The konakohala coast on the big island of hawaii is one of the humpback whales favorite spots. You wont see as many on the big island, but if youre on the shore you should still be able to see some. Maui has the largest concentration of humpback whales in all the waters that surround hawaii. Explore whale watching hawaiian islands humpback whale. 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. Years before we moved to hawaii, my husbands family would come to hawaii in the winter to see whales. Your vacation travel planning and activities guide for whale watching on the big island of hawaii. Boat tours and whale watching cruises have become increasingly popular. Head for the coastlines of all hawaiian islands right now. By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. 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. Which island is best for whale watching between maui and the big island. As the winter months approach, there are two big seasonal events that come with the cooler weather. Get up close with humpback whales near the big island of hawaii on this guided, whale watching excursion.
These gentle giants come to the warm hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves. Scientists estimate that twothirds of the entire north pacific humpback whale population return to hawaii to breed, calve and nurse their young. Go on our full day charters and the humpback season extends from nov. Get up close and observe them in their natural habitat as these magnificent. A large number of humpback whales make their way from alaska to hawaii during this period, migrating to warmer waters and more abundant feeding areas. Oct 08, 2015 honolulu humpback whales were spotted in the waters off hawaii for the first time this season, leading officials to warn ships and recreational boaters to steer clear of the endangered visitors. By the peak of the season from januarymarch, thousands of humpbacks have gathered in hawaii from hilo to hanalei, with the largest concentration of whales residing between maui, molokai, and lanai. December to april is an exciting time for the big island of hawaii because it marks whale watching season.
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. Whale watching hawaii oahu year round whale watch oahu. Hilo and green sand beach are good alternatives on oahu, you want to go to the north shore. The humpback whales leave the icy waters of alaska and migrate 6000 miles to hawaii every year to give birth and care for their calves. During whale season, hawaiis water are known worldwide to host an variety of whale and dolphin species such as hawaiis favorite winter visitor, the humpback whale. Whale watching in hawaii hawaii whale watching tours. Humpback whales visit hawaiian waters each year from november to may with the peak of the season being from january to march. The last whales could stick around until april before they make their trek back to alaska. Whale watching has become a beloved activity for tourists and locals alike in the islands, and the tour boats and activity choices are abundant. Its whalewatching season on the big island holualoa inn. Hawaiian islands humpback whale news and events 2010. The best months to visit for peak hawaii whale watching between november and april is peak whale watching season around the big island. More than 10,000 north pacific humpback whales migrate from southeastern alaska to the warm waters of hawaii each year to mate, give birth and nurture their calves. Big island whale and dolphin watching hawaii travel and.
Scientists estimate that twothirds of the entire north pacific humpback whale population make the annual trek to hawaii. Just as our idyllic weather welcomes tourists from around the world, the warm and shallow waters surrounding the hawaiian islands are a favorite destination for kohola, or humpback whales. Every december through april, about 5,000 humpback whales make the journey thousands of miles from the icy waters of alaska to the warm waters of hawaii where they mate and nurture their young. You can learn more about them and noaas hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary. This is when thousands of pacific humpback whales make the journey from the waters off alaska to hawaiis warm waters to breed and give birth to their young.
Download the app to stay uptodate on the latest sightings. It takes hours of filming due to a large mass of ocean to scan over the. Top whale watching cruises on the big island of hawaii. Monitor dolphin and whale sightings in real time with our live whale tracker app, available on. Whale watching is a seasonal and very popular activity during the winter time in hawaii. Research indicates that at as many as 10,000 humpback whales may be in hawaii this upcoming season. Nov 17, 2016 whale watching is a great big island activity. Theres plenty of whale watching tours or even snorkel tours to choose from. Mar 12, 2014 whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you.
If you book a whale watching tour from maui, experience the thrill of spotting a spout about 300 yards off the bow, and then motoring close for a. Hawaiis waters will soon be filled with thousands of humpback whales that have made the journey from the pacific northwest to give birth to their young, and getting an up. A single humpback whale was seen near the big island s kailuakona area on thursday, aug. Best chance to see them would be in the winter off the big island kona side or the channel between lanai and molokai. Many dolphin species have also documented in hawaii, including roughtoothed dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins and false killer. From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaiis shorelines. Officially, whale season in hawaii runs from december 15may 15, although the first whale of the season. Big island of hawaii whale watching tours one of the most popular and fun things to do on the big island in the winter months december through april is whale watching. The best months to visit for peak hawaii whale watching. We recommend heading out on whale watching tour to get the best views possible, and to experience the beauty of the ocean. Hawaiis humpback whale season is in full swing by november, and winds down with the majority of whales departing in april.
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. Hawaiian waters from 1994 through 2004 a copy can be downloaded here. Whale watching on the big island offers more than just humpback sightings, too. Jan 07, 2009 head for the coastlines of all hawaiian islands right now. The maui ocean centers aquarium and whale watch experience launched on tuesday, jan. Seeing one of these 40ton, 40foot long giants breach the water is an unforgettable sight. Not only is their migration route through the channels, but they come into the shallow bays to mate and have their calves. The whales journey more than 3,000 miles from the gulf of alaska to hawaii, and stay from december through may. You might also spot some of the other whale species that make their home in these waters yearround sperm whales, pilot whales, pygmy killer whales and rare beaked whales as well as dolphin pods and curious sea turtles. As many as 10,000 whales winter in island waters, a good number of them visible from our state. Since long before whale watching gained the enormous popularity it boasts today, captain dan mcsweeneys passion and caring for whales defined the character of his whale watching business.
Hawaii info guides big island whale watching results for visitors to the hawaiian islands. There are a variety of ways in which you can catch a glimpse of hawaiis humpback whales. A snorkeler and a whale shark meet offshore north of ellison onizuka kona international airport on the big island. Lahaina cruise company experience the excitement of whale watching with lahaina cruise companys twohour hawaii ocean project cruise. If you are serious about seeing humpback whales in their hawaiian mating and calving grounds, the last couple weeks in february and the whole month of march are the best times to be here. 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.
The sea smoke has won several awards, including accolades for voyages across the pacific ocean. Whale watching season has started earlier than expected in hawaii. Whale watching in hawaii is the perfect way to enjoy the incredible. Whale watching on the big island of hawaii big island. Every year from november to may, maui locals welcome back their favorite guests the huge, majestic humpback whales who spend every winter in hawaiis warm and safe waters.
But if youre more than 12 miles away, you can listen to live whale songs online. During hawaii s whale season, the ocean is full of activity from humpback whales migrating from the pacific northwest to breed and nurse their young. Types of whales in hawaii almost a dozen whale species. In addition to maui, the big island offers some of the best whale watching in hawaii.
Weve seen whales from 5 different islands, and the end of january is a great. Joe mobley from the university of hilo conducted an aerial survey of the whales. They play a large role in hawaiian legendincluding one creation storyand appear in ancient petroglyphs on several islands. Maui hosts a whale festival each year with parades and exhibits at the height of the season in february. The first humpback whale sighting this year in hawaii was on september 29th near the small island of niihau. It seems like a certain few individual sharks enjoy hawaii and return periodically but its still a holy grail sighting. The arrival of the seasons first humpback whaleusually between august and octoberis a big deal in the islands. 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. Whale watching season in hawaii is always a special time, and will be a great part of your trip. To the native hawaiians a whale is the representation of the hawaiian god kanaloa the god of all. However, peak hawaii whale watching season occurs during february and march. This is a tip especially for those of you that want to go whale watching in hawaii. Hawaii whale watching tours are generally only available during humpback season between november and april. Just make a break for the kona coast or the waikoloa area if you want to do some big island whale watching.
Hawaiis humpback whale season technically begins in november when the gargantuan mammals make the long journey from cold north pacific ocean seas to calve in hawaiis famously warm waters. Honolulu humpback whales were spotted in the waters off hawaii for the first time this season, leading officials to warn ships and recreational boaters to. The whales do seem to prefer west maui, perhaps because of the shallow, warmer water. During hawaiis whale season, the ocean is full of activity from humpback whales migrating from the pacific northwest to breed and nurse their young. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii live. The first ever longterm 1 week resighting of a killer whale from hawaiian. Whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you. Is whale watching better in maui or the big island. Get in touch with your wild side on our oahu whale watch tours. 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.
Included in the children category are infants and children up to age 11 weighing 90 lbs or less call us for exceptions for infant rates on selected trips. There are several companies that offer big island whale watching tours. The sanctuary serves to protect humpback whales and their habitat within hawaii. Humpback whales have a strong cultural value in hawaii. On the big island, the kohala coast and north kona are the best places to watch whales. There is nothing like seeing a humpback whale up close and will be something that you remember forever. We will begin processing online booking requests after september 1st, 2020 so please wait until then to submit your booking forms. This site needs to store information on your computer in the form of cookies to work. The most wonderful time of the year is whale watching season in hawaii.
So if you have not made your travel arrangements yet, shoot for these months. Whale watching boat tours and diy guide big island. A single humpback whale was seen near the big islands kailuakona area on thursday, aug. Hawaii whale watching guide for the big island big. It is just about impossible for us to go out on the boat during this time and not see their abovewater displays and hear their songs. For hawaii locals, fall time doesnt mean autumn leaves, scarves and boots, or chilly weather. Hawaii whale watching, oahu whale watch near ko olina, waikiki. When youre in hawaii, you can listen underwater and hear the humpbacks whale song from up to 12 miles away. These destinations offer hawaii whale watching tours that highlight those whales that choose to congregate in the alenuihaha. Humpback whale watching season starts early in hawaii. Between november and april is peak whale watching season around the big island. Maalaea bay is a great place to watch as is most any shore on maui. 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. Experience the beauty of kauai and the chance to see a spectacular humpback whale show with boat tours departing daily.
As many as 10,000 whales winter in island waters, a good number of them visible. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from honokohau harbor set out on a search for humpback whales on a speedy 24ft zodiac raft, and get a front row seat to see these majestic mammals in the beautiful waters of kona. Many dolphin species have also documented in hawaii, including roughtoothed dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins and false killer whales a very large dolphin. Other good islands to go whale watching are maui and kauai. Oct 07, 2016 humpback whale season in hawaii nearly extinct in the mid 1960s, the humpback population has grown with global whaling bans but are still considered endangered. Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. These destinations offer hawaii whale watching tours that highlight those whales that choose to congregate in the alenuihaha channel. Whale watching season is starting in maui when is whale watching season in maui. Zodiac raft whale watching adventure is one of our favorites.
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. Incredible sailing experiences and ample deck space 58 feet long by 28 feet wide make the sea smoke a favorite choice for excursions of all types. Every winter, pods of graceful humpback whales migrate from alaska to the warmer waters of the hawaiian islands chain. Hawaii big island whale watching tours hawaii discount. The benefit of the zodiac is that you are closer to the water, and. Where to whale watch in hawaii fodors travel guide. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from. Contributed photo by bo pardau special to west hawaii today. The yellow contours dont mean that there were only a few whales in those areas, but that there were less than at the red zones. Everything you need to know about whale watching on maui.
Here is a selection of big island whale watching tours or other cruises on which you are likely to see whales. First humpback whales of season spotted in hawaii cbs news. You can listen to the whales under water, spot them from. Have a look here to see where humpback whale population around the world spend their summer and winter. From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaii s shorelines. 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. Every winter, over 5,000 humpback whales travel from alaska to hawaii. Its humpback whale season in hawaii hawaii magazine. They only would come to hawaii when they knew they could see whales, usually around february. Get involved sanctuary ocean count hawaiian islands. The sanctuary, which lies within the shallow less than 600 feet, warm waters surrounding the main hawaiian islands, constitutes one of the worlds most important humpback whale habitats.
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