Where the Waikiki Turtle Boats Leave From

The Waikiki turtle boats leave from four kinds of place. Kewalo Basin Harbor, on Ala Moana Boulevard between Waikiki and downtown, is home to several of them; the Ala Wai harbor, beside the Prince Waikiki, sits at the west end of Waikiki; the Hilton Hawaiian Village has its own pier and a boat beside its lagoon; and a few catamarans board straight off the sand of Waikiki Beach. If your hotel is in the middle of Waikiki, the Hilton lagoon and the beach boats are a walk away; Kewalo Basin is a short ride. The quickest from the middle of Waikiki is Island Splash Tours, 90 minutes from beside the Hilton lagoon, from $73 in current promotion (usually $81) a person (checked November 2026).

The four places on one map

Measured in a straight line from the Duke Kahanamoku statue on Waikiki Beach, the Kewalo piers are about 3.9 km (2.4 miles) away, the Ala Wai harbor about 2 km (1.3 miles), and the Hilton’s Paoa Place about 1.3 km (0.8 miles). By road, from Kalakaua Avenue at the Royal Hawaiian to Kewalo Basin is about 3.7 km (2.3 miles) along Ala Moana Boulevard.

Kewalo Basin Harbor

Kewalo Basin is a state harbor on Ala Moana Boulevard, owned by the Hawaii Community Development Authority and run by a private operator under a long lease, and its piers are lettered. Each boat gives its own pier and slip, so read your booking for the letter:

Oceanstar’s boat also sails from Kewalo Basin, but its snorkel with pickup collects you in Waikiki, so you never need to find the gate.

The Ala Wai harbor

The Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, which Hawaii’s natural-resources department calls the state’s largest small boat harbor, lies between Ala Moana Beach Park and the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The turtle boats here meet at the Waikiki end, around 1 Holomoana Street by the Prince Waikiki:

• Pink Sails Waikiki: the boat slip just west of the Prince Waikiki’s valet area, under a large pink banner; check in 30 minutes before. Two hours, from $81.
• Three Tiki Sailing: behind the Prince Waikiki, under blue and white flags; 30 minutes before. Two hours, from $84 in current promotion (usually $99).
• Hawaii Apex Charters: walk toward the Hawaii Yacht Club to the ramp signed Dock X; parking along the sidewalk is $1 an hour. Ninety minutes for six people at most, from $104.

Viator prices checked November 2026.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village

Two boats start inside Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Island Splash Tours loads from a dock beside the Hilton lagoon, near a yellow booth; search the operator’s name in a map app, because a street address takes you to the right harbor but not the right boat. Hawaii Nautical's catamaran with lunch checks in at the Waikiki Beach Activities kiosk at the beach end of Paoa Place, by the walkway to the Hilton pier, and you leave your shoes at the pier for a barefoot cruise.

Boats that board on the sand

Three catamarans skip the harbor and pick you up on Waikiki Beach itself, which also means wading a few steps and climbing aboard from the sand:

• Holokai Catamaran: check in at the Outrigger Reef hotel, 2169 Kalia Road, walk past the front desk toward the shops, and the crew walks you to the beach. Barefoot boarding, so wear slip-ons. Validated parking at the Embassy Suites is $15 for four hours.
• Waikiki Sailing Company's Hāwea: on the beach behind the Duke Kahanamoku statue, in front of the Hyatt Regency at 2424 Kalakaua Avenue. There is no booth: walk to the shoreline and look for the rainbow umbrella.
• Aloha Boats' Ke Kai: on the sand in front of Duke’s, 2335 Kalakaua Avenue; reach it through the hotels or a beach access path.

Which start suits you

• You are staying in the middle of Waikiki and do not want a ride: the Hilton lagoon, the Hilton pier or a beach catamaran.
• You have a car: Kewalo Basin and the Ala Wai harbor have paid parking by the boats, $1 to $3 an hour on the listings.
• You want to be collected: see turtle snorkels with hotel pickup.
• You are weighing the turtle promises: see the guarantees compared.

Check dates from the Hilton lagoon

GetYourGuide prices checked November 2026. Meeting points and parking are as each boat sets them for November 2026; your booking confirmation has the final word.