Dolphins and You
Dolphins and You is a privately held Oahu tour operator founded in 1989 that runs NOAA-compliant wild spinner dolphin watching excursions from Waianae Boat Harbor, serving Waikiki and Ko Olina tourists with all-inclusive 3-hour ocean experiences including snorkeling, water activities, and Hawaiian cultural programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dolphins and You does
Dolphins and You is a privately held, founder-operated Hawaii tour company that has been running wild spinner dolphin watching excursions along Oahu's Waianae Coast since 1989. The company operates a 3-hour, NOAA-compliant observation-based tour (rather than swim-with-dolphin) departing daily from Waianae Boat Harbor, with optional sea turtle snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, an ocean water slide, complimentary lunch, and traditional Hawaiian cultural experiences including the E Ho Mai prayer and hula performance. Pricing is straightforward unit-based: $151-$189 per adult and $117-$146 per child, with promo codes (Summer20, Earlybird25) and free cancellation up to 48 hours pre-tour. The experience is all-inclusive with round-trip shuttle service from Waikiki and Ko Olina hotels, removing transportation friction for inbound tourists.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean: a custom-built two-story tour vessel called the Ariya (with bow, sun deck, shaded lower deck, and restrooms) deployed along the resident spinner dolphin habitat, an embedded FareHarbor booking engine on the company website, third-party marketplace distribution through GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor, and a multi-language content website (English/Japanese/Korean) that drives SEO around Oahu dolphin tours, turtle snorkeling, and Hawaii wildlife viewing. Proprietary features include a NOAA-compliant responsible viewing protocol and the Ariya boat configuration optimized for dolphin watching and water activities.
The business model is direct-to-consumer and transaction-based: primary revenue from tour ticket sales (one-time per booking), supplemented by ancillary purchases (photo/video packages, reef-safe sunscreen, rash guards, Hana Tonic seasickness remedy, and gratuities), with marketplace-commission economics on GetYourGuide/TripAdvisor bookings. The company has served over 700,000 cumulative guests, holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 2,900+ reviews, Top 5% TripAdvisor ranking, BBB A rating, and STAH sustainable tour operator certification 2025-2026. It operates as a subsidiary brand of And You Creations, a Hawaii tour operator running adjacent Oahu experiences (circle island tours, turtle snorkeling, waterfall hikes, party cruises, seasonal whale watching, private boat charters).
Dolphins and You firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dolphins and You
- Legal name
- Dolphins and You
- Website
- https://dolphinsandyou.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dolphins and You is a privately held Oahu tour operator founded in 1989 that runs NOAA-compliant wild spinner dolphin watching excursions from Waianae Boat Harbor, serving Waikiki and Ko Olina tourists with all-inclusive 3-hour ocean experiences including snorkeling, water activities, and Hawaiian cultural programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dolphins and You industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Wildlife Tour Services
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves) (THAAAIAE), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)
Keywords
Where Dolphins and You is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Dolphins and You business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tour Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to wild dolphin watching and turtle snorkeling tours. Adults $151-$189, Children $117-$146 per person. Includes transportation from Waikiki/Ko Olina, lunch, and water activities.
- Ancillary Products and Services: Additional revenue from photo/video package sales, reef-safe sunscreen products, rash guards, Hana Tonic seasickness remedy, and customer gratuities.
- Third-Party Marketplace Commissions: Revenue from GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor, and other travel platform bookings where the company pays referral/comission fees to platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Tour - Full experience including dolphin watching, snorkeling, and all activities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Child Tour - Same experience as adults, discounted rate |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Early Booking Discount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Dolphins and You product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dolphins and You operates a state-permitted wild spinner dolphin watching and ocean adventure tour along Oahu's Waianae Coast, departing daily from Waianae Boat Harbor aboard the custom-built Ariya boat. The 3-hour tour packages NOAA-compliant dolphin observation, sea turtle and reef fish snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, a 20-foot ocean water slide, complimentary lunch, and live Hawaiian cultural experiences (E Ho Mai prayer, hula performance). Tickets include round-trip transportation from Waikiki and Ko Olina, making the experience all-inclusive for visiting tourists.
Product overview
Dolphins and You is a flagship Oahu dolphin tour operated by And You Creations, a trusted local Hawaii tour company. The company's core offering is its Oahu Dolphin Tour — a 3-hour wild dolphin watching and ocean adventure experience on the Waianae Coast — supplemented by a portfolio of island-wide tour products operated under the And You Creations brand, including circle island tours, turtle snorkeling tours, Waimea Valley waterfall hikes, Manoa Falls rainforest hikes, ocean/party cruises, seasonal whale watching tours, and private boat charters. The products range from the primary NOAA-compliant dolphin watching tour (with water activities and Hawaiian cultural experiences) to add-on modules for broader Oahu exploration and specialized marine wildlife encounters. The company has been in operation since 1989.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ariya: Custom boat operated by Dolphins and You for dolphin watching tours along the Waianae Coast
Products and services
- Oahu Dolphin Tour A 3-hour wild spinner dolphin watching and ocean adventure tour departing from Waianae Boat Harbor on Oahu's west coast, featuring NOAA-compliant dolphin observation, snorkeling with Hawaiian green sea turtles and tropical reef fish, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, a 20-foot ocean water slide, complimentary lunch, E Ho Mai prayer, hula performance, and round-trip transportation from Waikiki and Ko Olina. Designed for individual tourists and families with children ages 2 and older.
- Oahu Circle Island Tour A full-island guided tour experience operated by And You Creations covering broader Oahu sightseeing and exploration beyond the west coast marine activities. Targeted at tourists seeking comprehensive island overview.
- Turtle Snorkeling Tour A focused snorkeling tour operated by And You Creations centered on Hawaiian green sea turtle encounters and reef exploration in Hawaiian waters. Targeted at tourists specifically interested in snorkeling and turtle encounters.
- Oahu Humpback Whale Watching Tour A seasonal humpback whale watching tour departing from Kewalo Basin Harbor near Waikiki, featuring an onboard hydrophone to hear whale songs, offered December through March, with a free return trip guarantee if no whales are spotted. Operated by And You Creations.
- Waimea Waterfall Hike & Swim Tour A hiking and swimming tour to Waimea Valley waterfall operated by And You Creations, offering an inland nature experience complementary to marine tours.
- Manoa Falls Rainforest Hike A rainforest hiking tour to Manoa Falls operated by And You Creations, providing a rainforest nature experience for Oahu visitors.
- Oahu Ocean & Waikiki Party Cruise A sunset party cruise departing from Kewalo Basin Harbor near Waikiki, featuring DJ music, a bar, and views of the Friday fireworks show, operated by And You Creations.
- Oahu Private Boat Charter A private boat charter option for customized ocean experiences around Oahu, operated by And You Creations, tailored for groups seeking exclusive marine excursions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% dolphin sighting rate (highly reliable sightings on Waianae Coast due to resident spinner dolphin pods)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Dolphins and You
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Dolphins and You technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Dolphins and You partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- FareHarborcoreFareHarbor provides the embedded booking engine for dolphinsandyou.com, enabling real-time availability, secure payment processing, and instant booking confirmations for tour reservations.
- GetYourGuidecoreGetYourGuide marketplace listing provides third-party distribution for tour bookings, reaching international tourists researching Hawaii activities through the platform.
- TripAdvisorcoreTripAdvisor attraction listing drives qualified referral traffic through reviews, rankings, and booking links to the company's direct booking site.
- And You CreationscoreParent company operating Dolphins and You and other Oahu tour experiences including circle island tours, whale watching, turtle snorkeling, private boat charters, and Waikiki ocean activities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dolphins and You competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- GetYourGuide: Global online marketplace for tours and activities where Dolphins and You lists its products. Important distribution channel and indirect ecosystem participant shaping price discovery and discovery traffic for Hawaii marine tours.
Emerging players
- Sail Blue Hawaii: Oahu-based sailing and snorkeling charter offering dolphin and whale watching tours out of Waianae. Niche competitor with a more upscale sailing-experience positioning.
Direct peers
- Wild Side Hawaii: Hawaii eco-tour operator running dolphin, whale, and snorkel excursions in small-group formats on the Waianae Coast. Offers comparable educational/ocean-adventure positioning to Dolphins and You.
- Hawaii Nautical: A leading Oahu-based ocean tour operator offering dolphin watching, whale watching, and snorkeling experiences along Waianae and other leeward coast locations. Most direct competitor to Dolphins and You, operating similar boat-based marine wildlife tours on the same coast.
- Dolphin Excursions Hawaii: Oahu-based operator offering swim-with-dolphins and dolphin watching tours out of Waianae Boat Harbor. Directly competes for the same spinner dolphin encounter market and shares the same departure harbor.
- Sea Hawaii Rafting: Oahu-based small-group ocean adventure company running dolphin watching, snorkeling, and reef tours along the Waianae Coast. Overlaps directly with Dolphins and You's snorkeling/turtle tour offering.
Regional players
- Holo Holo Charters: Kauai-based eco-tour operator offering Na Pali Coast snorkel, whale watching, and dolphin sightseeing tours. Comparable marine wildlife tour operator in a different Hawaiian island market.
- Fair Wind Cruises: Big Island Hawaii operator running dolphin watch, manta ray night snorkel, and whale watch tours. Similar ocean wildlife tourism model on a different island.
Broad incumbents
- Atlantis Cruises (Honolulu): Established Hawaii ocean tour brand operating snorkel, whale watch, and sunset cruises from Waikiki. Competes for the same tourist audience with a wider product portfolio.
- Star of Honolulu: One of Hawaii's largest and longest-running cruise operators offering whale watching, dinner cruises, and ocean sightseeing departing Honolulu. Competes for Hawaii ocean leisure bookings from a broader cruise/entertainment portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Dolphins and You social profiles
Digital presenceDolphins and You compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Dolphins and You financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dolphins and You leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Dolphins and You funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dolphins and You M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dolphins and You
What does Dolphins and You do?
Dolphins and You operates a state-permitted wild spinner dolphin watching and ocean adventure tour along Oahu's Waianae Coast, departing daily from Waianae Boat Harbor aboard the custom-built Ariya boat. The 3-hour tour packages NOAA-compliant dolphin observation, sea turtle and reef fish snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, a 20-foot ocean water slide, complimentary lunch, and live Hawaiian cultural experiences (E Ho Mai prayer, hula performance). Tickets include round-trip transportation from Waikiki and Ko Olina, making the experience all-inclusive for visiting tourists.
Is Dolphins and You a public or private company?
Dolphins and You is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dolphins and You founded?
Dolphins and You was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dolphins and You based?
Dolphins and You is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dolphins and You make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tour Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are ancillary Products and Services and third-Party Marketplace Commissions.
Who are Dolphins and You's main competitors?
GetYourGuide is listed as an others. Sail Blue Hawaii is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Wild Side Hawaii, Hawaii Nautical, Dolphin Excursions Hawaii and Sea Hawaii Rafting. Regional players are Holo Holo Charters and Fair Wind Cruises. Broad incumbents are Atlantis Cruises (Honolulu) and Star of Honolulu.
Does Dolphins and You have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dolphins and You.
What industry is Dolphins and You in?
Dolphins and You's product category is Marine Wildlife Tour Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAIAC, Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours, with a secondary code of THAAAIAE, Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves). Its NAICS code is 487210 and its SIC code is 7900.