The gentle giants come to the warm hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves. Enjoy a morning whale watch cruise along waikiki beach. Humpback whales in the company of whales in the wake of giants. Take a trip to the beach or a scenic lookout and watch for the blows, pec slaps, flukeup dives, and breaches of hawaiis humpbacks. The best whale watching in hawaii often happens on oahus shores. And for those lucky enough to experience this once in a lifetime influx of such extraordinary creatures these sea stars offer performances worthy of oscars, it is truly a. Hawaii nautical west oahu whale watch cruise hawaii discount. Most whale watching tours run from middecember through march to midapril. Make your selection from these exciting hawaii whale watch tours below. Mar 12, 2014 whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you.
Most oahu whale watch cruises are off waikiki beach, so this is truly a unique tour that takes you along the islands largely undeveloped leeward coast. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save the graphic on the next page. Hawaii whale watching tours are ideal for seeing these spectacular animals in their natural. You may see some from there in early november, but dont count on it. Oahu, hawaii snorkeling tour, whale watching, swimming. I checked for previous questions but couldnt find the answer. Go whale watching off the coast of oahu on this excursion from waikiki or ko olina. These huge mammals travel between 3 and 9 mph at over 1,000 miles per month. The whales depart hawaii again late april early may. A humpback whale was spotted in western hawaii on thursday, aug.
A pod of four killer whales, orca whales, was found by cascadia research collective on friday 111 off the coast of kona hawaii. Whale watching hawaii oahu year round whale watch oahu. Each year, the great humpback whales migrate some 4,500 miles, from summer feeding grounds in alaska, to mate in the warm waters of hawaii. Jan 27, 2016 we wanted to see how close we can get to the humpback whales here in oahu. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. Maui county is world famous as the destination for the pacific northwest humpback whales. Marine biologist crew offers guided photo tours, 12 or full day, late afternoons or multiple day trips to the most whale intensive areas of hawaii. Most oahu whale watch cruises are off the waikiki coastline, so this is truly a unique tour that takes you along the islands largely undeveloped and very scenic west coast. Like placebets said your chances of seeing humpback whales from oahu in november are slim to none. The humpback whale season in maui lasts from november to may of every year. We went out on feb 1118 and saw humpback whales, spinner dauphins which we swam along side, pilot whales, and got to snorkel with green sea turtles at a turtle cleaning. Below you will find our top ten viewing locations by island. With a small group of people, watch the gentle giants swim, feed, breach and play around your boat.
You wont be able to see any humpback whales in august. The crew was very courteous and knowledgeable about the marine life we were lucky enough to see andor snorkel with, which included 56 sea turtles, pacific bottlenose dolphins and a humpback whale out of season. Humpback whales have returned and free whale watching in hawaii is really possible. Waikoloa whale watching 8am whale watch hawaii ocean sports offers wake up with the whales a 90 minute morning whale watch on a sailing catamaran, casting off from the shore of waikoloa. Boats will take you out as close as they are allowed by law. Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching.
Closer to the modern honolulu, whales can be seen off the cliffs surf break near diamond head. More than twenty species of marine mammals call the hawaiian waters home, and they include a range of. In addition to a host of seabirds such as petrels, tropicbirds, and albatross, pilot whales, hawaiian spinner dolphins, and even the rare killer whale have been spotted. This is only the groups third encounter with the killer whales even though they have been monitoring the hawaiian waters for 14 years killer whales are one of 18 marine mammals found in the hawaiian waters however many of. Viewing whales up close on an oahu vacation is a real treat, especially if you get to see humpback whales breaching, in which they leap out of the water and return with an explosive splash. Makapuu lighthouse and hanauma bay offer several seaside overlooks that provide a distant vantage. They dont start showing up until around the end of november and stay till around april or so. Star of honolulu waikikis best whale watch cruise from. Andys sailing and raft tours offer an opportunity to view these beautiful creatures.
The first whales start arriving to the big island in late november, and more arrive as the season continues, until their numbers peak in the months of january, february, and march. From december to may of every year, humpback whales return to the warm waters of hawaii to breed and give birth to new calves. In 2014, a sick sperm whale was sighted off of kihei, and it was presumed that the whale had ventured to shallower water as it fought to stay alive. Whales can be seen quite easily from most shorelines around the hawaiian islands. Hawaii is a popular destination for whale watching because, during mating season, humpback whales are more active resulting in elevated surface activity. If you are visiting during one of the months of low to medium humpback whale activity or from one of the islands that have less activity, taking a boat tour can help increase your chances of seeing whales. Get in touch with your wild side and meet your finned counterparts on whale and dolphin encounters hawaiis year round whale watching of other marine mammals the clear temperate waters of hawaii are known worldwide amongst marine biologists, for an. Humpback whales, or na kohola, migrate from alaskan waters to hawaii in the winter and spring months of november sometimes earlier through may every year, seeking warm waters for breeding and birthing new calves. The whaleplanner november a whale watching infographic. Kauai whale watching tours whale watching kauai capt. Hawaii nautical whales guaranteed morning 2 hours dec. Hawaii is a favorite wintering spot for na kohola humpback whales and has one of the largest seasonal populations of north pacific humpbacks in the world. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet. Wild side hawaii whale watching, swimming with wild dolphins, snorkeling tour oahubased combination of best snorkeling, swimming with wild dolphins, year round whalewatching, incredible history, stunning landscapes, and a mesmerizing wealth of natural beauty that only mother nature at her finest can provide our mission is quite simply, conservation through.
The majestic whale watch lunch cruise is 2 12 hours long from 11. So if you book a ride on any of oahus many boat or rafting tours during humpback season, dont be surprised if youre guaranteed sightings. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic. For any chance at all it would be from a boat tour. Free whale watching in hawaii cheap flights to hawaii.
From midnovember to midapril, take a cruise to search for the humpback whales that populate the waters. We wanted to see how close we can get to the humpback whales here in oahu. If you are visiting oahu, you can see whales there too, they just wont be as abundant. It takes hours of filming due to a large mass of ocean to scan over the. Maui whale watch tours hawaii humpback whale watching. Star of honolulu is the best vessel for viewing whales. Hiking enthusiasts can usually spot whales from the islands southeastern coast. Since these 40ton creatures the fifth largest of the worlds great whales are considered endangered, laws prohibit boats from approaching them. Hawaii nautical west oahu whale watch cruise hawaii. Whale watching cruises dont start until december i like to view whales from makapuu lighthouse trail. Whale watching boat tours and diy guide big island. The best time to see them is in februarymarch, and the best places to see them are pretty much on the entire south shore of maui and the east shore and far west shores of oahu. Whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks.
During the months from december to may, pods of humpback whales migrate through hawaiis warm waters, and this tour guarantees whale sightings. Hawaii discount offers the best whale watching cruises in hawaii at discounted rates. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii. The slapping of a whales fin against the waters surface. Here is a selection of big island whale watching tours or other cruises on which you are likely to see whales. Where to watch humpback whales from shore across hawaii. With transportation from waikiki included, our allnew 55foot power boat departs from oahus pristine west coast. The remainder of the year features a cruise on the reef dancer, a semisubmarine that features an underwater viewing cabin where you can observe marine life and the beautiful coral reef. Hawaii visitors have voted dolphins and you best hawaii tour for two years running. Oahu whale watching tours are a particular delight for visitors coming to hawaii to escape the winter chill and the humpback whales seen on these. Maui, kauai and the big island are the most popular islands for hawaii whale watching, so plan to visit one of these islands on your vacation. Whale watching in oahu is an activity many visitors look forward to, and for good reason. Native hawaiians believe that hunchback whales, or kohola, is an aumakua, or family guardian, so they have high regard for these special visitors.
Sep 26, 2017 whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks. Oct 03, 2019 humpback whales have returned and free whale watching in hawaii is really possible. Whale season here in hawaii is from november through may so youll be in prime season to spot a few. In 12 years of studies by cascadia research, a total of 32 sperm whales were sighted in hawaii31 of which were off of the big island. Whale watching on oahu from december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola, or humpback whale, in oahu s southern seas. Life is a breach then you dive official oahu humpback whale season, mid dec. Embark on the most popular whale watch cruise of oahu. Kauai whale watching tours whale watching kauai capt andys. The best months for whale watching are summarized in the following table.
There are a variety of ways in which you can catch a glimpse of hawaiis humpback whales. The very best months are february and march when whale sightings are almost guaranteed. Whale watching in oahu a breathtaking adventure in hawaii. They start arriving around 1st of november, but most dont arrive until december.
Whale watching on oahu graceful and gentle giants of the ocean, arching, breaching, and frolicking, hawaiis humpback whales take center stage during whale season. And of course, feel free to share it with your friends who might be interested in seeing whales. Whale watching is a seasonal and very popular activity during the winter time in hawaii. Humpback whales visit hawaiian waters each year from november to may with the peak of the season being from january to march.
There are at about 10,000 to 15,000 humpback whales in the world, and over 1,000 of them visit the tropical waters of hawaii every year at the end of november. I like to view whales from makapuu lighthouse trail. This is only the groups third encounter with the killer whales even though they have been monitoring the hawaiian waters for 14 years. So if you book a ride on any of oahu s many boat or rafting tours during humpback season, dont be surprised if youre guaranteed sightings. Dec 15, 2015 ultimate whale watch chose a oneandahalf or twohour whale watch adventure that takes off from lahaina harbor with 17 other guests aboard its 30foot rigidhulled inflatable raft. Hawaiians treat these gentle giants with utmost respect. From the islands beaches or lookouts, you might catch sight of them in the distance, but we highly recommend booking a tour to get a. Jun 28, 2010 you wont be able to see any humpback whales in august. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii live. If whale watching is important to you, i would highly recommend going to maui or oahu. According to noaa, the peak season for whale watching in oahu is january to march.
The holiday total is from 11 november to 26 november. One of the giants was reportedly seen breaching multiple times. Types of whales in hawaii almost a dozen whale species. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10 whale. Discover what more than 300,000 dolphins and you guests have experienced. Andys tours offer an opportunity to view these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.
From december through april, hawaiian humpback whales make the annual migration to play and breach in hawaiian waters. Whale season in hawaii lasts from november to may, with the peak of the season between january and march. My future wife and i will be in maui from 20 to 25 november on our honeymoon and i want to take her whale watching. Go whalewatching off the coast of oahu on this excursion from waikiki or ko olina. That while their season in hawaii isnt normally set to get underway for about a month. Boat tours and whale watching cruises have become increasingly popular. All of the islands are good for whale watching but maui and oahu tend to have the most whale watching tours available. Oahu whale watching tours the whale watching season is usually under way by the 15th of december and usually lasts through april. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10. Whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you.
Swimming with wild dolphins in hawaii is the memory of a lifetime. Hawaii nautical west oahu whale watch cruise enjoy a whale watch tour on oahus west shore. Whale watching tour all islands although whale watching tours are offered on all of the islands, maui is known to be the best place to see them. Whale watching kauai from december through april, kohala, the humpback whale, makes the annual migration to play and breach in hawaiian waters. But humpback whales visit the hawaiian islands every year from november to may, so its possible that you can see whales outside of that january to march peak whale season too. Their migration crosses 3,100 miles of ocean each season. And the islands are home to a large national humpback whale marine sanctuary, which encompasses near shore waters off six islands. Whale watching on oahu graceful and gentle giants of the ocean, arching, breaching, and frolicking, hawaii s humpback whales take center stage during whale season. Shame about the whales, i have a molokini snorkel tour booked already though. Humpback whales arent the only creatures you might spot on an oahubased whalewatching tour. Breaching refers to a whale launching itself out of the water, and falling back with a massive splash and is a common sight from shore.