More Tips for Your Visit to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary – 1/2 Day Itineraries

Plan Your Visit to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary – 1/2 Day Itineraries 6:30am-1:00pm or 11:00am-5:30pm

Planning Your 1/2 Day – Tips Lanai Cat Sanctuary, Town or Beach

Tip – Departure time: Answer the question – Am I an Early Bird (6:30am Depart) or not (11:00am Depart)?

Tip – Interested in a full Day Itinerary instead? Then Look at Tips for a Full Day 6:30am-5:30pm here.

Tip 6:30am Depart – Decide how you would like to fill your time between when the Ferry arrives at 7:45+am and the Cat Sanctuary opening at 10:00am.

Since the Cat Sanctuary is not open when you arrive you have the option of:

• Cats Only – Take the Shuttle to the Cat Sanctuary arriving around 8:30-8:45am. Wait until outer gate opens around 9:00am then wait at gazebo until they open the door into the enclosure. Note – #1 The scheduled opening time is 10:00am but the staff is opening earlier if the enclosure area is ready for visitors and guests are waiting, #2 The Cat Sanctuary is in a very “rural/isolate” spot so there is nothing close to walk to. No food/drinks are available at the Cat Sanctuary. Many guests pack their own lunch/snacks.• Beach First – Visiting Hulopo’e Beach • The Beach is a short 10 min walk from the Harbor – one option is to walk to the Beach then have shuttle van pick up for transfer to Cat Sanctuary 9:45am. https://lostonlanai.com/product/ferry-beach-harbor-cats-630am-100pm/

• Harbor or Beach First – Staying at Harbor and visiting the General Store that offers coffee, drinks, grab & go. There are park benches at the Harbor or walk to Hulopoe Beach – then have shuttle van pick up for transfer to Cat Sanctuary 9:45. https://lostonlanai.com/product/ferry-beach-harbor-cats-630am-100pm/

• Town for Breakfast – Visit Town for Breakfast – add a third transfer to Town and eat breakfast at Blue Ginger, Ganotisi’s and/or visit Coffee Works for a specialty coffee. Note: Blue Ginger only accepts cash. Then transfer from Town at 9:45-10:15am to Cat Sanctuary. https://lostonlanai.com/product/ferry-town-cats-630am-100pm/

Tip – Check out our Restaurant Guide and Shopping Guide for Lanai City (Town).

• Pick up time from the Cat Sanctuary for the transfer back to the Harbor for the 1:00pm Ferry return is at 11:30am.

Tip 11:00am Depart – Decide if you would like to go to Town after the Cat Sanctuary closes at 3:00pm or do Cats Only straight and back to the Beach or Harbor at closing time.

• Cats Only – On arrival check in with the Shuttle drivers for your transfer to the cat Sanctuary arriving around 12:45pm. Visit the Cat Sanctuary until 3:00pm closing time. Then transfer back to the Harbor or be dropped at Hulopo’e Beach. Read more about Hulopo’e Beach HERE. Note: if you are dropped at the Beach you will need to walk back to the Harbor for your 5:30pm ferry departure. The Beach is a short 10min – 4/10ths of a mile walk from the Harbor.  https://lostonlanai.com/product/ferry-cats-only-1100am-530pm-stay-till-close/

• Cats & Town – On arrival check in with the Shuttle drivers for your transfer to the cat Sanctuary arriving around 12:45pm. Visit the Cat Sanctuary until 3:00pm closing time. Then transfer to Town (Lanai City) arriving around 3:15pm.  Visit Town for 1 hour until your 4:15pm transfer back to the Harbor for your 5:30pm ferry departure. Note: Drop Off and Pick Up point in Town is at the flagpole located in front of the old Dole Admin Building where Lanai Culture and Heritage Center is located. https://lostonlanai.com/product/ferry-cats-town-1100pm-530pm/

Tip – Not interested in visiting the Cat Sanctuary? Then check out our Town visit only Itineraries HERE.
Tip – Want to visit Lanai independently or rent a Jeep. You can book ferry tickets only HERE.
TIP – Interested in a Full Day Itinerary? Look at Tips for a Full Day 6:30am-5:30pm HERE.

TIP – For more information check out the Maui to Lanai Day Trip Guide.

Getting There – Tips Expeditions Ferry

Tip – Travel time to Maalaea – Morning traffic on the Lahaina By-Pass and Honoapi‘ilani Hwy may cause traffic delays. Please allow extra travel time from North Maui – Kapalua, Napili, Kaanapali. Traffic info is available via apps like https://www.waze.com/ .

Tip – Parking at the Harbor – If you do not Cab or Uber the parking at Maalaea Harbor is all paid parking. Payable via QR Code or at one of the 6 pay stations. The nearest pay station to Expeditions is located by slip 62. Cost to park is $1 per hour. If you need to park longer than 24hrs call Secure Parking to arrange. Contact Info for Secure Parking: 1-808-517-1311 – https://www.secureparkinghi.com/parking-location/maalaea-boat-harbor/ Read more about Maalaea Harbor in our Parking at Maalaea Harbor Post.

Tip – Expeditions Ticket Booth & Departure Location – Booth located at 101 Maalaea Boat Harbor Rd.: Google Map Link Directions Ticket Booth, located across the Harbor in the bottom floor of the Harbor/DLNR Building.

Expeditions Ferry Departure Building Maalaea

Map Expeditions Location Maalaea Harbor-credit google map

Tip – Arrive Early – Arrive at least 30-45 minutes prior to departure as Expeditions closes boarding at 10 minutes before departure and leaves promptly at the scheduled time. Parking close to Expeditions can fill up for the 11:00am departures as many other tour boats operate out of nearby slips. Please allow extra time to find a parking spot and walk to Expeditions, particularly if you are departing at 11:00am. There is overflow parking above the Harbor in the paid parking lot for the aquarium, shops and restaurants.

Tip – Checking In – Give the attendant your names and show your ID and they will give you your roundtrip tickets. If they ask for a paper voucher show them your receipt email on your phone and let them know that Brad with Lost on Lāna‘i has already e-mailed the office a copy. If you have any questions when you check in you will be able to call me on my cellphone.