Experts wonder how warmer oceans will further impact whale. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet. Oahu whale watching tours the whale watching season is usually under way by the 15th of december and usually lasts through april. Whalewatching cruise for one, two, or four from pink sails waikiki up to 72% off.
Daytime guided sightseeing boat trip from hawaii glass bottom boat adventures up to 40% off. According to noaa, the peak season for whale watching in oahu is january to march. Whale watching cruises dont start until december i like to view whales from makapuu lighthouse trail. Nothing beats the aweinspiring beauty of the waianae coast, except maybe the equally stunning and diverse wildlife. Wild side hawaii whale watching, swimming with wild dolphins, snorkeling tour oahu based combination of best snorkeling, swimming with wild dolphins, year round whale watching, 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 experience. More than twenty species of marine mammals call the hawaiian waters home, and they include a range of. 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. Types of whales in hawaii almost a dozen whale species. Between november and march there are many opportunities for whale watching kauai.
The gentle giants come to the warm hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves. Whale watching in oahu a breathtaking adventure in hawaii. 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. 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. A humpback whale was spotted in western hawaii on thursday, aug. 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. Get in touch with your wild side on our oahu whale watch tours. December 15th is the official start of the humpback whale season in hawaii, but guests on our private whale watching tour could spot whales as early as november, and since the feeling of watching a humpback from a kayak is one of the islands best adventures, we figured it was time to discuss some basics about humpback whales in maui. The majestic whale watch lunch cruise is 2 12 hours long from 11. A humpback whale breaches off the coast of oahu in hawaii. 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 whale watches can often be seen from the shoreline of waikiki in addition to the whale watching honolulu tours. Where to watch humpback whales from shore across hawaii. When is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii and. 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.
There are a variety of ways in which you can catch a glimpse of hawaiis humpback whales. Whale watching boat tours and diy guide big island. You may see some from there in early november, but dont count on it. November, december and january are frequently listed as the start of the season with april and may usually designated as the end of the season.
Hawaii discount offers the best whale watching cruises in hawaii at discounted rates. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii live. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii. 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. Whale watching on oahu from december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola, or humpback whale, in oahus southern seas. Were fodors choice for whale watching on oahu, and deemed by cbs josh horwitz author of war of the whales as one of the top five american whale watching tours. Noaa says the season runs from november to may, but there are certainly highs and lows within that. Hello, what are the chances of seeing whales in november in oahu. The very best months are february and march when whale sightings are almost guaranteed. They dont start showing up until around the end of november and stay till around april or so. Closer to the modern honolulu, whales can be seen off the cliffs surf break near diamond head. Oahu, hawaii snorkeling tour, whale watching, swimming. Humpback whales arent the only creatures you might spot on an oahubased whalewatching tour.
The slapping of a whales fin against the waters surface. 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. Embark on the most popular whale watch cruise of oahu. Spotting humpback whales are one of the best winter activities in hawaii. Take a trip to the beach or a scenic lookout and watch for the blows, pec slaps, flukeup dives, and breaches of hawaiis humpbacks. Download the app to stay uptodate on the latest sightings. Like placebets said your chances of seeing humpback whales from oahu in november are slim to none. And of course, feel free to share it with your friends who might be interested in seeing whales. These huge mammals travel between 3 and 9 mph at over 1,000 miles per month. Today is free to relax, swim, enjoy water sports, or laze on the beach. If you dont see whales on any of our whale watchspecific trips, come back again 1 more time for free. Oahu, hawaii snorkeling tour, whale watching, swimming with.
Whale watching tours and cruises depart from various ports along oahus southern and western harbors. Oct 03, 2019 docents will provide great information and free help to get you whale watching. A soft gaze along the oceans horizon at poipu beach will bring to light one the greatest aerial shows kauai has to offer. Star of honolulu waikikis best whale watch cruise from. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10 whale. From december to may of every year, humpback whales return to the warm waters of hawaii to breed and give birth to new calves. Take the optional excursion to the polynesian cultural center for authentic island arts, crafts, history, music, a dinner buffet, and a spectacular polynesian show with more than 100 performers. Island divers brought whale listening to the tour industry in the 201112 season. Monitor dolphin and whale sightings in real time with our live whale tracker app, available on. Explore whale watching hawaiian islands humpback whale. Spend a day on the water with your eyes peeled for humpback whales, gray whales. 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.
Majestic waikiki whale watch afternoon cruise see hawaii. Hawaii nautical whales guaranteed morning 2 hours dec. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Shoreline spotting is best from january to march when humpback activity is at its peak alert. You wont be able to see any humpback whales in august. There is a mandatory 14day selfquarantine for all visitors and residents of the state of hawaii. 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. Hawaii nautical west oahu whale watch cruise hawaii. Shame about the whales, i have a molokini snorkel tour booked already though.
Scientists estimate that twothirds of the entire north pacific humpback whale population return to hawaii to breed, calve and nurse their young. Make your selection from these exciting hawaii whale watch tours below. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save the graphic on the next page. Enjoy a morning whale watch cruise along waikiki beach. Humpback whales in maui whales visit december to april. Whales can be seen quite easily from most shorelines around the hawaiian islands. If you are visiting oahu, you can see whales there too, they just wont be as abundant. The holiday total is from 11 november to 26 november. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10. Under federal protection, the humpback population is steadily rising. Kauai whale watching tours captain andys has years of whale watching experience having been exploring the na pali since 1980.
We are proud to offer whale watching tours from maui, kauai, oahu, and. 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. Jan 27, 2016 we wanted to see how close we can get to the humpback whales here in oahu. 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.
If youre fortunate enough to be visiting oahu during the months of novembermay give or take a couple of weeks either way, you absolutely must plan a whale watching tour. Set out on a honolulu whale watch cruise to see hawaiis humpback whales and cruise past beautiful diamond head in search of these majestic marine mammals. Maui county is world famous as the destination for the pacific northwest humpback whales. Courtesy of a research hydrophone, you can listen to live whale song through the vessel stereo system. In your research, you may have seen different timeframes defining humpback whale season in hawaii. Island divers hawaii whale watching charter is the only charter on oahu which conducts their tours inside the hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine. A number of speedboat, pontoon, and sailboat tours depart from areas around waikikiespecially from kewalo basin harbor opposite ala moana beach parkas well as from the north shore and the western leeward side of the island.
Whale watching on oahu graceful and gentle giants of the ocean, arching, breaching, and frolicking, hawaiis humpback whales take center stage during whale season. We wanted to see how close we can get to the humpback whales here in oahu. They race more than 3,000 miles from the gulf of alaska to hawaii, then stay for a lengthy vacation, frolicking just off our shores and delighting spectators from december through may. You may also spot kohola from the southern shores of oahu, especially at. During the winter months, these magnificent creatures return to hawaiis warm waters to breed, give birth, and nurse their young. You can also spot whales from oahus many beaches and from southeastern oahu spots like the scenic makapuu lighthouse, hanauma bay, and along the seaside overlooks near leahi diamond head.
Approximately 4,500 humpback whales visit the hawaiian islands each year to bask in the warm waters, breed and give birth before migrating back to their alaskan feeding. Were fodors choice for whale watching on oahu, and deemed by cbs josh horwitz author of war of the whales as one of the top five american whale watching tours get in touch with your wild side on our oahu whale watch tours. Most whale watching tours run from middecember through march to midapril. Hawaii whale watching, oahu whale watch near ko olina, waikiki. Kauai whale watching tours whale watching kauai capt. I checked for previous questions but couldnt find the answer. Star of honolulu is the best vessel for viewing whales. 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. The best months for whale watching are summarized in the following table. 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. Whale watching island divers hawaii oahus friendliest.
Their captains know how to carefully share the waters with these amazing sea mammals and can provide educational information about the whales on all of the tours. The whaleplanner november a whale watching infographic. Their captains know how to carefully share the waters with these amazing sea mammals and can provide educational. Whale season in hawaii lasts from november to may, with the peak of the season between january and march. For any chance at all it would be from a boat tour. If your onboard naturalist does not spot any whales during your cruise, you will receive a complimentary return whale watch cruise. Makapuu lighthouse and hanauma bay offer several seaside overlooks that provide a distant vantage. 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. Boats will take you out as close as they are allowed by law. They start arriving around 1st of november, but most dont arrive until december. 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. 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. 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. Sanctuary ocean count hawaiian islands humpback whale.
Hiking enthusiasts can usually spot whales from the islands southeastern coast. 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. Hawaii nautical west oahu whale watch cruise enjoy a whale watch tour on oahus west shore. Whalewatching tours are the best way to learn about and get great photos of these breaching behemoths up close. 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. Whale watching hawaii oahu year round whale watch oahu.
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. Humpback whales visit hawaiian waters each year from november to may with the peak of the season being from january to march. 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. Their migration crosses 3,100 miles of ocean each season. Reef fishing and snorkel adventure for one or two adults or children from tradewind charters up to 44% off. You wont have to go far from honolulu to see whales. Weve enjoyed whale watching near diamond head, from sandy beach to makapuu, at hanauma bay and generally along south and west facing shores. Kihei while there has been a slight increase in humpback whale. Whale watching in oahu is an activity many visitors look forward to, and for good reason. Below you will find our top ten viewing locations by island. Whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks. Maui whale watch tours hawaii humpback whale watching. From mid november to midapril, take a cruise to search for the humpback whales that populate the waters.
And the islands are home to a large national humpback whale marine sanctuary, which encompasses near shore waters off six islands. For your personal whale tale, book a tour on a whale watching cruise. Whale watching on the big island 2020 big island of hawaii. Sep 26, 2017 whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks. 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. 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 cruise for one, two, or four from pink sails waikiki up to 72% off. Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. Many of these whale watches are offered at discount pricing. The best whale watching in hawaii often happens on oahus shores. Native hawaiians believe that hunchback whales, or kohola, is an aumakua, or family guardian, so they have high regard for these special visitors. The season generally runs from november to may, though the first. Lammers added that five soundtraps were also deployed off maui, molokai, oahu and kauai. Kauai whale watching tours whale watching kauai capt andys.
The whales depart hawaii again late april early may. If whale watching is important to you, i would highly recommend going to maui or oahu. Jul 03, 2014 you can also spot whales from oahus many beaches and from southeastern oahu spots like the scenic makapuu lighthouse, hanauma bay, and along the seaside overlooks near leahi diamond head. 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. Whale season on hawaii is between november and april. Boat tours and whale watching cruises have become increasingly popular. Hawaiians treat these gentle giants with utmost respect. Honolulu whale watching deals in honolulu, hi groupon. 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. Docents will provide great information and free help to get you whale watching. I like to view whales from makapuu lighthouse trail. 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. The humpback whale season in maui lasts from november to may of every year.
584 58 236 217 586 1482 314 1510 833 1156 524 722 1171 1139 968 901 1005 1233 1291 963 466 386 1318 81 1150 1100 120 1284 748 645 1029 1195