# Pilau Kai vs Hanalei

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pilau Kai | Hanalei |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilau-kai/id1508435043/reviews)** | [4.9 (216 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanalei/id6473707191/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **216** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#161** |
| Size | 18 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cory Pratt](https://appshunter.io/developer/315433551) | [Zoltan Horvath](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453131075) |

## What reviewers say

### Pilau Kai

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilau-kai/id1508435043)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hanalei

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanalei/id6473707191)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pilau Kai free?

Pilau Kai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hanalei free?

Hanalei is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pilau Kai or Hanalei?

Pilau Kai is rated higher. Pilau Kai averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Hanalei averages 4.9 from 216 ratings.

### Do Pilau Kai or Hanalei have ads?

Pilau Kai shows ads; Hanalei does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pilau Kai or Hanalei?

Pilau Kai ships an update every 6 days, and Hanalei fortnightly. Most recently, Pilau Kai was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hanalei on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*