Oahu whale watching tours the whale watching season is usually under way by the 15th of december and usually lasts through april. The slapping of a whales fin against the waters surface. Research indicates that at as many as 10,000 humpback whales may be in hawaii this upcoming season. Whale watching in hawaii hawaii whale watching tours. Other good islands to go whale watching are maui and kauai. Whale watching on oahu graceful and gentle giants of the ocean, arching, breaching, and frolicking, hawaiis humpback whales take center stage during whale season. 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. 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. During the months from december to may, pods of humpback whales migrate through hawaiis warm waters, and this tour guarantees whale sightings. Whalewatching tours are the best way to learn about and get great photos of these breaching behemoths up close. Whale watching in hawaii is something that many visitors hope to do, and for good reason. Oahu is more densely populated than the rest of the hawaiian islands.
And the islands are home to a large national humpback whale marine sanctuary, which encompasses near shore waters off six islands. Oahus only marinebiologist founded and led ocean wildlife tours. While many oahu visitors spend all or most of their time on the island in the honolulu and waikiki environs, heading out to the west coast destination of waianae will reward you with the opportunity to do some oahu whale watching. 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. Whether youre searching for a fun cruise adventure, scenic wedding venue, or a unique space for private events, star of honolulu can offer you a memorable cruise experience. Winter is their breeding season and they go to the warm waters of maui to breed and raise their young before they migrate back to the cold waters of alaska to feed during the summer. The best whale watching in hawaii often happens on oahus shores. Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. 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. During this time literally thousands of pacific humpback whales make their journey from the cold waters off alaska to hawaiis warm waters to mate, breed and raise their young. 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. A humpback whale was spotted in western hawaii on thursday, aug. Waikiki whale watching sail cruise whales guaranteed or. Most whale watching tours run from middecember through march to midapril.
Whale watching tours and cruises depart from various ports along oahu s southern and western harbors. Portion of proceeds donated to marine conservation orgs. 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. Makapuu lighthouse and hanauma bay offer several seaside overlooks that provide a distant vantage. Island divers hawaii whale watching charter is the only charter on oahu which conducts their tours inside the hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine.
It takes hours of filming due to a large mass of ocean to scan over the. Here is a selection of big island whale watching tours or other cruises on which you are likely to see whales. Theres nothing quite like viewing whales in their natural habitat, and if you get to see a humpback whale breach, or leap almost entirely out of the water, it is something that you will surely never forget. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii live. Whale season in hawaii lasts from november to may, with the peak of the season between january and march. Where to watch humpback whales from shore across hawaii. I booked through viator, but the company was atlantis adventures. Come get up close and personal with magnificent humpback whales just off the coast of oahu s north 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.
For hawaii locals, fall time doesnt mean autumn leaves, scarves and boots, or chilly weather. While the first maui whale sighting differs every year, its lately been as early as september that humpbacks are spotted in maui. 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. 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. If whale watching is important to you, i would highly recommend going to maui or oahu. Here in the hawaiian islands, however, the white clumps of water that signify winter are found in splashes and spouts, when between 10,000 and 15,000 humpback whales arrive in hawaii for the holidays. Oahu s only marinebiologist founded and led ocean wildlife tours. Whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks. Whale watching in hawaii is a relaxing activity and if youve got free time during the peak season, you can easily get a reservation for a whale tour or take a walk where whales are commonly spotted. Tori and her crew took us out to kaena point regarded as the gathering place for the whales. Enjoy hawaiis favorite seasonal visitors, the majestic humpback whales, from the comfort of the beautiful honi olani sailing catamaran on their morning and afternoon tour. Whale watching in oahu is an activity many visitors look forward to, and for good reason. According to noaa, the peak season for whale watching in oahu is january to march. Go on our full day charters and the humpback season extends from nov.
Hawaii whale watching, oahu whale watch near ko olina, waikiki. With a small group of people, watch the gentle giants swim, feed, breach and play around your boat. Whale watching is a seasonal and very popular activity during the winter time in hawaii. Everyone leaned forward on the boat in eager anticipation, eyesand camerasriveted to the horizon. Whale watching boat tours and diy guide big island. The scenic mcgregor point lookout west of maalaea and the beaches of kaanapali, kihei and wailea are also great spots to see whales. We wanted to see how close we can get to the humpback whales here in oahu. Courtesy of a research hydrophone, you can listen to live whale song through the vessel stereo system. Your whale watch adventure includes a crew of certified naturalists to share fascinating insights on whales, a hydrophone to hear whale songs, an educational whale video presentation and a program for children. 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. Diving excursions head to local reefs yearround where humpbacks make an appearance during whale season. The waianae area is effectively shielded from trade winds and lots of rain by the coastal mountain ranges that are found in the area, and this. Whale season is between the 15th of december until the 15th of may.
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. On average, the first whale sighting from a trilogy. Get in touch with your wild side on our oahu whale watch tours. The majestic whale watch lunch cruise is 2 12 hours long from 11. 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. More than twenty species of marine mammals call the hawaiian waters home, and they include a range of whales. Its a very cool experience to see these magnificent animals in action and cruising along our warm hawaiian waters. Star of honolulu waikikis best whale watch cruise from. Closer to the modern honolulu, whales can be seen off the cliffs surf break near diamond head. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10.
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. Calves are born weighingin at around 3000 pounds and grow at a rate of 200 pounds a day during the first few weeks of life. Where to whale watch in hawaii fodors travel guide. But if youre more than 12 miles away, you can listen to live whale songs online. Flip nicklinminden pictures the sanctuary ocean count provides hawaii residents and visitors with the opportunity to actively participate in evaluating the status of humpback whales. 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. Hawaii is a popular destination for whale watching because, during mating season, humpback whales are more active resulting in elevated surface activity. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii. 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.
Each winter december through may, thousands of kohola humpback whales travel to hawaii from colder waters to breed, calve and nurse their young. Sep 26, 2017 whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks. Join us on hawaiis most popular whale watch cruise along waikiki beach. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10 whale. Humpback whales come to hawaii between november and april whale season, and the big island is our favorite of the hawaiian islands to go see the whales. Boats will take you out as close as they are allowed by law. The calves drink as much as 600 liters of milk per day to help prepare them for the trip towards colder waters. Life, unplugged sail in the company of whales, hawaii whale watching season yes. The waters surrounding maui are the stage for some of the best whale watching in the world. Maui is known to have the largest transient whale population during humpback whale season. 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 season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you. Divers must obey the same 100yard distance law as elsewhere, but the curious humpbacks often get much closer.
Go whale watching off the coast of oahu on this excursion from waikiki or ko olina. Whale watching has become a beloved activity for tourists and locals alike in the islands, and the tour boats and activity choices are abundant. There are many onthewater whale watching tours available. This two hour tour will bring you to the best spots on the island to see the whales in their natural habitat during migration. If you want to see whales from oahu your best bet would be to take some kind of boat tour. My friends and i had a fabulous time, the staff were fantastic, the food was great and the entertainment was very well done, the entertainment and staff are very talented. Embark on the most popular whale watch cruise of oahu. If you spot a whale while out on a boat, keep in mind that its illegal to approach a whale closer than 500 feet. Below you will find our top ten viewing locations by island. The first humpback whale spotting of 2015 came early this year near the small island of niihau, which is off of kauai. Also, you will find good viewing along the east to north shores of kauai. Scientists estimate that twothirds of the entire north pacific humpback whale population return to hawaii to breed, calve and nurse their young. Hiking enthusiasts can usually spot whales from the islands southeastern coast. The whales are drawn to the areas shallow waters, especially the auau channel between maui, molokai and lanai, making maui an ideal jumpingoff spot for.
In fact, there are plenty of areas on maui where humpbacks can frequently be seen from the shore during whale season. Dec 15, 2015 a whale watch on pride of maui begins at maalaea harbor and includes a barbecue lunch, mai tais, beer and two and a half hours at sea. Ive seen a few from my home on the north shore of kauai. If you go to maui during the winter, you might get a chance to see whale calves and their mothers. Under federal protection, the humpback population is steadily rising. Whale watching cruises are some of the most popular and fun things to do in hawaiis whale season, which runs from december through april.
Officially, whale season in hawaii runs from december 15may 15, although the first whale of the season. But humpback whales visit the hawaiian islands every year from november to may, so its possible that you can see whales outside of. Adult whales can reach 45feet in length and weigh up to 40 tons one of the largest ever recorded humpback whales measured in at 89 ft. You can listen to the whales under water, spot them from. Departing at noon, this oahu whale watch cruise is fun for everyone in the family. Sep 05, 2018 seeing as we operate seven boats that offer whale watching tours in maui, this is a question were asked a lot and at all different times of the year officially, whale season in maui runs from december 15thmay 15th, although its still possible to see whales outside of the officialwhale season dates. Mar 12, 2014 it started with a spray of water that shot up several feet above the waves. Mar 08, 20 in ten years of visiting oahu, this trip from sail hawaii on the west shore was the best by miles. Whale watching island divers hawaii oahus friendliest. Mar 12, 2014 whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you. Divers must obey the same 100yard distance law as elsewhere, but. My day started with an early morning bus pickup in waikiki, which transported me and a busload of other tourists to pier 6 at the aloha tower marketplace.
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. In ten years of visiting oahu, this trip from sail hawaii on the west shore was the best by miles. Oahu whale watching tours whale watching cruises are some of the most popular and fun things to do in hawaiis whale season, which runs from december through april. 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. Star of honolulu is the best vessel for viewing whales. But you dont have to go on a whale watching tour to spot 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 whale watches can often be. Humpback whales arent the only creatures you might spot on an oahubased whalewatching tour. Nothing beats the aweinspiring beauty of the waianae coast, except maybe the equally stunning and diverse wildlife. You can also spot whales from oahu s many beaches and from southeastern oahu spots like the scenic makapuu lighthouse, hanauma bay, and along the seaside overlooks near leahi diamond head. 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 array of whale. Waikiki whale watching sail cruise whales guaranteed or come back again free. Officially, whale season in maui runs from december 15thmay 15th, although its still possible to see whales outside of the officialwhale season dates. Small group 610 passengers charters include yearround whale watching, swimming with dolphins, and snorkeling with giant sea turtles and endemic tropical reef fish.
Whale watching hawaii oahu year round whale watch oahu. The very best months are february and march when whale sightings are almost guaranteed. A whale watch on pride of maui begins at maalaea harbor and includes a barbecue lunch, mai tais, beer and two and a half hours at sea. Go whalewatching off the coast of oahu on this excursion from waikiki or ko olina. 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. Island divers brought whale listening to the tour industry in the 201112 season. 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. This is my second time going to oahu but was traveling with friends who have never gone. 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. The whales dont have calendars though there are whales here now, and have been for a month. Whales can be seen quite easily from most shorelines around the hawaiian islands. When is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii and. On september 29th researchers from noaa ship hiialakai spotted a humpback whale while heading home from the northwest hawaii islands the second humpback whale spotted was seen a few days later near kauais pacific missile range facility.
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