Alongside other sailing boats that rarely raise sail, Scotch Mist II not only sails, but
really sails!

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Fun, fast and quiet – with a crew that is in love with Maui and sailing – and in love with sharing them both with our visitors.
Minuses: I’m coming up empty on a minus here…
Sound-bite: “It is a beautiful night, would anyone mind if we take our time and head back late?”

If you have never been sailing, you’re in for a treat. From the boat (a meticulously maintained, super-fast Santa Cruz 50 sailing yacht) to the crew (in love with sailing, Maui, and sharing both with visitors) Scotch Mist is the kind of top notch operation that makes my job of sending visitors to the best of the best easy – in a field of competitors that run the gamut, Scotch Mist has something going that I so very rarely experience from anyone I research and review: I don’t think a single person I’ve ever spoken to about them has done anything but rave fanatically about their experience.

Here is the deal, and why they have this category sewn-up tight as #1: Scotch Mist is intimate – their charters are limited to 25 max – and frequently can have half that many. It is also run by folks that absolutely love to sail, and are passionate about sharing their loves of sailing and Maui with visitors. You just can’t fake that level of passion when you do this every day. When you get on this boat it is as clear as the views of the West Maui Mountains: you’re sailing with friends, and not some folks punching the clock to put dinner on the table or beer in the fridge. Oh, and speaking of sailing – you might think it goes without saying, but they actually do sail their boat – not run on engines (believe it or not, many of the commercial sailboats here will raise the sail for show in between a mostly engine-run tour.) Now, to appreciate what this really means, you’re going to need to actually sail! The first thing you will notice is how quiet and peaceful it is out on the ocean. No engines droning in the background – and this brings you closer to the ocean, and the people you’re sharing this experience with. (It also brings the creatures in the ocean, like whales and dolphins closer.)

I highly recommend these folks to anyone who truly appreciates sailing (or anyone who wants to.)

Key Info:
Location: Slip #2, Lahaina Harbor
Phone: 808-661-0386
Rating source: Maui Guidebook & Google
Web: http://www.scotchmistsailingcharters.com
Price: $50 – $90

You may also be interested in:

• Lahaina Town
• Beaches: Ma’alaea to Lahaina
• Kamehameha Iki Park (aka Armory Park)

Reported Closed.

Kayaking and snorkeling.

Key Info:
Location: DT Flemming Beach, Olowalu & Papalaua Beach
Phone: 808-891-2223
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.mauiecotours.com
Price: $75 – $90

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You may also be interested in:

• Hike Maui
• Kelii’s Kayak Tours
• South Pacific Kayaks

Kayak & snorkeling tours of South & West Maui. They also offer surf lessons.

Key Info:
Location: Meet at launch site(varies), South & West Maui
Phone: 808-874-7652
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.keliiskayak.com
Price: $50 – $150

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You may also be interested in:

• Hike Maui
• Maui Eco Tours (Reported Closed)
• Black Rock (Pu'u Keka'a)

Screen capture of 315# Pacific Blue Marlin (see video below)

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Hard-core sportfishing.
Minuses: 3:00
Sound-bite: “Hey mister, is that a Florida Marlins logo on that-there baseball bat?”

DETAILS:
Alright, first of all this isn’t a trip for the kids. These are die-hard fishermen willing to take along the serious angler who isn’t interested in going halfway.

Captain Fuzzy Alboro is a well known, born and raised Maui fisherman and many come here seeking him out by name. Fuzzy knows where to go and when to go. (Speaking of when, you’ll be leaving before anyone else – at 3:00 AM.)

Fuzzy’s pride and joy is a 32′ Boston Whaler Express Fisherman with twin 370 Yanmar engines. Fully equipped with a fish finder, GPS chart plotter, marine head, protection from the elements, a microwave and fridge. The Die Hard is also fully outfitted with quality gear, including 80 Shimanos with bent butt rods, 50 Shimanos with stand up rods and 30 Shimanos and Penns stand up rods and an arsenal of lures. Capt. Fuzzy prefers to fish with live baits, and the Die Hard is typically stocked with plenty of ‘em.

You may end up on the back side of Lanai – or even all the way over in Hana. These are local guys who know a thing or two about where they’re going. If you’re gonna cry about spending an hour or more getting to the right spot that day, well, you may be frustrated with Fuzzy, because he isn’t interested in “the customer is always right” if it means doing it wrong. On the other hand, if you’re a die hard sport fisherman, you paid to go with these guys because they knows exactly what they’re doing.

Like I said, you’ve gotta be serious to go on this trip. (Is “Die Hard” starting to make sense to you?)

Oh, and for the squeamish: the video has some batting practice on the head of the Marlin (to immobilize it prior to taking it onboard.)

Key Info:
Location: Lahaina Harbor
Phone: 808-878-2362
Rating source: Maui Guidebook
Web: http://fishdiehardmaui.com
Prices: Share: $185 – $200 ; Private: $1,000 – $1,100

View Lahaina Town in a larger map

You may also be interested in:

• Luckey Strike Charters
• Strike Zone
• Aerial Sportfishing Charters

Fleet of six mid-size sailing catamarans, sailing out of Central and West Maui

Key Info:
Location: Maalaea Harbor & Kaanapali Beach
Phone: 808-874-5649
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.sailtrilogy.com/
Price: $50-200

View Trilogy Excursions, Maui in a larger map

You may also be interested in:

• Aqua Adventure
• Aloha Blue Charters
• Quicksilver Charters

Rafting snorkel, SCUBA & whale watch (in season) to Lanai

Key Info:
Location: Lahaina Harbor, Lahaina
Phone: 808-661-7238
Rating source: Tripadvisor
Web: http://www.islandstarexcursions.com/rafting.html
Price: $30 – $300+

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You may also be interested in:

• Trilogy Excursions
• Paragon Sailing Charters
• Aqua Adventure

Recently bought out by Hike Maui

Key Info:
Location: West Maui hotel pickup or Central Maui meeting place
Phone: 877-661-7720
Rating source: Google
Web: http://ecomaui.com
Price: $70 – $170

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You may also be interested in:

• Awapuhi Adventures
• Maui Hiking Safaris
• Hike Maui

Private & group charters

Key Info:
Location: Lahaina Harbor
Phone: 808-661-4606
Rating source: Tripadvisor
Web: http://www.luckeystrike.com/
Price: CALL

View Lahaina Town in a larger map

You may also be interested in:

• Die Hard w/Capt. Fuzzy
• Strike Zone
• Aerial Sportfishing Charters

High-performance sailing catamaran charters.

Key Info:
Location: Maalaea & Lahaina Harbors
Phone: 808-244-2087
Rating source: Google
Web: http://www.sailmaui.com
Price: $50 – $150

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You may also be interested in:

• Aqua Adventure
• Trilogy Excursions
• Aloha Blue Charters

Pacific Whale Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated studying and protecting the marine environment. They offer a wider range of tours besides just whale watching, including night time stargazing, land-based tidepool exploration and kids camps. Their boats are large, and they are the largest ocean tour operation on Maui. Tip: You should sail from Ma’alaea if you have the option.

Key Info:
Location: Maalaea Harbor Village & Lahaina, Maalaea & Lahaina
Phone: 1-800-942-5311
Rating source: Tripadvisor
Web: http://www.pacificwhale.org/
Price: $25 on up

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You may also be interested in:

• Maui Classic Charters
• Aqua Adventure
• Molokini Crater