Maui Family Style: Snorkeling at Molokini Crater
This year was our first time visiting Maui without a baby in tow. My husband and I met on a dive boat, and we have always been comfortable in the water. This trip we wanted to take our crew, now 4 and 7, snorkeling at Molokini Crater.
When we visit a new place, we like to do a little research to find out which operators are mindful of the environment. In Hawaii, they have the Hawai’i Ecotourism Association. This group advocates for Sustainable Tourism. 
After doing our research, we called Trilogy Excursions to discuss their tours and we scheduled for the following week. It’s always good to make your reservations ahead of time. They are in demand. The kind folks at Trilogy invited me and my family along on their snorkeling trip to Molokini Crater. All expenses were paid, and we were truly grateful! From beginning to end, we had a day full of memories.
Photo Credit: Trilogy
Here is what my crew had to say about the trip:
Lil Man (Age 7): I liked it because I saw lots of whales and that one of the whales approached us pretty close and there was a calf with it. And we were able to sit and watch it for a long time. The crew on the boat was really nice. We got to eat breakfast and lunch. I loved the cinnamon rolls–I ate THREE…actually two-and-a-half. It was really good. And we had AWESOME ice cream with such good flavor. Everyone was really really really helpful. I liked Tiger. He was nice and made it so we could dive.
Lil Miss (Age 4): Same thing that he said. Also, I loved seeing the Butterfly fish and the Parrot fish. It was crazy beautiful in the water. And my also favorite part of snow-koh-wing is that Mommy and I got to swim together and that I tasted the ice cream. I enjoyed the service of lunch and they were very nice. I liked the Captain. He showed us the rules and made sure we were safe.
Good Apple (my husband): This was awesome! It was great. The crew was thoughtful and super thorough as far as picking up plates and garbage when you were done with it, so you didn’t have to worry about it flying overboard. They saved us when Lil Man dropped an applesauce top in the water–they fished it out. The snorkeling was awesome and overall it was just a great trip.
MUST TELL STORY:
We headed out to Molokini Crater, and when we arrived there, the conditions were less than ideal. The Captain could have chosen to stay since it was our destination, but he made the decision to head to Olowalu where the seas would be calmer and everyone would have a better time in the water. I have been on dozens and dozens of charter trips where the Captain sticks to the agenda, and I have to say, I was so grateful he made the decision to change it up for better conditions. Hats off!
SECOND MUST TELL STORY:
I was having so much fun, I didn’t break out my camera. True story. I am the person who is always clicking away, but I was having such a good time with the kids and the wind, the whales (yes, we saw Humpbacks!) and the beauty of being on the water in Hawai’i, that I left it in my backpack for almost the entire trip. I did manage to catch this shot, which just might be my favorite of the entire trip.
THIRD MUST TELL STORY:
My 4-year-old daughter was a stellar snorkeler…and she jumped (twice) from the top deck into the water. I am pretty sure it was about a 7′ jump. #ProudMom
MY IMPRESSION:
Trilogy is comprised of a fleet of 7 boats. We left from Ma’alaea Harbor on one of the catamarans, and the wind was gently blowing. The boats are comfortable, we always felt the kids were safe, and the crew was absolutely top notch. They took care of everything, always, and they were constantly anticipating our needs from food to gear. We definitely felt catered to for the entire duration of the trip.
From the first phone call, I knew we chose the right company. They were very accommodating and friendly. Through a quick chat, I learned that they were family-owned and run. They have that feeling in the best possible way. You don’t feel “processed” through a system; instead, you feel like a valued customer.
Also, the grub was a huge hit. Cinnamon Rolls and fresh fruit for breakfast. BBQ chicken, rice and salad for lunch. Ice cream with chocolate sauce for lunch.
I HAVE to mention that they were very accommodating in dealing with my gluten allergy.
Photo credit: Trilogy
WRAP IT UP:
We hope to head out snorkeling with Trilogy again. The boats, their crew, the gear, the meals…everything was top notch and provided the perfect opportunity to introduce our kids to snorkeling in a safe, approachable way and to create wonderful memories.
Trilogy also offers a wide selection of other cruises, take a peek here to see their other offerings.
PIN IT FOR LATER:
BonBon Break Media, LLC was compensated for this post via product and / or payment.
However, as always, all opinions are our own.
