ManaKai Catamaran, Honolulu

In the Hawaiian language, mana kai means spirit of the sea. But for Captain Woody Brown of ManaKai Catamaran, the word means so much more. In the 1940s, his father built the family's first catamaran—which he named Mana Kai—to sail the waters around Waikiki. He probably didn't realize it then, but he was starting a tradition that carries on today. Now, some 70 years later, Captain Woody runs tours on a second catamaran—also named Mana Kai—that his brother built. Here are a few of Captain Woody's sightseeing adventures.

• Trade Winds Sail: An afternoon excursion that moves at a fast clip thanks to trade winds and makes stops at diamond head and explores deeper waters where Humpback whales often make an appearance.
• Marine Life: A gentle sail toward diamond head with opportunities to spot turtles, dolphins, and in the winter months, whales.
• Fireworks: On Friday nights, the catamaran heads out from the dock for views of Honolulu and the Ko’olau Mountain Range, ending in a gorgeous fireworks display with reflections that light up the water.

Sails are all open to public for purchase. We hold up to 26 passengers at a time.