True to Traditions
Our Crew
An ʻohana of watermen, naturalists & storytellers.
Meet the team
Locals who love this coastline.
Our crew is a real Hawaiian ʻohana — watermen, sailors, mariners, scuba divers, surfers, paddlers, fishermen, naturalists, photographers, students, hula dancers, and more. The thread that ties everyone together: love for the ocean.
Captain Shane
Founder & Captain
Founded Ocean Joy in 2003 and still runs tours on the Waiʻanae coast he fell in love with.
First Mate
Runs the deck, leads the in-water snorkel, and keeps every trip safe.
Naturalist & Guide
Points out the spinner dolphins, honu, and seasonal humpbacks — and shares the stories behind them.
The rest of the ʻohana
Sailors, mariners, scuba divers, students, paddlers, and fishermen — a full crew of watermen and women who grew up on this coastline.
Everyone here loves the ocean.
We hire for stoke first.
Certifications, experience, and credentials matter — but we lead with people who light up when they see a pod of spinner dolphins. The Kai ʻOliʻOli only carries 49 guests, so every member of our crew matters.
- Watermen
- Naturalists
- Photographers
- Hula dancers
- Paddlers
- Free divers
- Surfers
- Fishermen