Waikiki Gondola Cruise: Venetian boat on Hawaii's canal

Drift past Diamond Head and Magic Island on a serene Waikiki canal cruise

A shared gondola cruise on Waikiki's Ala Wai Canal and harbor with a live English-speaking guide, where you float past Diamond Head and Magic Island while sipping a drink and eating a pastry. The daytime option runs 45 minutes. Sunset cruises last an hour. Lei greeting and blankets are included on the longer tours.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 250 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

One-hour sunset evening tour Available from 12 Dec · 17:00, 18:15 and 19:30 Guide in English Lasting one hour, this sunset evening experience includes a lei greeting, candlelit ambiance at sunset, a gondolier, a treat, and a brief light show.

45-minute daytime gondola cruise Available from 12 Dec · 8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00 Guide in English Lasting 45 minutes, this water experience includes a lei greeting, a dedicated gondolier, and a treat.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Relaxing Waikiki Gondola Cruise

• Arrive and receive warm Aloha greeting
• Adorned with a lei
• Cruise along Ala Wai harbor and canal
• Enjoy views of Diamond Head volcanic landscape
• See Magic Island man-made island
• View Honolulu city skyline and possible rainbows
• Experience sunset and city lights (if evening cruise)
• Enjoy dessert and gentle Hawaiian breeze

What’s included

• Shared Venetian gondola cruise along the Ala Wai Canal and Waikiki Harbor.
• live English-speaking gondolier.
• Hawaiian lei greeting and blanket on 45-minute and 1-hour cruises.
• drink and pastry on those same cruises.
• hop-on, hop-off trolley bus ticket for Waikiki sightseeing after your ride.

Times

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• Every day 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:15 19:30

Information

Cruise the Ala Wai Canal on a Venetian gondola in Waikiki with a live guide, drink and pastry included: 45 minutes to an hour depending on the time of day.

Group Up to 4 2 similar private tours ›

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. See the exact address

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (21 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (18 to 20 years) · Child (2 to 17 years) · Infant (under 2): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Pets welcome Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The gondola departs from the canal-side dock and carries you along the Ala Wai for 45 minutes on daytime sailings (9am to 4pm) or a full hour on sunset cruises (5pm to 7:15pm). Your gondolier poles the boat past the Duke Kahanamoku Statue at Waikiki Beach and along the waterfront, pointing out the Honolulu city skyline as it rises above the palms. On clear days, rainbows arc across the harbor. On sunset sailings, the city lights begin to glow as the sun drops behind the water.

Diamond Head dominates the view from the canal: the dormant volcanic cone that 19th-century British soldiers mistook for a diamond deposit because of the calcite crystals glinting on the nearby beach. Magic Island, the man-made lagoon, appears as the gondola rounds the harbor. On the 45-minute and 1-hour cruises, you're greeted with a lei when you board and given a blanket for the breeze off the water. A drink and pastry arrive partway through the ride.

After the cruise, you receive a hop-on, hop-off trolley bus ticket that lets you explore Waikiki's hotels, the Duke Kahanamoku Statue, and Ala Moana Shopping Center at your own pace. The Magic Island option skips the lei, pastry, and canal route, focusing instead on the harbor and island views.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 20 years); Child (2 to 17 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Waikiki gondola cruise?

Daytime cruises run 45 minutes. Sunset evening cruises last 1 hour. The Magic Island option is shorter and does not include the canal route.

What's included on the gondola cruise?

On the 45-minute and 1-hour cruises, you get a Hawaiian lei greeting, a drink, a pastry, and a blanket. All cruises include a live English-speaking gondolier and a hop-on, hop-off trolley bus ticket for Waikiki after the ride.

What can I see from the gondola?

Diamond Head, the dormant volcanic landmark, dominates the view. You'll also see Magic Island, the Honolulu skyline, the Duke Kahanamoku Statue, and on sunset cruises, the city lights reflecting off the water.

When do sunset cruises depart?

Sunset cruises run from 5pm to 7:15pm and last 1 hour. Daytime cruises operate from 9am to 4pm and last 45 minutes.

Is the gondola suitable for families with infants?

Yes. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The gondola accommodates all fitness levels, though passenger weight restrictions apply to keep the boat within safe carrying capacity.

Operated by Waikiki Gondola Experiences. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago