Molokini with kids

What is the minimum age for a Molokini snorkel tour?

None on the big catamarans, where babies ride free. The small boats start at 4 or 5, and the Redline raft at 8.

Straight from each listing:

Which Molokini boat is best for young children?

Four Winds for under-8s: life vests, sea boards with viewing windows and a glass-bottom room. The Calypso is a close second, with two slides.

Four Winds lists flotation belts for adults and life vests for young children as standard, plus sea boards with clear bottoms and boogie boards. Parents rave about the boards. One family with kids aged 6, 8 and 10: "They had several different flotation devices to choose from - life jackets, float belts, kick boards and the sea board, which my 6 year old LOVED." Another: "The kids lived the glass bottom part of the ship and the floats with windows."

On the Calypso, a family with a 5- and a 9-year-old wrote: "Our 9 year old did great. Our 5 year old used one of the floaties you can lay on and look down into the ocean." The Malolo morning boat suits kids who want to jump: "Our 7 year old loved the slide and jumping off the diving board on the side of the boat."

Built for families: life vests for small children, sea boards with windows, a glass-bottom room, breakfast and lunch.

★ 4.7 · 5 hours · from $213

Explore the Four Winds sail → Tour details

Do kids need to be able to swim at Molokini?

Not to come along, but to snorkel they need to be calm in deep water with a vest or float. The crater is 10 to 70 feet deep; nobody can stand.

Most listings recommend basic swimming ability. Maui Reef Adventures says outright that it is not recommended for non-swimmers, though one of its guests wrote: "The best part is you don't need to know how to swim or snorkel to be able to participate: there are life vests for every person and they explain the snorkel gear clearly." Ask before you book if a child cannot swim at all.

Take it seriously. A state snorkel safety study found that snorkeling is the leading cause of drowning among visitors, while very few residents drown that way (Maui Now on the state snorkel safety study). Put every child under 10 in a vest, keep a hand on the float, and let them practise with the mask on deck first. A child who panics can always watch from a glass-bottom room.

Do kids pay less on Molokini tours?

On the big catamarans, yes: about $40 to $60 less for ages 4 to 12 when you book direct. Small boats and rafts charge everyone the same.

Viator's headline price is the adult fare; the child price appears when you pick travelers. Booked direct, the Calypso charges $118.95 for ages 4 to 12 at Boss Frog's against $178.95 for adults, and Pride of Maui is $158 against $198 on its own site. Four Winds starts its child fare at 3. Infants ride free on the Calypso, Malolo and Pride of Maui; on Four Winds they sit on a lap.

With Maui Reef Adventures, the Makena Coast raft and the Redline raft, a child pays the full price. For a family of four that tips the maths toward a big catamaran. Full price breakdown in the price guide.

Will my child get seasick on the way to Molokini?

Possibly. Bigger boats move less than rafts, and the CDC suggests children's motion sickness tablets 1 to 2 hours before you sail, not at the dock.

The CDC's Yellow Book suggests trying non-drug steps first: a view of the horizon, fresh air, no reading or screens. For children aged 6 to 12 it lists dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) at 12.5 to 25 mg, 1 to 2 hours before travel, and warns against scopolamine patches for children. Check the dose with your pharmacist or doctor; the Calypso and Malolo sell Dramamine on board, which is too late to work well.

Keep breakfast light, sit low and in the middle of the boat, and get the kids into the water quickly at the stop: most people feel better swimming than bobbing on deck. Pride of Maui and Makena Coast guests mention crews handing out ginger.

How early do you need to get kids up?

Early. Malolo checks in at 5:45 AM, the Calypso at 6:45, and the rafts at 6:30. Add the drive and parking.

The morning is the price of reaching the crater: trade winds usually build from late morning, and afternoon boats rarely get there (see morning or afternoon). Jet lag helps families from the mainland: a 5 AM wake-up feels like 8 to 11 at home for the first days, so book Molokini early in the trip.

Pack breakfast as a backup; every big catamaran serves one on the way out. And if the kids simply will not do mornings, the afternoon boat takes all ages, just not usually to Molokini.

Can teenagers do the Molokini raft?

Yes, from 8 on the Redline raft, as long as an adult comes along. Parents must sign waivers for 16- and 17-year-olds.

The Redline raft takes ages 8 to 65, no unaccompanied children aged 8 to 15, and asks parents to sign waivers for 16- and 17-year-olds. Redline's FAQ says it is not recommended for children under 8. The Makena Coast raft starts at 5 but asks for moderate-to-advanced fitness and a vertical ladder climb.

Teens tend to love the speed. A Makena guest: "My 12-year-old and I saw so much marine life, experienced water that was so clear and we got to swim with the turtles." A family of five called the 2-hour raft "probably a highlight of the entire Maui trip."

For families with kids 8 and up: about 15 minutes to the crater, most of the two hours in the water, 24 guests at most.

★ 4.9 · 2 hours · from $144

Explore the 2-hour Molokini raft → Tour details

What should kids wear and bring?

A rash guard, mineral sunscreen, a towel and a warm layer for the ride home. Rent a $10 wetsuit in winter if they get cold easily.

• Sun: a long-sleeve rash guard does more than sunscreen. In Maui County only mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) may be sold or used since 1 October 2022 (Maui Now).
• Cold: the water feels cooler than kids expect, and the wind on the ride back is chilly. One parent: "Water was colder than I expected." Wetsuits rent for $10 on the Calypso and Malolo.
• Towels: most boats don't provide them. Bring one each.
• Turtles: teach the rule before you go: stay 10 feet away and never touch (NOAA).

The full packing list is in what to bring.

Frequently asked questions