Where to Keep Your Boat on Oahu: 2026 Slip & Marina Guide
On Oahu, the hardest part of boat ownership often isn't buying the boat — it's finding somewhere to put it. Slips are scarce, waitlists are long, and the right answer depends on the size of your vessel and where you want to launch from. Here's a straight-talk rundown of your real moorage options on Oahu, what they cost, and how to avoid getting stuck with a boat and nowhere to keep it.
The big four: Oahu's main harbors
Most Oahu boats live in one of four places. Each has its own personality, price, and wait.
Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor (Honolulu)
The largest small-boat and yacht harbor in Hawaii, Ala Wai sits right between Waikiki and Ala Moana — unbeatable for access to town and the South Shore. It's a state harbor run by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). Recent rate schedules put slip fees at roughly $9.14 per foot of length per month for Hawaii residents and about $10.05 per foot for non-residents. The catch is availability: you apply to a waitlist, and waits vary a lot by slip size.
Ke'ehi Lagoon Harbor (near the airport)
Also a DOBOR state harbor, Ke'ehi is a protected lagoon just west of downtown near the Honolulu airport. It tends to be more laid-back and has a mix of slips and mooring options, making it popular with sailors and liveaboards. Per-foot rates are set on the same state schedule as Ala Wai, but confirm current pricing and openings directly with DOBOR since availability shifts.
Ko Olina Marina (leeward / West Oahu)
The premium private option. Ko Olina is a full-service, roughly 342-slip marina on the calmer leeward coast — gas dock, security, and resort amenities included. Guest/transient rates run around $2.50 per foot per day, and permanent slips have their own waiting list. If you're West Oahu based (Kapolei, Ewa) and want a turnkey, well-maintained marina, this is the one.
Kewalo Basin (Kakaako)
Tucked next to Kakaako and Ala Moana, Kewalo Basin is home to many commercial and charter operators but also takes recreational vessels. It's privately managed, central, and convenient — but space is tight and geared toward working boats, so check what's available before you count on it.
What about moorings and trailering?
If a slip isn't in the cards, you still have options:
- Moorings: Some harbors offer mooring buoys at lower cost than a slip. You'll dinghy out to the boat, which is fine for sailors but less convenient for frequent fishing trips.
- Trailer boats: For vessels under roughly 25–26 feet, trailering from a ramp (like the public ramps at Hawaii Kai, Ke'ehi, or Haleiwa) sidesteps the slip waitlist entirely. You trade dock convenience for launch-day logistics.
- Dry storage: Limited on Oahu, but worth asking about for smaller powerboats — it keeps the hull out of the water and cuts down on growth and corrosion.
The waitlist math you need to know
At Ala Wai, you apply to the waitlist and pay an application fee — recently about $15 for residents and $100 for non-residents — to hold your place. From there it's a size game:
- Under 35 ft: waits tend to be shorter and move the fastest.
- 35–55 ft: plan on a few years.
- Catamarans & multihulls: the toughest — waits can stretch 20 years or more because beamy slips are rare.
This is exactly why so many Oahu boats sell with their moorage, or why buyers will pay a premium for a vessel that comes with a transferable berth. Where you'll keep the boat can matter as much as the boat itself.
Smart move: line up moorage before you buy
Before you fall for a listing, get honest about where it will live. If you don't already hold a slip, prioritize boats that come with secured moorage, that fit a slip size with a realistic wait, or that you can trailer. A boat with no home is a boat that ends up costing you in storage scrambles and stress.
That's where a local broker earns their keep. We know which listings carry transferable slips, which harbors have movement, and how to structure a deal so your moorage plan and your purchase line up. Rates and rules at DOBOR and the private marinas change — always confirm the latest figures before you commit.
Want a boat that comes with a place to keep it?
Tell us your budget and where you launch from. We'll match you with the right vessel — and help you sort the slip, mooring, or trailer plan so you're not left scrambling. We pick up. We follow through.
Hawaii Yacht Group is Oahu's boat & yacht brokerage, based in Honolulu. Questions about slips or a specific boat? Email contact@hawaiiyachtgroup.com. Slip fees and waitlist rules cited here should be confirmed with DOBOR or the individual marina, as rates change.