Wild Side Specialty Tours likes to call themselves a "mom and pop" operation and they are to the degree that they are an owner-operated company. That, however, is about all that is "mom and pop" about them. They are an extremely professional company that has a much too rare appreciation for the marine life that attracts so many visitors to Hawaii.
Wild Side Specialty Tours operates two vessels from their base at the Waianae Boat Harbor. Their older boat which I was privileged to sail on in 2005 is the Island Spirit, a 42-foot catamaran that has all the comforts you'd want on a several hour sail. These include an easy access enclosed cabin with spacious 6' 4" headroom, lots of on-deck seating, two trampoline nets, a private marine head (bathroom), an on-deck fresh water shower and a drop-down staircase to make both getting in and out of the water easy.
Their newer boat, the Alaka'i, which I rode on in 2007, is a 34-foot BAHA King Cat which was custom-built in 2007 specifically for Hawaii's waters. It's a fast boat which enables Wild Side to venture further out to sea where you might just get to see pilot whales and spotted dolphins. The speed also allows the operator to move quickly from location to location to maximize your experience.
Each boat has distinct advantages and offers different types of excursions along the Waianae Coast of Oahu.
