Hawai’i Apex Charters was created by ocean lovers who wanted to do things differently. After years of working on and around the water, we saw a need for smaller, more thoughtful tours — experiences that prioritize safety, education, and respect for marine life over volume.
Hawai’i Apex Charters was created by ocean lovers who wanted to do things differently. After years of working on and around the water, we saw a need for smaller, more thoughtful tours — experiences that prioritize safety, education, and respect for marine life over volume.
Aloha i ke Kai — Love for our ocean
“Aloha i ke Kai connects our ocean communities in united vision to grow health and abundance through securing sustainable funding to lift up ocean kuleana (responsibility) and stewardship.
As we connect intimately with our ocean, we live and embody aloha i ke kai. Our love for our ocean is a way of life that embraces and honors our ocean as life-giving. It is a deep form of love that incorporates stewardship, discipline, service, and joy.”
For every booking with Hawaii Apex Charters, $1 is donated to support initiatives that promote healthier and more abundant oceans.
Personalized tours for family, friends, or solo travelers.
Knowledgeable guides who know the island like the back of their hand.
Protecting Hawai'i's marine life while sharing its wonders.
Morning, afternoon, and sunset tours to fit your itinerary.
Hawaii Apex Charters began with Phillip’s awe of marine life and love for the ocean.
An award winning photographer and published artist featured in Honolulu Magazine as well as Matt Porteous and Tamsin Raine’s The Ocean Speaks, Phillip has spent years capturing the beauty of Hawaii’s marine life through his lens. But his passion goes far beyond photography.
Phillip traveled throughout the Polynesian islands studying whale behavior — learning how to observe and approach them with patience and respect. That experience shaped the philosophy behind every charter: move thoughtfully, honor the wildlife, and create moments that feel meaningful, not rushed.
For Phillip, the ocean isn’t just a place to explore — it’s something to protect and understand. When you step aboard, you’re experiencing Hawaii through the eyes of someone who truly loves and respects these waters.
For founder Phillip Vu, it started behind a camera — working as a shark diving photographer on Oahu’s North Shore. Day after day in open water with sharks, Phillip developed something more than just skill — he developed respect. Respect for their space, their patterns, and the responsibility that comes with entering their world.
During that time, he became especially connected to a tiger shark known locally as “Kalihi.” Powerful and graceful, she left a lasting impression on him. When Phillip eventually launched his own charter company, naming his boat Kalihi felt natural — a tribute to the ocean life that helped shape his journey.
