Tips for Your Visit to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary 6:30am-5:30am

Plan Your Visit to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary 6:30am-5:30pm

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. Parking is managed by Secure Parking 1-808-517-1311.

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 minutes prior to departure as Expeditions closes boarding at 6:25am and departs promptly at 6:30am.

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 please call me on my cell at 432-559-0943.

Planning Your Day – Tips Lanai Cat Sanctuary

Tip – 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 Hulopoe 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.
• Harbor First – Staying at Harbor and visiting the General Store that offers coffee, drinks, grab & go. There are park benches at the Harbor – then have shuttle van pick up for transfer to Cat Sanctuary 9:45.
• Town for Breakfast – Visit Town for Breakfast – add a third transfer to Town and eat breakfast at Blue Ginger and/or visit Coffee Works for a specialty coffee. Note: Blue Ginger only accepts cash. Then transfer from Town at 9:45-10:00am to Cat Sanctuary. Not interested in a Beach visit? We have added an itinerary includes Town twice, once in the morning for Breakfast and then early afternoon for Lunch and Shopping.

How much Cat Time?

Tip – Decide How long to stay at the Cat Sanctuary and if you would like to add Town or the Beach in the afternoon. There is a shuttle pick up for Town or the Beach at 1:00pm and final pickup when the Cat Sanctuary closes at 3:00pm. So, your options are:

• Stay till Close – Stay from the 10:00am opening time until the closing time of 3:00pm. No food/drinks are available at the Cat Sanctuary. Many guests pack their own lunch/snacks.
• Town Visit – Pick-up time of approximately 1:00pm from the Cat Sanctuary for your transfer to Town then your final transfer to the Harbor at 4:15pm for your 5:30pm ferry departure back to Maui. The pick-up in Town will be from the flagpole. Blue Ginger and Pele’s close at 2:00pm. Blue Ginger only accepts cash. Not interested in a Beach visit? We have added an itinerary that includes Town twice, once in the morning for Breakfast and then again early afternoon for Lunch and Shopping.
• Beach Visit – Pick-up time of approximately 1:00pm from the Cat Sanctuary for your transfer to the Beach/Harbor. We note that you will walk back and be at the Harbor at least 30 min prior to your 5:30pm ferry departure back to Maui. Lunch – The Manele General Store at the Harbor offers grab and go items, snacks and cold drinks. After your pickup for the Beach you can ask your driver if it is possible to stop at Lanai Service Station or Richards Market to pick up sandwiches. NOTE: Food & Drinks are not sold at the Cat Sanctuary, the Four Seasons Resort has remained closed to non-guests and many guests pack a lunch and snacks.