The Kamaʻāina Rate From $79 on Illuminate Waikīkī Cruises, Which Departures Publish It and Where Military Is Added (2026)
Four Illuminate Waikīkī cruise pages publish a kamaʻāina rate from $79. They are the Morning Coffee Cruise, the Turtle Reef Snorkel, the Glass Bottom Boat Sunset & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise and the Glass Bottom Boat Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise, and the Friday fireworks page adds military at the same $79.
All four sail aboard Illuminate, the purpose-built, 45-passenger glass-bottom vessel Illuminate Waikīkī runs from Kewalo Basin Harbor in Honolulu. Illuminate carries a 20,000-lumen underwater lighting system.
Key Takeaways
- Illuminate Waikīkī publishes a kamaʻāina rate from $79 on four cruise pages.
- The kamaʻāina rate starts $10 below the $89 adult rate.
- The Friday Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise page names military at $79.
- Call (808) 777-7716 before you book to confirm the ID to bring.
- Children 12 and under and infants in a carrier also start from $79.
Which Illuminate Waikīkī Cruises Publish the Kamaʻāina Rate
| Cruise | Published schedule | Adult 13+ | Child 12-under | Infant in carrier | Kamaʻāina | Military on the page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Coffee Cruise | Daily, 7:30 to 9:00 AM | From $89 | From $79 | From $79 | From $79 | Not named |
| Turtle Reef Snorkel | Daily, 9:30 to 11:30 AM and 1:00 to 3:00 PM | From $89 | From $79 | From $79 | From $79 | Not named |
| Sunset & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise | Currently 6:00 to 7:30 PM, moving with the sunset | From $89 | From $79 | From $79 | From $79 | Not named |
| Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise | Fridays, 7:00 PM | From $89 | From $79 | From $79 | From $79, listed as "Kamaʻāina/military" | Yes |
| Whale Watching Cruise | Seasonal | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Starting rates as published on each cruise page, as of September 2026.
Morning Coffee Cruise
The Morning Coffee Cruise runs 90 minutes along the Waikīkī coastline toward Diamond Head, with fresh Aliʻi Coffee Co. coffee and pastries aboard. You stay aboard and look through the glass-bottom viewing area.
Paid parking at Kewalo Basin Harbor is available but limited, so leave time before the 7:00 AM check-in.
Turtle Reef Snorkel
The Turtle Reef Snorkel is a 2-hour guided snorkel to a known honu hangout, with fitted gear and crew in the water with the group. All guests must be "confident swimmers and able to swim without additional flotation assistance", previous snorkeling experience is required, and "Non-swimmers may not participate in this tour."
Sunset & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise
The Sunset Cruise currently runs 6:00 to 7:30 PM, from golden hour into after-dark reef viewing under the 20,000-lumen lighting, with no swimming, and its departure moves with the sunset to keep about 30 to 45 minutes after dark. BYOB is welcome.
Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise
The Friday Fireworks Cruise leaves at 7:00 PM for 90 minutes, with offshore viewing of Waikīkī's Friday fireworks, then after-dark reef viewing through the glass-bottom portal. BYOB is welcome.
Whale Watching Cruise
The Whale Watching Cruise page lists three departures a day in season, at 11:45 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:15 PM, and no rates. Choose a date in its booking calendar to see the season's tickets and rates.
Where Military Is Added
Military appears in the rate line on the Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise page, which reads "Kamaʻāina/military $79". The Friday card on our home page also names military at $79.
If you are booking a military rate on a cruise other than Friday's, call us at (808) 777-7716 to confirm it before you pay.
What the Kamaʻāina Rate Saves
The kamaʻāina rate starts from $79, which is $10 below the $89 adult rate for guests 13 and over. Children 12 and under and infants in a carrier already start from $79, so the saving is on adult tickets.
A kamaʻāina family of two adults and two children starts from $316 on any of the four cruises, against $336 at the standard adult rate.
Our FAQ says starting rates are published on each cruise page.
What ID to Bring for a Kamaʻāina or Military Ticket
Confirm what to show at check-in for the kamaʻāina or military rate before you book. Call (808) 777-7716 or reach our team, and bring what the team asks for.
Kamaʻāina Rates on Other Oʻahu Cruises, Compared
Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats
The Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats daytime cruise runs 1 hour from Kewalo Basin, from $40, for all ages. Its tour pages and FAQ do not publish a kamaʻāina or military rate.
Its $40 daytime ticket starts $39 below our kamaʻāina rate. The FAQ describes "glass viewing ports on the bottom", says guests do not swim on regular public cruises, and welcomes your own food and drinks, including adult beverages.
Its sunset cruise page describes "our boat's lights illuminating the water around the glass", and does not publish their output.
Atlantis Submarines Waikiki
The Atlantis kamaʻāina page lists the Waikīkī submarine at $126.11 for adults and $56.79 for children. The Waikīkī page lists $167.81 and $75.39.
Atlantis publishes its rule, "A valid Hawaii ID or Military ID is required at check-in". Its booking page gives a 45-minute dive inside 1 hour and 45 minutes, check-in at Hilton Hawaiian Village, and a 36-inch height minimum for children.
Vida Mia Coffee Cruise
The Vida Mia Coffee Cruise lists adults at $99 and "Military & Kama'aina" at $89. Its FAQ says to call 808-746-8432 for a discount code, and that an 18% service charge is added to every reservation.
The Vida Mia is a wooden motor yacht built in 1929.
Holokai Catamaran
The Holokai home page says "Kama'aina and military rates available", with a call to (808) 922-2210, and does not publish the amount. The Holokai sunset sail starts from $80 for 1.5 hours, boards from Waikīkī Beach at the Outrigger Reef, includes an open bar and is 21 and over on Fridays.
Holokai's about page says the catamaran was built in 2015.
Star of Honolulu
The Star of Honolulu kamaʻāina and military page lists promo codes, "resident" and "military", and sets the Pacific Star Sunset Buffet at $103.10 for adults, against a regular $128.88. It asks for proof of Hawaiʻi residency or military service with valid ID at check-in, one per four guests, and says tax and harbor fee are not included.
Side by Side
| Recommended Illuminate Waikīkī |
Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats (daytime) | Atlantis Submarines Waikiki | Vida Mia Coffee Cruise | Holokai Sunset Sail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departure | Kewalo Basin Harbor | Kewalo Basin Harbor | Check-in at Hilton Hawaiian Village | Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Slip 499 | Waikīkī Beach, check-in at Outrigger Reef |
| Duration | 90 minutes, 2 hours for the snorkel | 1 hour | 1 hour 45 minutes, 45 minutes underwater | 90 minutes | 1.5 hours |
| Adult / child / kamaʻāina from | $89 / $79 / $79 | $40, all ages / Unknown / Not published | $167.81 / $75.39 / $126.11 adult, $56.79 child | $99 / $89 / $89 | $80 / $45 (ages 4 to 12) / Not published, call |
| Military rate | Named on the Friday page, call for other cruises | Not published | Yes, with Military ID | $89 | Available, call |
| ID rule published | No, call the team | Not applicable | Valid Hawaii ID or Military ID at check-in | Unknown | Unknown |
| Swim required | No, except Turtle Reef Snorkel | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| Underwater view | Purpose-built glass-bottom viewing portal | "Glass viewing ports on the bottom" | Submarine view ports | Unknown | Unknown |
| Glass bottom material | True glass | Unknown | Not applicable, submarine | Unknown | Unknown |
| Year built | 2026 | Unknown | Unknown | 1929 | 2015 |
| Underwater lighting | 20,000-lumen system, lit reef on the Sunset and Friday Fireworks cruises | Boat lights on its sunset and fireworks cruises, output Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Alcohol policy | BYOB welcome on the Sunset and Friday Fireworks cruises | BYOB welcome | Food and beverages not provided | Unknown | Open bar included |
| Minimum age | None published, infant-in-carrier rate from $79 | All ages | Children at least 36 inches tall | None published, infants ride free | All ages, 21 and over on Fridays |
Published rates and policies as of September 2026. Check each operator's page before booking.
Atlantis and Star of Honolulu publish larger dollar discounts and a written ID rule. Vida Mia matches our $10 adult saving.
Of the five, Illuminate Waikīkī and Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats publish a glass-bottom view. The portal on Illuminate is true glass, on a boat built in 2026 with 20,000 lumens of underwater lighting.
Before You Book
Arrive at Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1025 Ala Moana Blvd, 30 minutes before departure. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult at all times.
Guests must be able to safely climb a boat ladder without assistance, and pregnant guests may not participate. Each cruise is not recommended for guests age 75 or older or over 300 pounds, so read the full participation requirements before you book.
Your Local Rate, Morning to Friday Night
The kamaʻāina rate from $79 covers our morning coffee, snorkel, sunset and Friday fireworks departures.
Choose coffee at 7:30 AM, a guided snorkel, golden hour or the Friday fireworks.
Book your adventure and see Waikīkī in a new light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Illuminate Waikīkī offer a kamaʻāina discount?
Yes, Illuminate Waikīkī publishes a kamaʻāina rate from $79 on four cruise pages. They are the Morning Coffee Cruise, the Turtle Reef Snorkel, the Sunset & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise and the Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise. The rate starts $10 below the $89 adult rate, as published in September 2026.
Does Illuminate Waikīkī offer a military discount?
Illuminate Waikīkī names military at $79 on the Fireworks & After Dark Reef Walker Cruise page, in the line "Kamaʻāina/military $79". For a military rate on the Morning Coffee, Turtle Reef Snorkel or Sunset cruise, call (808) 777-7716 before booking.
What ID do I need for the Illuminate Waikīkī kamaʻāina rate?
Call Illuminate Waikīkī at (808) 777-7716 to confirm the ID for the kamaʻāina or military rate. Bring what the team asks for, since other Oʻahu operators set their own rules, such as the valid Hawaiʻi or military ID that Atlantis asks for.
Is there a kamaʻāina rate on the Illuminate Waikīkī Whale Watching Cruise?
The Illuminate Waikīkī Whale Watching Cruise page publishes no rates. It lists three departures a day in whale season, at 11:45 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:15 PM. Choose a date in its booking calendar, or call (808) 777-7716, to see the tickets for the day you want.
How much does a kamaʻāina family save on an Illuminate Waikīkī cruise?
A kamaʻāina family saves $10 per adult on an Illuminate Waikīkī cruise, since the kamaʻāina rate starts from $79 against $89 for adults 13 and over. Children 12 and under and infants in a carrier already start from $79. Two adults and two children start from $316 at the kamaʻāina rate, against $336 at the adult rate.
Kamaʻāina Rate
Local rate from $79 on four cruises
Morning Coffee · Turtle Reef Snorkel · Sunset · Friday Fireworks (military named at $79).
See all cruises