I loved was the whale-sightings. What a treat! Hearing them sing as we snorkeled felt magical and, in some ways, not real. But it was real, and I have pictures and videos to remember it too! If you’d like to see the videos, check out my instagram highlights of Maui!

Your turn! What are your favorite snorkel spots in Maui? Let me know in the comments below! 

For this post, I partnered with Sail Trilogy for a discounted experience. You can count on me to be an honest and good steward of this opportunity. As always, all opinions are my own.

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