Private charter

Question

Can anyone recommend a private boat for about 25-30 people that won’t cost an arm and a leg?

This is for day after the wedding

Or any other recommendations we can do with some guests for day after?

Answer

Great question — booking a private charter for 25–30 folks the day after your wedding is a fantastic idea, and there *are* some solid charter companies on O‘ahu that can handle a group your size without being wildly expensive (relatively speaking). Here are some good options plus other day-after ideas if a full boat charter ends up being too much.

Private Boat Charter Options (≈ 25–30 people)

Royal Hawaiian Catamaran (Waikiki): Their 52-foot mahogany catamaran fits up to 30 guests. According to their charter info, a 2-hour private day sail is ~$1,647.80 for the group, and a 3-hour charter is ~$2,456.70. That works out to roughly $55–$85/person depending on the duration, which is very reasonable for a private group event.
Oahu Ocean Adventures (Catamaran): They have private charters from their Ala Wai Harbor dock. Their half-day (2–6 hours) rate is $349/hour. So, for example, a 4-hour trip would run around $1,396 plus whatever you spend on food/drinks or add-ons. Their full-day (8–12 hours) charter is $249/hour. This gives you lots of flexibility to design a custom itinerary — snorkeling, North Shore or a sandbar, wildlife watching, whatever feels fun for your group.
Ocean Joy Cruises: Their private charter “Kai ‘Oli‘Oli” is built for up to ~49 people, though their base stated rate is for up to 25. They charge $3,850 for the base 3.5-hour cruise, so with 30 people you’d be in the ballpark of ~$128/person before adding upgrades like food or transport.
Dolphins & You: Their “Ariya II” is a 45-ft, 2-deck power boat that can handle ~50 people. Their “West side private cruise” (with snorkel gear, paddleboards, slides, etc.) departs after 4:30 pm and includes some fun extras like a waterslide, iPad music, and hula entertainment. Their pricing is “request for pricing,” which means you’ll need to talk with them directly. But for ~25-30 people, it’s likely more cost-efficient than many super-luxury yacht charters.
Pink Sails Waikiki: Their fleet includes a 50-foot double-decker catamaran (the “Hawaii Eco”) that holds up to 49 passengers. Their per-hour rate is high (e.g., $1,200/hr for one of their boats), so this could be on the more expensive side of your “affordable” depending on how long you charter. But if you split it among 30 people, it could still be quite reasonable for the experience.

How to Make It More Affordable

Book for a shorter duration (2–3 hours) rather than a full-day charter — for celebrations, that’s often all you need for a fun, memorable trip.
Bring your own food and drinks if the boat allows BYOB — that saves a ton over catered options.
Ask for a “buyout” rate or group discount — many charter companies offer a better deal for whole-boat charters than what you see for “per person” group tours.
Go “off-peak” in terms of timing (e.g., after lunch, early afternoon) — might be cheaper than prime sunset or prime snorkeling times.

Other Day-After Wedding Ideas (if a full charter isn’t the right fit)

Shared Catamaran / Semi-Private Boat: Rather than charter the whole boat, you could book a semi-private trip for your core group and let extra guests join via a shared tour — less cost per person, though you lose total privacy.
Kaneohe Sandbar Cruise: Book a group trip with Oahu Ocean Adventures or another company to cruise out to the sandbar, swim, picnic, and hang out. It’s very scenic, fun, and memorable.
Private Beach Picnic: Rent a smaller boat or even just arrange a beach-side catered picnic — good for relaxing, taking photos, and having an intimate post-wedding gathering.
Sunset Sail + Fireworks (if timing works): Depending on your date, you might be able to combine a charter with a sunset sail or even fireworks viewing (if there’s a show) — very memorable.

Bottom Line: For a group of ~25–30 people, the Royal Hawaiian Catamaran and Oahu Ocean Adventures are likely your best bets for a balance of cost, space, and experience. If you go with a 2–4 hour charter and bring your own food/drinks, you can likely stay in a reasonable budget while giving your guests an unforgettable day on the water. Be sure to call and negotiate — many captains or companies are open to customizing for larger group events like a wedding after-party.