Private sport fishing charters out of South Maui’s Ma’alaea Harbor aboard HINATEA III!
Hinatea II was lost in the August ’23 fire which destroyed Lahaina Harbor, but the company got back in action quickly. 
Hinatea Sportfishing has resumed charters out of Maalaea Harbor. They will return to Lahaina once the harbor has been reconstructed.
Hinatea III is a 34′ Blackfin operating private and shared sport fishing charters tMonday through Friday (closed weekends). Typical check-in time is 5:15am.
Enjoy the scenery from Hinatea III’s spacious back deck, as you make your way further offshore to Maui’s more productive fishing grounds. Her cabin is equipped with an electric head (toilet), a galley with a refrigerator, a fresh-water sink, a large table, and cushioned bench seating. There is additional cushioned seating just outside the cabin, plus bench seating on the flybridge, forward of the captain.
Fish caught aboard Hinatea Sportfishing include striped and blue marlin, mahi mahi (dorado/dolphin fish), ono (wahoo), ahi (yellowfin tuna), big-eye, and aku (skipjack tuna).
In addition to trolling with artificial lures, Hinatea’s crew love to catch and rig live bait. This can bring in uku (gray snapper/jobfish), ulua (GT), trevally, rainbow runner, barracuda and more.
The fishing methods used on any given day depend upon a variety of factors, most notably season (live bait is more difficult to obtain during the summer), trip duration, weather conditions, and the previous day’s bite.
Probably the most consistent comments we receive about Hinatea Sportfishing have to do with her captain and crew. Captain Terry Kellem (a.k.a. “Killer”) has been sport fishing off Maui for decades. He and his deckhand share the Aloha Spirit at every opportunity. They love what they do, and they are genuinely pleased to have you on board!
Private Rates
6 hrs: $1,850 ($1,998.67 w/tax and fees)
8 hrs: $2,100 ($2,267.95 w/tax and fees)
Shared Rates
6 hrs: $375 pp ($404.92 w/tax and fees)
8 hrs: $425 pp ($458.78 w/tax and fees)
Charter specifics:
- Capacity: up to 6 guests
- Share boats: Minimum 4 guests
- Minimum age: 8 on privates, 12 on shares
- Check-in location: Ma’alaea Harbor, slip #8
- Check-in time: 5:15am
- Fish policy: Crew will fillet a portion of the day’s catch at no charge for you to enjoy while on Maui.
- Cancellation Policy: No cancellations within 72 hours of departure
(older photos may depict a different vessel. Hinatea II was lost in the Lahaina Fire)
Hinatea sport fishing charter reviews
Amazing Trip and Crew
Best day of our trip! I have been to Maui a few times, and have never gone out on a fishing type trip. We chose the 6 hr trip and we were so glad we decided on the longer day! What a great crew. We felt welcome and comfortable from the start. Their expertise and skill allowed us to catch 2 large Mahi Mahi and 3 large Ono fish on one trip. Everyone had a chance to sit in the chair a reel one in. No one would believe that with 3 daughters, this would be the highlight of everyone's trip. I would book another day out anytime we return. Great experience, great time well worth the money. And our grilled fish dinner wasn't to bad either ?.
Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience!!
Amazing, incredible, record-setting day that we'll NEVER forget with Greg and Jason aboard the Hinatea!! Can't say enough about how easy-going these guys were in welcoming my 11 year-old son and me onto their boat for 6 hours and working their asses off to ensure a great catch and a great time.
I should also say that Lili at FishMaui, and Doug - the owner of the Hinatea - were incredibly easy to work with and extremely accommodating in shifting their schedules around to ensure they could have the right boat and the right people available to take us out.
When we got to the dock at 5:30 AM they were ready to go with a clean boat and big smiles, and began immediately to teach us all about their wonderful craft. By 6:00 we were already trolling and by 7:00 my son had already landed his first fish -- a beautiful, 49" MahiMahi, which is already headed for my son's wall. Then we headed for the deeper water, and NOTHING could have prepared us for what came next!
Around 10:00, we got another hit while I was up top. Jason and Greg had my son strapped into the chair in a flash, and over the next 50 minutes they scrambled around offering encouragement, instructions and assistance where possible as my son fought a big fish. Watching them get it into and onto the boat was something I'll never forget. The end result may very well have been a RECORD for an 11 year-old angler: AN 11'8", 503 LB BLUE MARLIN!!! Do I need to say more?? The best thing was that Greg and Jason were every bit as happy and excited as we were!
Not sure what else to say, except that these guys are experts at their craft, work hard to make sure you have a great time, and I absolutely give them my highest possible recommendation. Thank you, and good luck!
Fish, Whales and Crew all Awesome
It was awesome! it was like a private whale watching cruise also. My sister in law didnt even want to go because she wanted to go on a whale watching cruise with 100 other people. By the end she was all teared up because the whales were everywhere. one was right next to the boat and even swam under us. My 10 year old daughter caught a Mahi Mahi and my son caught a nice Amberjack. It was perfect! Greg and Jason were very nice. In past experiences on charters, the captains always seem to be a**holes. This was not the case at all. This made the experience even better.
Thank you,
Travis
Amazing day
Amazing day on the water with this group! Clean, comfortable ride all day. We’ve been on charters in Alaskan waters, and this was definitely one of the best charter experiences we\'ve had. Greg and Jason were excellent company throughout the trip, and so helpful. Caught baitfish, mahi mahi, and an excellent ono!! Most amazing catch of our life! To top it off the whales were everywhere amd even got a couple close-ups. Thanks guys!
Dnmblenk@gmail.com
Absolutely great day. My sister and I caught so many mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna that our arms ached! Got my personal best mahi-mahi in a large cow halfway thru the day. Gregg worked hard to put us on fish and Chris was a great cheerleader as to what to do. Can't say enough good things about the boat & crew. Mahalo!
fished with this company
The crew was great nice day on the water. We caught maui mahi, thank you
Ahi Ahoy, Mahi Magic: Hinatea Hanapa'a
As locals who have spent literally thousands of combined hours angling for Maui's nearshore big'uns, we know exactly how difficult it is to coax up the trophies: really, Really difficult. Experts, one supposes, are those who make the difficult look easy. Experts helm the Hinatea. Greg and Chris are—for those to whom this sorta thing matters—some kinda fish finders. They've got Poseidon on their Rolodex, or somethin', because they hooked us up with almost a superfluity (it's possible there's no such thing) of striking, leaping, diving, sprinting greens, blues, yellow[fin]s, and chromes. Fathoms of mahalos to the Hinatea and its matchless crew.
Excellence Personified
Where do I begin? Chris (Captain) and Greg (Mate) were fantastic! Tremendous local knowledge and experience, they were able to put us on the hot spot and we landed eight Mahi Mahi and one Yellow Fin tuna. If you are an experienced fisherman you know getting shut out can happen to the best of them, well the fishing Gods were kind to us this day, and the crew of the Hinatea were like a well oiled machine! Come with a good attitude and treat the men as the professionals they are, and you will have a great time! I can think of no higher praise. When I'm back n Maui I will be booking them again.- Aloha
Slow day, but I was the lucky one!
A friend of mine and I booked for June 27th, 2014. It was a slow day, but the captain and mate were super knowledgeable and friendly. The weather was great, the views beautiful and the folks we shared the trip with were very friendly and cool. I lucked out though, as the only the bite of the day was on my line! It wasn't a record breaker, but a 100 lb marlin had lots of fight in my book. I had a great time and thank the captain and mate for their teaching and patience with my "technique"! I will definitely recommend this boat to anyone going that way and book them again when I return.
My strongest recommendation
Aloha Lili,
I wanted you and the boat owner to know what a fine time I had on the Hinatea while entertaining my son and son-in-law. The boat itself was the type of seaworthy craft I personally appreciate. Heavy, rides well in the sea, and sounds like the roar of a big fish attractor.
Fishermen do not need TV’s.
First and foremost were the two Captains. I call them Captains because they were both experienced in all aspects of deep water fishing and worked in perfect unison while remaining friendly, educational, and continuously on the hunt . I have fished with many a crew from the Arctic to the Antarctic. These guys were good. My strongest recommendation.
Many Thanks,
John L. Davis
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