Tradewind Charters' Waikiki Friday fireworks cruise is a 3-hour private charter from Kewalo Basin that positions the 50-foot Aloha Kai catamaran off the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the Friday show, with soft drinks included. It suits groups of 15–49 celebrating an event. The drawback is cost: $2,250 per boat before alcohol, with no set start time.
Highlights
Private 3-hour charter on Friday nights only, timed to the Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks off Waikiki.
Aloha Kai: 50-ft power catamaran for 7–49 guests at $2,250, extra hours $750; smaller options are the 43-ft yacht ($945, 2–6) and 40-ft sailing catamaran ($1,495 for 2–6, $1,995 for 7–12).
Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks; a custom bar and a catering menu (20-person minimum) can be arranged in advance.
Departs from Kewalo Basin, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd, a few minutes from Waikiki; the boat has two restrooms and a foredeck bar area.
Sunset, city lights and possible dolphin, turtle or seasonal whale sightings on the way out.
What to Expect
Your group boards the Aloha Kai at Kewalo Basin, Slip B-6, on a Friday evening; the exact departure time is set with the operator when booking.
The catamaran cruises along the Waikiki shoreline at sunset with Diamond Head ahead and the city lights coming on.
The captain holds position off the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the Friday fireworks show, which is viewed from the water rather than the beach.
Soft drinks are served throughout; any alcohol or catering you pre-arranged is set up on the foredeck bar area.
The boat returns to Kewalo Basin at the end of the 3 hours; extra time can be added at $750 per hour.
What's Included
Private use of the vessel with USCG-licensed captain and crew
Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages
Two onboard restrooms, bar area, ice box
What's Not Included
Alcohol (custom bar options with advance notice)
Catering (catamaran menu on request, minimum 20 orders)
Gratuity
Transportation to Kewalo Basin
What to Bring
A light jacket for the evening breeze on deck
Your own food or drinks if not pre-ordered (confirm BYOB rules with the operator)
Restrictions and Requirements
Fridays only
Capacity by vessel: 7–49 on the Aloha Kai, 2–6 on the 43-ft yacht, 2–12 on the 40-ft sailing catamaran
Fireworks show is run by the Hilton Hawaiian Village and can be cancelled by the hotel or weather
Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Blvd, Slip B-6, Honolulu, HI 96814
Check-In
Not published
Parking and Getting There
Not published
Ratings from every source we could find
Other
5.0
1 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Waikiki's weekly Friday fireworks show is a well-known, free public event; watching it from a private charter is a differentiator some operators offer for a premium, elevated vantage point.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We have not read any review specific to this fireworks cruise. We read 1 dated FishingBooker review of the same vessel (May 2026, a fishing charter) and 4 undated testimonials on the operator's website. Collected October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Aloha Kai handles large, mixed-age groups(1 of 1 dated review we read (fishing charter))
A 15-person party spanning a 1-year-old to guests in their 70s, including a wheelchair user, found the boat clean, shaded and equipped with Bluetooth music.
— FishingBooker, 5★, May 2026: the crew made everyone from toddlers to grandparents feel welcome on a 3-hour charter.
Private sunset sails praised for the captain(2 of 4 operator-site testimonials mention an evening or sunset sail)
Two undated testimonials on tradewindcharters.com describe a 2-hour family sunset sail and a 3-hour sail on My Sunshine with a captain who handled everything.
— Operator website, undated: a family's private sunset sail was praised for the captain doing all the work.
What Reviewers Complain About
No cancellation policy published for crewed charters(0 reviews; listing gap · operator issue · most recent: n/a)
The operator's policies page covers only bareboat charters and its FAQ page reads 'coming soon', so a $2,250 Friday booking has no written refund terms on the site. FishingBooker's listing for the same boat applies a 3-day free cancellation rule.
Fireworks depend on the Hilton, not the operator(0 reviews; listing fact · outside operator's control · most recent: n/a)
The show is the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Friday fireworks; if the hotel cancels, the cruise becomes a standard sunset sail at the same price. Ask the operator what happens in that case before paying.
About the Operator in General
Tradewind Charters has run private charters from Honolulu since 1985 under Captain Ken Middleton; the operator asked a FishingBooker reviewer to repost their 5-star review to Google in May 2026.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
Worth it only for a large private party: at 40 guests the $2,250 Aloha Kai works out to about $56 each for 3 hours with restrooms, a bar area and a front-row view of the Friday fireworks, which beats most shared fireworks cruises. Groups of 2–6 should book the same operator's 43-foot yacht at $945 or a shared Friday cruise elsewhere. Get the departure time and cancellation terms in writing first, since neither is published.
Book This Tour If…
You are a group of 15–49 and can split the $2,250 boat price
You want a private deck, restrooms and a pre-arranged bar for a Friday celebration
You can book far enough ahead to arrange catering (20-order minimum) and confirm the time
You want to watch the Hilton fireworks from the water rather than Waikiki Beach
Skip This Tour If…
You are 2–6 people; the $945 sailing yacht or a shared cruise costs far less
You need published cancellation terms before paying; the operator site has none for crewed charters
Your trip does not include a Friday night
You expect alcohol or food included; both are extra
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Ask Tradewind Charters for the Friday departure time and the refund rule if the Hilton cancels the fireworks; neither is on the website.
Order catering at least a few days ahead if your group is 20 or more; the catamaran menu has a 20-order minimum.
Choose the Aloha Kai over the sailing catamaran if anyone needs a ramp or restrooms; the May 2026 reviewer boarded a wheelchair user.
Bring a jacket; the foredeck is open and the return leg is after dark.
Compare the 40-ft sailing catamaran at $1,995 for 7–12 if your group is under 13; it is $255 cheaper than the Aloha Kai.
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Tradewind Charters Friday fireworks cruise?
The Friday Fireworks Private Cruise costs $2,250 for 7–49 guests on the 50-ft Aloha Kai power catamaran, $1,495 (2–6) or $1,995 (7–12) on the 40-ft sailing catamaran, and $945 for 2–6 on the 43-ft sailing yacht, each for 3 hours, as of October 2026 on the operator's site. Extra hours are $750 on the Aloha Kai.
Where does the Waikiki Friday fireworks cruise depart from?
The cruise departs from Kewalo Basin Harbor at 1125 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814, where Tradewind Charters keeps the Aloha Kai at Slip B-6, a few minutes' drive from Waikiki. The boat positions off the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the Friday night fireworks and returns to the same harbor.
Is alcohol included on the Friday fireworks private cruise?
Alcohol is not included in the Friday fireworks cruise price. The operator provides complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and can arrange a custom bar with advance notice. A catamaran catering menu is also available on request with a minimum of 20 orders. Confirm BYOB rules directly with Tradewind Charters when booking.
What time do the Friday fireworks happen in Waikiki?
The Friday fireworks are staged by the Hilton Hawaiian Village off Waikiki Beach each Friday evening; Tradewind Charters' page does not publish the cruise departure time, so ask the operator when booking. The 3-hour charter is scheduled to include sunset, the city lights and the fireworks before returning to Kewalo Basin.
How many people fit on the Aloha Kai for the fireworks cruise?
The Aloha Kai carries 7–49 guests on the Friday fireworks cruise at a flat $2,250 for 3 hours. It is a 50-ft power catamaran built in 2017 with two restrooms, a foredeck bar area and an ice box, and one May 2026 reviewer reported boarding a wheelchair user via its ramp.
What is the cancellation policy for the Tradewind fireworks cruise?
Tradewind Charters does not publish a crewed-charter cancellation policy on its website; the policies page covers bareboat charters only and the FAQ page is marked 'coming soon' as of October 2026. For the same vessel on FishingBooker, cancellation is free up to 3 days before and 100% forfeited after. Get written terms from the operator before paying.
Contact
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