The Hawaiian Islands have some of the world’s best sailing opportunities. It’s among the top destinations for sailors and offers many activities and amazing places to explore. For liveaboards, life can be cheap in Hawaii in comparison with the other US States. For example, throughout the year, Waikiki provides consistent wind and a generally tranquil bay for sailing and powerboating. Everyone enjoys scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming in the crystal-clear water off their boat. It truly is the lifestyle of a lifetime! On the other hand, there are a limited number of slips and moorings accessible in Hawaii. So, let’s speak about the liveaboard life in Hawaii, follow me!

Information about Living Aboard in Hawaii

You are not allowed to live aboard a boat in Hawaii or even on an offshore mooring. But, this does not apply to all marinas and locations. Furthermore, some marinas allow you to stay 90 or 120 days in marinas and harbors in Hawaii. In that situation, you can liveaboard using the facilities there. But, you’ll have to pay a lot of money per week to stay there. You can, however, live onboard if you travel from one marina to the next and stay for a specific amount of time. For example, if you owe a 50 feet boat you will be paying around $400 per week. These are in addition to the card fee for bathrooms and more for shore power. In addition, there are certain restrictions on mooring vessels utilized for living aboard in small boat harbors other than Ala Wai and Keehi.

Keep in mind that a lot of harbors don’t even have the aforementioned facilities. But, the yacht harbor in Ala Wai does. If you belong to a yacht club, you can stay on their moorings in Lahaina as a guest. You will still be charged, but it is a lovely environment. Even if you are in a mooring area, you will be charged for the overall length of your vessel rather than the deck length. And, even if moorings are not available, you will be charged for anchorage. And, this may put your boat on the rocks with a slight breeze.

Note that according to the Hawaiian department of land and natural resources, the department may permit the operator of a vessel to moor the vessel and liveaboard. This applies for a period that doesn’t exceed thirty days at any one small boat harbor during the calendar year. Moreover, the operator applies for and receives a living aboard permission. This allows the designated individuals to dwell onboard the operator’s vessel.

Small boat harbors are built, operated, and maintained primarily to provide public recreational boating opportunities and to promote the fishing sector. To achieve these goals, an application for a living aboard permit must be reviewed. Also, the department may request additional information to determine the effect or likelihood of the permit’s issuance on the most efficient use of small boat harbor facilities for recreational boating activities. The department will not provide a permit to live aboard a vessel unless the application and supporting evidence clearly show that doing so is not in the public interest or otherwise illegal.

>>Also Read: Best Time to Sail to Hawaii

Costs of Living Aboard in Hawaii

The fees for a marina slip determine a lot. You still have to pay for things like energy, the internet, etc. It’s important to note that as the space is limited when living aboard, you have to be a bit of a minimalist to live full time aboard a boat. Maintenance, insurance, and other steady costs are also important to keep in mind. For example, outside of Honolulu, a monthly fee of $610 is charged for a 35′ slip. You also have to pay for electricity. As a matter of fact, the closer you get to Honolulu, the more expensive it will be.

Don’t forget to check beforehand so as to see if there are any mooring possibilities without long waitlists. It may be difficult to get things to work out if there’s a 6-month waitlist. On Oahu, long-term mooring isn’t recommended. Most harbors have long waiting lists. Also, the locations you might be able to get into aren’t the safest for your belongings due to criminality. You will have a better chance on the outer islands. Although Hawaii is expensive, it is not significantly more so than other states on the mainland. Some of them already have a poor reputation for the cost of living. In other words, what you need for the liveaboard life in Hawaii is a decent budget and a spacious vessel. This, of course, will depend on your needs and crew.

Facilities and Liveaboard Life in Hawaii

In general, it’s not so easy to be a liveaboard in Hawaii. This is because the facilities are mostly nonexistent, a private marina is a far better choice if space is available. Also, most goods are extremely expensive. On top of that, the currents, wind, and waves in the channels can be dangerous at times. So, unless you have a very solid heavy displacement cruiser, you may find yourself waiting to cross. And, based on the disappearance of offshore moorings, more things have only gotten more expensive and less welcoming. Keep in mind that criminality in Hawaii is also increasing dramatically.

Ala Moana Marina is a marina in Ala Moana, Hawaii. It is close to all of Waikiki’s bustle, Ala Moana’s massive retail area, and downtown, and the rent is more than reasonable. There appears to be a community of people who live on their boats and mingle with one another, sitting on piers with their beverages to watch sunsets, assisting one another with repairs, and so on. The marina’s rules required that the boat be a “sailable” boat, which meant that you had to take it out of your slip at least once a year.

Some sailors state that even if the Hawaiian Islands have hundreds of miles of shoreline many areas are the most boat-hostile places they’ve never been. Even for the boating community, it’s pricey there, and the boating laws are far too restrictive. Many boaters end up selling their boats and settling down on land. However, it’s a wonderful location to be if you can afford it and don’t mind the restrictions but be prepared for dealing with difficulties. Lastly, hurricanes and bad weather are also common in the Hawaiian Islands.

>>Also Read: Living on a Boat in California: What you Need to Know

Best Marinas in Hawaii

Ala Wai Yacht Harbor

The Ala Wai Yacht Harbor is the largest and most well-known harbor. Despite the fact that obtaining a permanent slip can take anywhere from two to three years, the harbor provides a 120-day interim permit. It can also fit some rather large yachts and is relatively inexpensive. This, however, depends on the size of your boat. A 40-foot sail yacht, for example, would cost $15.63 per day. The representatives can provide you with an estimate for any size boat over the phone.

The Ala Wai Harbor is the finish line of the world-famous Transpac sailing event, which takes place every two years from Los Angeles to Honolulu. There is a big canal that is easy to navigate and is close to all of Honolulu’s attractions. The Waikiki Yacht Club and the Hawaii Yacht Club are two private yacht clubs in Honolulu. Both offer permanent slips for boats of all sizes. These clubs are located directly across the street from the Ala Wai Harbor. The wait for regular members of either club can range from two to ten years, but temporary slips are possible.

Kewalo Harbor

Honolulu’s Kewalo Harbor is another wonderful option. Kewalo Harbor is located in Honolulu’s Kaka’ako district, where new and gorgeous apartments are being built. The length of the slips varies between 40 and 100 feet. Three loading docks, electricity, water, vehicle parking, and facilities are available to both members and visitors. It would be quite easy to live in a condo across the street and have a boat slip at Kewalos. After a day on the beach, Ward town has a plethora of stores and excellent eateries to choose from. You’d still head straight out the huge channel and up to Diamond Head to take advantage of everything Waikiki has to offer.

Ko Olina Marina

The full-service 342-slip Ko Olina Marina, located on Oahu’s picturesque leeward shore, contains state-of-the-art Bellingham floating docks and the Ko Olina Activity Building. The first marina built in Hawaii in almost 30 years, and the only one intended to fulfill the needs of world-class megayachts, opened in 2000. The marina received the Marina Dock Age magazine’s “Marina of the Year Award” in 2008.

Honokohau Harbor

Between the Kona Airport and the town of Kailua-Kona sits Honokohau Harbor. Grander Alley, located just beyond the harbor, offers world-class sportfishing. This is a fantastic tiny boat harbor. There is plenty of free parking. Restrooms are clean and there are plenty of facilities.This is where dive boats, snorkeling cruises, fishing charters, and other activities depart from. Two boat launches are available. The harbor has two sides. On one side, there’s a dive shop, as well as locations to have a drink or a bite to eat.

Kaneohe Yacht Club

The Kaneohe Yacht Club was founded in 1924. Its goal was to encourage and promote a love of sailing, powerboating, and other maritime sports via competitive, recreational, and social events. They offer first-class harbor facilities, clubhouse, and other amenities. Moreover, they create a refuge on Windward Oahu for boating enthusiasts. All these encourage good seamanship, education, and an overall attitude of excellence.

Outside of Honolulu

You have a couple of different possibilities if you choose to round the island and leave Honolulu. Ko’olina Marina is located in Kapolei on the west side of the island. This is a liveaboard marina with water, electricity, cable television hookup, phone, laundry and washroom facilities. There’s also a picnic area with grill, and a secured entrance. A 160-foot floating fuel dock with a pump out station offers both diesel and gasoline. There is a $2.50 per foot per day guest charge, as well as a permanent slip waiting list. Ko’olina is an excellent site to dock your boat. This is because there are many activities and shops around it.

Haleiwa Harbor is a tiny boat harbor on the North Shore. This is the most difficult harbor to get a long-term slip in. Because it is the only safe harbor on the North Shore, the waiting period is around 10 years. Many boaters sail up to Waimea Bay in the summer and anchor on the sand. They cook on their boats and stay for days at a time just to swim and kayak in the gorgeous lake. It’s quite pleasant and serene, and I would recommend it to any cruiser. If you plan on staying for several days, a small dingy can be useful for getting groceries or going to supper in Haleiwa town.

Another alternative is to purchase a home that has a boat slip. The Makani Kai Marina is one of the greatest communities. Big 2-3 bedroom suites with Kaneohe Bay views, large lanais, a pool, clubhouse, and a private marina are available in these condos. Because the units are exceptionally unusual and rarely appear on the market, they sell for between $700,000 and $800,000 depending on size and view and include your own boat slip. This marina has large docks, and the world-class Kaneohe sandbar is easily accessible from the canal.

The townhome apartments at Gateway Peninsula at West Marina, Hawaii Kai, also include boat slips. There are 3 bedroom/2 bath homes with access to Koko Marina and close proximity to Honolulu. All these start in the high $800s. You may take your boat to some of the fantastic eateries along the river, such as Kona Brewing Company or Assaggio’s Italian, or go shopping at Costco. If you want to have a motorboat right outside your door, there are a variety of single-family house alternatives on the canal. Although there are certain size restrictions, it is still a fantastic alternative for the avid powerboater.

>>Also Read: Best Sailing Destinations in Hawaii

Living on a Boat in Hawaii – The Bottom Line

So, living aboard your boat is feasible in Hawaii but you will probably encounter some difficulties. This is due to the State’s laws, expensive slip rates, not so many liveaboard communities, and inclement weather. However, if you have decided that you want to liveaboard in Hawaii you can do it. You just have to plan and organize yourself and your boat ahead of time, do some research and contact the marinas of your preference. Keep in mind that a standard mooring permit, as well as additional permission, is required to reside aboard a boat, resulting in a higher rent charge. Proposed legislation that would increase slip rental prices might have a significant impact on the Ala Wai Harbor’s unique and colorful community of boat owners. And, this includes individuals who live aboard their vessels full time.

I hope that this article has helped you find out whether or not you want to liveaboard in Hawaii. It is totally feasible and it can also be a unique experience if you choose the right marina and location. I wish you all luck with your research!