When Riley Coon’s grandparents planned their first commercial sailing trip in Maui in 1973, they wanted the guest experience to start with breakfast. What they landed on has become a frequently mentioned part of the Trilogy Excursions story: “Mama Coon’s” freshly made cinnamon rolls.
“My grandma was a great cook, and she learned to make cinnamon rolls from her mom,” Coon said. “So, she whipped up a batch, and from that day on, they’ve been on every single snorkel trip.”
“Mama Coon’s” famous cinnamon rolls.
Credit: 2026 Trilogy Excursions
It’s a sweet beginning — and more good things come after breakfast. While the Trilogy team prides itself on helping guests “have the best possible time,” they’re also looking to protect the seas that buoy them and inspire others to do the same.
“Day to day, we’re educating guests,” said Coon, who is co-owner and director of sustainable tourism for Trilogy. “People come on the boat thinking, ‘Oh, it’s a snorkel trip,’ but they leave knowing more about the reef, how to interact with it and how to keep it safe.”
Trilogy offers myriad tours, including a five-hour snorkeling adventure to the iconic Molokini Crater and a full-day Discover Lanai Snorkel excursion, which combines swimming, snorkeling and hiking on the island. The latter trip is extra special in that Trilogy has exclusive access to Lanai’s Hulopoe Marine Preserve, which boasts healthy coral reefs with scores of fish and frequent spinner dolphin sightings. Guests also enjoy a full barbecue lunch, complete with grilled chicken and ice cream sundaes. Trilogy tours depart from three locations on Maui: Maalaea, Kaanapali Beach and the partially reopened Lahaina Harbor.
The Trilogy team can customize any of their itineraries for private groups.
Credit: 2026 Trilogy ExcursionsSustainability efforts include the use of renewable biodiesel — reclaimed cooking oil from restaurants around Hawaii — to fuel the company’s sailing fleet. There are also monthly Blue Aina reef cleanups, a crew-inspired initiative that’s been happening for more than 15 years and welcomes local volunteers and visitors. And late last year, Trilogy started a food waste compost program, diverting sailing trip leftovers from landfills.
Riley Coon (left) is the grandson of Trilogy Excursions' founders.
Credit: 2026 Trilogy Excursions“That is equating to about 90,000 pounds of food waste a year,” Coon said. “We’re turning that into organic compost that’s going back to replant trees in Lahaina.”
A Family-Friendly Sunset Sail
On a recent visit to Maui, my family of four experienced Trilogy on a two-hour Deluxe Kaanapali Sunset Sail, which departed right from the Kaanapali shoreline. We tossed our shoes into giant sacks held by crew members and boarded the catamaran barefoot with about 50 other guests. The trampoline — a netted platform at the bow of the boat that’s intended for sitting, not jumping — was my youngest daughter’s preferred seat. As we skimmed across the surface of the indigo sea, the affable crew delivered drinks of all sorts and appetizer plates with warm pulled-pork sliders, caprese skewers and more. Mid-trip, they showed off their muscles, yanking ropes hand over hand in order to raise the sails in the midst of pummeling winds.
A five-hour snorkeling adventure to Molokini Crater is among Trilogy's offerings.
Credit: 2026 Trilogy ExcursionsThough clouds obscured the sinking sun toward the end of our cruise, no passenger seemed to mind. We disembarked with wind-whipped hair and happy bellies. A couple hours spent at sea lifts the spirits; I’ll have to return to see how I feel after a full-day Trilogy tour.
Sunset sailings and seasonal whale-watching trips are a great fit for anyone who wants to get out on the water but not snorkel, Coon says. Clients looking to be alone — for a romantic occasion, for example, or a multifamily trip — might opt for a private charter. These are quite popular, amounting to 20% of Trilogy’s business. Weddings, vow renewals and rehearsal dinners have also happened onboard. And any itinerary can be turned into a private excursion and customized. Triology's sales team is happy to assist travel advisors with any of the above types of bookings.
“We love taking smaller groups out,” Coon said. “Guests really get that personal attention. No matter the group size, our goal isn’t simply delivering a tour. It’s about making every guest feel like they’re spending a day with people who genuinely love this place and who treat you like a friend. That’s what separates us.”
