Ohana Deep Sea Fishing is the rare Oahu operator that gives you a real choice of boat. The same company runs two very different vessels out of Kewalo Basin: the Reel Life, a 48 foot Viking sportfisher refitted in 2024 and the boat for a serious six-angler day, and the Iwa Kai, a 74 foot luxury yacht for up to 12 guests, built for a big group or an overnight. Between them they cover more of the market than any single boat in the harbor, and both carry top-of-the-scale ratings.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 8.0 Ohana is a strong choice and the second-ranked operator on the Oahu ranking, just behind Five Star. Boat and equipment and track record carry it: two well-kept, distinctive boats and a deep, highly rated review record across both. What holds it a step back is value and transparency, specifically the fish-keeping policy, which the listings describe as keep your catch but the booking terms cap at a partial share. Book the Reel Life for the fishing and the Iwa Kai when you need room or a multi-day trip, and confirm the fish terms before you go.
The boats
The Reel Life is the fishing boat: a 48 foot Viking refitted in 2024, with twin diesels, air conditioning, a galley, and a fighting chair, and reviewers call it one of the nicest sportfishers in the harbor since the refit. It takes up to six anglers. The Iwa Kai is a different animal, a 74 foot Striker motor yacht with four staterooms, a full galley, and a hot tub, certified for up to 12 guests, which makes it the boat on Oahu for a large family or a group that wants to fish and cruise. The range of the two boats is the real strength here, from a tight fishing deck to a party-sized yacht.
The fishing and what you target
Both boats troll the deep water off Honolulu for the island’s pelagics: Pacific blue marlin, striped marlin, mahi mahi, ahi (yellowfin tuna), ono (wahoo), and shortbill spearfish through the winter. The Reel Life is the one to book if catching is the point, with a captain who works the grounds hard and a deck rigged for it. The Iwa Kai fishes too, but its draw is space and the overnight option, so a serious angler should weigh the bigger boat’s comfort against the more fishing-focused Reel Life.
Trips and prices
Both boats are booked private, by the whole boat. The Reel Life is $1,299 for a half day, $1,570 for a three quarter day, and $1,779 for a full day, for up to six. The Iwa Kai runs from $1,675 for a half day to $2,723 for a full day for up to 12, with a two day overnight around $3,500, which is one of the only multi-day options on the island. Rods, tackle, lures, and fish cleaning are included, and no license is needed on the charter. The cost guide and the party boat versus private charter guide help you judge a private boat like this against a shared seat at Five Star or Oahu Pelagic.
The crew
The Reel Life runs under Captain Mike Strait, who reviewers credit with more than three decades of Hawaii charter experience, and a mate, Kahi, who comes up by name for working the deck and teaching first timers. The combined record across the two boats is strong and recent, with the Reel Life rated near the top of the port. The softer spot is consistency of information rather than crew quality: the Iwa Kai does not put a captain’s name front and center the way the Reel Life does, and the fish-keeping terms read differently across the operator’s own channels.
Booking and what to know
Book through the operator’s sites or FishingBooker, and confirm which boat and which fish policy applies to your trip. The Reel Life is the pick for fishing, the Iwa Kai for a group or an overnight. Bring food and drinks, reef-safe sunscreen, and an early start, since trips leave in the morning. If keeping a good amount of your catch matters to you, get the share spelled out at booking, given the mixed wording.
How we scored it
Ohana scores 8.0: two strong, distinctive boats, a veteran captain on the fishing vessel, the island’s clearest big-group and overnight options, and a deep, top-rated review record. Boat and equipment and track record are its strengths. Value and transparency is the weak factor, on a fish-keeping policy that reads two ways. See how we scored this operator, and compare it with the rest of the Oahu charters.