How to See Honu (Turtle) Near Waikīkī Without Getting in the Water: Glass-Bottom vs Deck vs Submarine (2026)

Illuminate Waikīkī · 2026-09-28 · 8 min read

Three boat-based ways to see honu near Waikīkī without getting in the water are to look down through the floor of a glass-bottom boat, watch from the deck while a turtle snorkel group swims, or ride the submarine below the surface. At Illuminate Waikīkī, every one of our glass-bottom cruises leaves Kewalo Basin Harbor aboard Illuminate, a purpose-built glass-bottom boat with a 20,000-lumen underwater lighting system.

Why Honu Stay Close to Waikīkī

Honu, the Hawaiian green sea turtle, feed close to shore. Hawaiʻi's Division of Aquatic Resources says nearshore coral reefs are key foraging habitat for them, and that adults feed mostly on limu, the local word for seaweed. Illuminate is designed to look toward Oʻahu's south-shore reef country, including Horseshoe Reef. Honu in Hawaiʻi are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, per the same state page. NOAA Fisheries recommends staying at least 10 feet away from sea turtles, on land and in the water.

Option 1: Look Down Through a Glass-Bottom Boat

A glass-bottom boat puts the reef under your feet. You stay dry, and the view is straight down through glass. Illuminate Waikīkī and Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats both run glass-bottom cruises from Kewalo Basin Harbor.

Illuminate Waikīkī

Illuminate is our purpose-built, 45-passenger glass-bottom vessel, with a black hull and custom octopus artwork. The glass-bottom viewing portal is central to the boat's design, not an add-on. Its glass-bottom portal is true glass, and the boat was built in 2026. Our Morning Coffee Cruise runs daily from 7:30 to 9:00 AM with Aliʻi Coffee Co. coffee and pastries. The Sunset Cruise runs 90 minutes from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, and BYOB is welcome. Both start from $89 for adults 13 and over, and from $79 for children 12 and under, infants in a carrier, and kamaʻāina. Conditions may reveal honu, tangs, butterflyfish, wrasses, goatfish, parrotfish and humuhumu below the glass. Nature decides what appears, and water clarity changes with the conditions on the day.

Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats

Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats runs the Haleiwa Queen from the same harbor. Its daytime boat ride lasts one hour, is open to all ages, and starts from $40. Its FAQ describes "a 50-foot power catamaran with glass viewing ports on the bottom" and lists turtles among the marine life guests may see. BYOB is welcome on all its cruises. The site does not say how many viewing ports there are or where they sit on the boat. If the size of the viewing area matters to your group, ask before booking.

Option 2: Watch From the Deck of a Turtle Snorkel Boat

Living Ocean Tours runs its Turtle Canyon snorkel from Kewalo Basin, two hours long, from $79 per person, for ages 3 and up. It says turtles are "spotted on the vast majority of trips." Its guide for non-swimmers says a non-swimmer "can often remain on the vessel during the water portion", and is direct about the trade: "Turtle sightings from the deck are possible, but the clearest underwater views belong to guests in the water." Its boat page describes open deck space and does not describe a glass bottom or underwater viewing area. Our own Turtle Reef Snorkel visits a known honu hangout, and in-water guides stay with the group throughout. The published requirements for that cruise say "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." If anyone in your group will not swim, choose one of our no-swim cruises above instead.

Option 3: Go Below in the Atlantis Submarine

Atlantis Submarines Waikiki describes a dive "descending to 100 feet underwater." The submarine portion lasts 45 minutes, and the whole trip takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. Guests check in at Hilton Hawaiian Village, not at Kewalo Basin. Its Waikīkī page lists an all-inclusive adult rate of $167.81 and a child rate of $75.39, and names turtles, sharks and stingrays among the marine life guests may encounter. On boarding, the booking page says "Each guest is required to independently navigate a nearly vertical 11-step ladder into and out of the submarine," and children must be at least 36 inches tall.

Glass-Bottom vs Deck vs Submarine, Side by Side

*Published rates and policies as of September 2026. Check each operator's page before booking.*

Who Can Go on an Illuminate Waikīkī Cruise

If you are planning this trip for parents or grandparents, read these before booking. Every Illuminate cruise carries these general participation requirements:

• 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.
• Participants should be in good physical and mental health and have full mobility.
• This vessel and experience may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility.
• For safety reasons, pregnant guests and individuals with ongoing back or neck conditions may not participate.
• This experience is not recommended for guests age 75 or older or those weighing more than 300 pounds.
• Guests with heart conditions, high blood pressure, severe asthma, or other serious medical concerns should not participate.
• Guests must be able to understand and communicate important safety instructions in English.

The captain and crew make the final call on the day, based on ocean conditions and each guest's physical readiness. If you have a question about a specific guest, call us at (808) 777-7716 before you book.

Choosing the Right Way to See Honu

• Glass-bottom boat: for looking straight down at the reef and staying dry the whole time.
• A snorkel boat's deck: for a group where some people swim and the rest watch from above.
• The submarine: for reaching depth, at the highest adult price of the three, if everyone can manage a nearly vertical 11-step ladder.

On Illuminate, you watch the reef through the glass-bottom portal, on the 7:30 AM Morning Coffee Cruise or at golden hour on the Sunset Cruise with Diamond Head in view. Book your adventure and see Waikīkī in a new light, above and below.

Morning Coffee Cruise

Look for honu through the glass-bottom portal

Stay dry aboard Illuminate — Aliʻi Coffee Co. coffee and pastries from 7:30 AM.

See Morning Coffee cruise