Pilau Kai vs Hanalei
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pilau Kai
Stay informed about ocean water quality across Hawaii's beaches with real-time updates and interactive maps. Plan your aquatic adventures with confidence using comprehensive insights into water conditions.
- Real-time ocean water quality updates
- Comprehensive beach coverage in Hawaii
- Interactive maps for water status
- Informed decisions for aquatic activities
- First year anniversary celebration
Read full descriptionHide full description
Dive into the pristine waters of Hawaii with Pilau Kai, your ultimate companion for staying informed about the ocean water quality in the Aloha State. As we celebrate our first year, Pilau Kai continues to be your trusted source for up-to-date information on the health of Hawaii's oceans. Key Features: Real-Time Data Updates: Stay in the loop with live, real-time updates on ocean water quality across Hawaii's renowned beaches. Pilau Kai ensures you receive the latest information to make informed decisions about your aquatic adventures. Comprehensive Beach Coverage: From the bustling shores of Waikiki to the hidden gems of Maui, Pilau Kai covers a wide array of beaches and coastal areas, providing you with comprehensive insights into water conditions. Interactive Maps: Navigate with ease using interactive maps that highlight water quality status, allowing you to plan your beach day with confidence. Whether you're a local or a visitor, Pilau Kai ensures you find the perfect spot for your ocean escapades. Make your ocean adventures memorable and safe with Pilau Kai.
Hanalei
Navigate Hanalei with real-time and historical data for weather, river levels, road conditions, and local information. Plan your travel, outdoor activities, and visits safely and efficiently.
- River gauge monitoring
- Flood visualization
- Weather forecasts and advisories
- Water quality advisories
- Road work updates
- Tidal predictions
- Beach and surf conditions
- Local eats and events
Read full descriptionHide full description
This app was crafted with aloha to help navigate travel to and from Hanalei with ease using real-time and historical data, all in one place. - Hanalei and North Shore River Gauge Monitoring: Stay updated with real-time river level information for safe travel and hiking. - Flood visualization: Learn and understand how the flood on interactive surface - Weather Forecast: Obtain timely forecast from the National Weather Service to ensure safe and informed travel planning. - Weather Advisories: Receive immediate National Weather Service updates to plan your journey accordingly. - Water Quality Advisories: Get real-time updates on water quality to ensure safe swimming, surfing, paddling and other water activities. - Kauai Road Work Information: Get the latest updates on road conditions and construction work to avoid delays. - Hanalei Bay: Up-to-date tidal predictions for Hanalei Bay to plan your visits or activities with the tides in mind. - Hanalei Bay Beach and Surf Conditions: Real-time wave height, wind, and surf forecasts, along with water/air temperature, humidity, UV index, and sunrise/sunset times. - Essential Contacts: Easy access to important phone numbers for assistance and inquiries. - Real-Time and Historical Data: Comprehensive insights combining current data and historical trends for informed decision-making. - DNLR Updates: Receive real-time DNLR State Park updates on park closures, permits, and conservation efforts for safe Kauai planning. - Locals Tab: Explore Kaua‘i’s North Shore with the Locals tab, showcasing local eats, nonprofits, cultural events, and outdoor adventures. - App and Widget support.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Hanalei at none against Pilau Kai's shown. Hanalei also leads on ratings volume (216 vs 2) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Pilau Kai's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Pilau Kai against 4.9 for Hanalei. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hanalei has 216 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Pilau Kai ships an update every 6 days, Hanalei fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pilau Kai | Hanalei |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.9 (216 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 216 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #39 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cory Pratt | Zoltan Horvath |
Customer experience
Pilau Kai
Hanalei
In-app purchases
Pilau Kai
No in-app purchases
Hanalei
No in-app purchases






