Booking choice: The Four Winds II sail and snorkel, from $213 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Molokini boats fall into three types: sailing catamarans that raise sails when the wind allows, big power catamarans built for comfort and crowds, and small rafts that are fast, wet and flexible.
Below: the honest answer on sailing, then the best pick for families, sailors, serious snorkelers and budgets, with live Viator ratings.
The quick answer
For families and first-timers, the Four Winds II glass-bottom catamaran. For real sailing, Sail Maui's Paragon II (at most 49 guests). For the best snorkeling and the Back Wall, the Redline raft from Kihei, rated 5.0. For turtles and learning the reef, Pacific Whale Foundation. On a budget, the Malolo.
What is the best Molokini snorkel tour?
There is no single best: it depends on whether you want comfort, sailing, snorkel time or a low price.
| Tour | Boat | Best for | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Winds II | Glass-bottom catamaran | Families, first-timers | 4.7 (858) | $213 |
| Sail Maui | Sailing catamaran | Real sailing, smaller group | 4.8 (223) | $200 |
| Redline raft | Raft, Kihei | Snorkelers, the Back Wall | 5.0 (1,646) | $199 |
| Pacific Whale Foundation | Catamaran | Turtles, learning the reef | 4.6 (834) | $198 |
| Alii Nui | Sailing catamaran | Luxury, open bar | 4.9 (135) | $306 |
| Pride of Maui | Power catamaran | Stability, SNUBA add-on | 4.7 (1,287) | $233 |
| Malolo | Catamaran | Budget full morning | 4.4 (2,476) | $160 |
| Molokini Express | Raft, Kihei | Short on time | 4.8 (143) | $147 |
Leaning towards the classic? The Four Winds II has a glass-bottom viewing room and lunch on board.
Check dates for the Four Winds II sail and snorkelDo Molokini sail and snorkel tours actually sail?
Partly: Molokini trips leave in the calm early morning, so most boats motor out, and the sailing catamarans raise the sails when the wind builds, usually on the way back.
Sail Maui says so openly: its listing describes Maui's afternoon trade winds as what powers the Paragon II. The Alii Nui advertises true open-ocean sailing. Big power catamarans like the Pride of Maui and the rafts never sail. The Four Winds II, the boat behind the "Molokini Sail and Snorkel Adventure" listing, is best thought of as a family glass-bottom catamaran rather than a sailing trip.
Sailing catamaran, power catamaran or raft?
Sailing cats for the experience, power cats for stability and space, rafts for speed and snorkel time.
- Sailing catamaran (Sail Maui, Alii Nui): quieter on the way home, smaller groups on Sail Maui, shade and restrooms.
- Power catamaran (Pride of Maui, Malolo, Pacific Whale Foundation): stable, roomy, hot or grilled lunches, but the biggest crowds.
- Raft (Redline, Molokini Express): about 15 minutes from Kihei to the crater, small groups, often the Back Wall too, but bumpy, wet and with little or no shade; the Express has no restrooms.
Which Molokini tour is best for families?
The Four Winds II: life vests for young children, sea boards, a glass-bottom viewing room and a crew that guests say is great with kids.
Guests report exactly that: "Great for families with small kids", one wrote in September 2026, mentioning life vests, floating vessels and placards to spot wildlife. Another singled out the prescription masks. The one catch is the crowd: an April 2026 guest counted 13 boats at the crater and felt it suited families more than an older active couple. See Molokini with kids for more.
Which tour really sails?
Sail Maui's Paragon II, with at most 49 guests, or the Alii Nui if you want luxury too.
A Sail Maui guest described a gorgeous sail to Molokini with loads of humpback whales on the way in November 2025, and another said the smaller sailing vessel felt more personal. The Alii Nui costs more but includes an open bar, chef-made food and bow hammocks.
Want the sails up rather than a motor ride? Sail Maui's Paragon II is a real sailing catamaran.
Explore the Sail Maui performance sailWhich tour is best for serious snorkelers?
The Redline raft from Kihei: it aims to be first at the crater, adds the Back Wall when conditions allow, and guests report three or four snorkel stops.
It is the best-rated tour here, 5.0 from 1,646 reviews. One September 2026 guest wrote of 4 snorkeling stops, and said going to the back wall was a bonus. Redline says its 5-hour tour has a bathroom on board, but a raft ride is still bumpier and wetter than a catamaran.
Which Molokini tour is best on a budget?
The Malolo at $160 is the cheapest full morning with breakfast and lunch.
It is rated 4.4, lower than the others, and reviews are mixed on crowding. The early start helps your odds of reaching the crater. If you only want the crater and do not need a meal, the two-hour Express from Kihei costs a little less.
Best value for a full morning? The Malolo includes two meals and a turtle stop.
Check dates for the Malolo Molokini morningIs Molokini crowded?
On a calm morning, yes: an April 2026 guest wrote, "We counted 13 boats of different sizes, 20 to over 100."
Bigger boats carry more people: guests report nearly 100 on the Pacific Whale Foundation boat and 54 on the Alii Nui. To beat the crowd, take the first boat out (the Redline raft aims to be first), get in the water early and swim away from the ladder. Rafts and smaller boats also leave sooner. See morning vs afternoon for timing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat to Molokini for first-timers?
A catamaran from Maalaea, such as the Four Winds II or Pacific Whale Foundation, which include instruction, flotation, meals, shade and restrooms.
Is a raft or a catamaran better for Molokini?
A raft gets you there faster, in a smaller group and often to the Back Wall; a catamaran is smoother and shaded, with restrooms. Redline does not recommend its rafts for children under 8, pregnant women or anyone with back or neck problems.
Which Molokini tour has the best reviews?
The Redline small-group raft, rated 5.0 from 1,646 reviews, followed by the Alii Nui (4.9).
Does the Four Winds II sail?
It is a 55-foot catamaran best known for its glass-bottom viewing room. Like most Molokini boats it leaves in calm morning water; if sailing matters most, pick Sail Maui or the Alii Nui.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Molokini Sail & Snorkel on the Four Winds II
- Morning snorkel at Molokini Crater, conditions permitting
- Tropical breakfast, lunch, water, soda, beer, wine and juice
- Mask, snorkel, fins, optical masks, sea boards and flotation
Molokini Snorkel & Performance Sail
- Snorkel at Molokini Crater (about an hour in the water)
- Light breakfast with local coffee, buffet lunch and drinks
- Snorkel gear, flotation and reef-safe sunscreen
Small-Group Molokini & Sea Turtle Raft
Small group, the Back Wall and several turtle stops
