Catching the Ferry from Maui to Lānaʻi
Visiting Lānaʻi from Maui is just a short ferry ride away. Expeditions, the Lānaʻi-to-Maui ferry company, has served the islands for more than 30 years and offers three daily round trips.
This article was updated Sept. 29, 2026.
The ferry between between Māʻalaea Harbor on Maui and Mānele Bay on Lānaʻi offers three daily roundtrips. The trip takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes each way. You could leave on the 6:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. ferry from Maui, spend the day or the afternoon on Lānaʻi and be back in time for dinner on Maui.
Day Trips to Lānaʻi
To maximize your visit, take the first ferry out (6:30 a.m.) and the last ferry back (5:30 p.m.). Once you arrive, take the shuttle or your pre-arranged rental car (more on that below) to Lānaʻi City or your desired destination.
Some of our favorite spots to visit on Lānaʻi:
- Coffee Works — 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sundays, 604 Ilima Avenue, Lānaʻi City.
- Blue Ginger Cafe — Open daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 409 7th St, Lānaʻi City.
- Ganotisiʻs Pacific Rim Cuisine — Open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 408 8th Street, Lānaʻi City.
- Richardʻs Market — Neighborhood grocery store and poke counter. Open daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 434 8th St, Lānaʻi City.
- Lanai Hula Hut Gift Shop — Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sundays, 418 8th St, Lānaʻi City.
- Osteria Mozza — Nancy Silvertonʻs acclaimed restaurant at Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Open Thursday through Tuesday 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. & 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., 1 Manele Bay Road, Lānaʻi City.
- Lānaʻi City Bar & Grill — Open Tuesday through Saturday 4:30 to 9 p.m., 828 Lanai Ave, Lānaʻi City.
- Lānaʻi Bowl — Retro bowling alley and restaurant. Monday & Thursday 2 to 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 411 8th St,Lānaʻi City.
- Saturday Farmers Market — 8 a.m. to noon, Dole Park, Lānaʻi City.
- Lānaʻi Cultural & Heritage Center — Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 730 Lanai Avenue #118, Lānaʻi City.
- Hulopoe Bay — 15-minute walk from Mānele Bay Harbor.
- Kaiolohia, also known as Shipwreck Beach, and the Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail — 30-minute drive from Lānaʻi City. 4-wheel drive required.
- Keahikawelo — A striking red rock landscape, also known as "Garden of the Gods." 45-minute drive from Lānaʻi City. 4-wheel drive required.
- Lānaʻi Adventure Park — Zip-lining, e-bike tours and adventure tower. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday, 1 Keomuku Highway, Lānaʻi City
- Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary — 3.5-acre nonprofit home to more than 700 cats that plays a role in protecting Lānaʻi’s endangered bird population. Admission is free, donations encouraged. Open daily 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1 Kaupili Road, Lānaʻi City.
Or, follow our Day-Trip to Lānaʻi Itinerary.
Staying at the Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi? Check out our 4-day Itinerary.
Experience the Ultimate Wellness Retreat at Sensie Lanai.
Lānaʻi Tours
- Off-Road Historical Tour of Lānaʻi
- Private Lānaʻi Snorkel Charter
- Half-day Lānaʻi Fishing Charter
- Lānaʻi Snorkel and Dolphin Watch from Maui
Departure Times
Despite the recent reopening of Lāhainā Harbor, Expeditions has yet to resume operations there and continues to operate exclusively out of Māʻalaea Harbor, located next to the Maui Ocean Center, about 30 minutes from West Maui.
Departure times from Maui to Lānaʻi
- 6:30 a.m. — Gives you about 9 hours to enjoy Lānaʻi, before returning on the 5:30 p.m. ferry.
- 11 a.m. — About 4.5 hours before returning on the 5:30 p.m. ferry.
- 3:30 p.m. — Only take if you are staying the night on Lānaʻi.
Departure times from Lānaʻi to Maui
- 8:30 a.m.
- 1 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. — Last returning ferry of the day.
How to Get Tickets for the Maui-to-Lānaʻi Ferry
Book tickets online at go-lanai.com at least one day in advance to secure your preferred departure time.
Prices
- $66 adults
- $34 ages 2 to 11
- Free for ages 2 and under
- $40 military discount (ID required at check-in)
- $40 kamaʻāina adults (Hawaiʻi state ID required)
- $15 kamaʻāina kids and seniors (Hawaiʻi state ID required)
Don’t Miss the Boat
Expeditions recommends arriving at the harbor 45 minutes before departure. Boarding stops 10 minutes prior to departure time and late arrivals will be left behind. If you’re departing from Māʻalaea, allow extra time for parking, as the harbor can be congested with other tours.
Baggage
Each traveler is allowed two pieces of luggage and one carry-on. According to Expeditions, “[e]xcess bags, bicycles, surfboards over 7 feet long, sailboards (with bag and mast) and kayaks will be charged a fee and must be requested in advance.” E-bikes and all electric-powered vehicles and batteries are strictly prohibited.
The Journey
The crossing of the ʻAuʻau Channel takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Use this time to finalize your Lānaʻi itinerary, enjoy the views of your destination and, if traveling in winter, catch a free whale watch. Humpback whales are abundant in these waters, and breaches and tail flukes are common sights from Expeditions’ open-air top deck.
The double-decker ferry offers indoor and outdoor seating, along with informational videos about Lānaʻi that play during the trip. Soft drinks are also available for purchase.
Do I need a car on Lānaʻi?
If you are spending the day at Hulopoʻe Bay, you can walk there from Mānele Harbor. The Cat Sanctuary and Lānaʻi City can also be reached by shuttle instead of renting a car. But if you want to explore places such as Shipwreck Beach or Keahiakawelo, you will need to either rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle or sign up for a tour. There are no rideshare services on Lānaʻi and transportation options are limited, so arrange your shuttle, rental car or tour ahead of time.
Transportation on Lānaʻi
- Lānaʻi Taxi is a great option for groups of up to six. Run by historian, writer and longtime Lānaʻi resident Alberta de Jetley, the service offers both transportation and insight into the island’s history and culture. (808) 649-0808 (call or text for general dispatch). Contact (808) 649-8330 for private tours.
- Rabaca’s Limousine Service — The popular option for shuttles. Call ahead to arrange at (808) 559-0230. $15/person each way (cash only)
- 808 Day Trip rental cars: (808) 649-0664 (call or text). They will drop your rental car off for you at Mānele Bay Harbor, so it is ready for you when you arrive to Lānaʻi.
- Jeep rentals: For independent travelers, Expeditions provides recommendations for four-wheel-drive Jeep rentals. Be aware there is a $20 shuttle fee from Mānele Bay Harbor to the rental office. More information at go-lanai.com/activities.
This article was originally published on Dec. 30, 2016, and was updated Sept. 29, 2026.
- Address
- 101 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793