Get up close with humpback whales near the big island of hawaii on this guided, whale watching excursion. A snorkeler and a whale shark meet offshore north of ellison onizuka kona international airport on the big island. Stay at a hotel along the areas of high humpback density. Known for the hospitality of our captain and crew, guests experience the true aloha spirit, knowledge of the islands and the sea. Now, there is a possibility of seeing pilot whales in kailuakona on the big island hawaii island. Sunset cruise with hawaiian cultural speaker with local hawaiian singer made it top notch for us. Big island whale and dolphin watching hawaii travel and. Between november and april is peak whale watching season around the big island. 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. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from. This island often draws people that are looking for a mellow time in on a stunning location. 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. Theres plenty of whale watching tours or even snorkel tours to choose from.
I was there recently with my wife and we saw close to 30 spinner dolphins right near shore. We are aware that there will be no humpbacks in the area at that time of year. We recommend west or south maui and the kohala coast of the big island. Get involved sanctuary ocean count hawaiian islands. If you are planning your big island vacation around a camping trip, for instance, plan to come during the sunny, dry season to avoid a tent washout. The best months to visit for peak hawaii whale watching. 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. Sanctuary ocean count hawaiian islands humpback whale. There is an approximately 2 mile hike on unpaved dirt road to reach site. When is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii and. See our wheretostay guides for maui and the big island for insights on accommodation selection. Come see the humpback whales frolic in hawaiis warm waters.
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. This activity only operates from december through midapril during whale season. Humpback whales make their annual journey to hawaii between the months of november and april whale season, and the big island is our favorite of the. Big island whale watching whale watching tours on the big. The hamakua coast also hosts rare whale sightings, but these are few and far between. Thousands of humpback whales return to hawaiian waters each year to breed, give birth and nurse their young.
My husband and i will be on the big island from september 8 to the 15. The hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary. Other good islands to go whale watching are maui and kauai. Whale watching on the big island your big island experience.
Kauai offers a range of whaleviewing opportunities, including poipu beach on the south shore, kilauea lighthouse on the north shore and kapaa overlook on the islands coconut coast. The first whales start arriving to the big island in november, and their numbers steadily build up as the season goes on until they peak in the months january, february, and march. Whale watching on the big island of hawaii big island. The count is held the last saturday of january, february, and march during peak whale season of each year from 8. Unlike the other main hawaiian islands of maui, oahu, and kauai, the big island offers ideal whale watching conditions throughout the day. February, and march during peak whale season of each year from 8.
There are several companies that offer big island whale watching tours. Whale watching on the big island offers more than just humpback sightings, too. For a large group and families one of the best boating activities on the island. 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. Humpback whale season on the hawaiian islands is between november and early may. But if youre more than 12 miles away, you can listen to live whale songs online.
Spotting humpback whales are one of the best winter activities in hawaii. On the island of hawaii, whales are often seen along the shores of the kohala coast, as well as hilo bay on the east side of the island. It has to do with the depth, 600 feet is the magical number, but one big difference between the two locations is population of boats. The benefit of the zodiac is that you are closer to the water, and. Make sure to book a tour early, as they fill up quickly. And when whale season rolls around, this already spectacular island becomes magical. The number one spot to go whale watching is in kaanapali, maui and the number two spot is kohala coast, big island. Whale watching and snorkeling with turtles makes for a very good day. So if you have not made your travel arrangements yet, shoot for these months. During the winter, between december and may, these majestic mammals swim all the way from alaska to mate and give birth in the warm tropical waters off the islands. 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. We are looking at dan mcsweeneys whale watching tour. Hawaiian islands humpback whale get involved sanctuary. These gentle giants come to the warm hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves.
Whale watching on the big island 2020 big island of hawaii. Contributed photo by bo pardau special to west hawaii today. Sep 26, 2017 stay at a hotel along the areas of high humpback density. We will begin processing online booking requests after september 1st, 2020 so please wait until then to submit your booking forms. Wahine charters kona, hawaii swim with dolphins, mantas. We are hawaiis first dolphin smart recognized operator for proper viewing of dolphins. From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaiis shorelines.
The sea smoke has won several awards, including accolades for voyages across the pacific ocean. Zodiac raft whale watching adventure is one of our favorites. On the island of hawaii, whales are often seen along the shores of the kohala. Hawaii island big island in many parts of the mainland u. Jun 28, 2010 now, there is a possibility of seeing pilot whales in kailuakona on the big island hawaii island. 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. You wont see as many on the big island, but if youre on the shore you should still be able to see some. Jan 03, 2018 the ten deadliest snakes in the world with steve irwin real wild documentary duration.
Whale and dolphin watching from shore on big island hawaii. Where to find the whales on each hawaiian island hawaii. See why body glove has the best on big island experienced guide, hear whales sing with hydrophone, spacious boat with bar, and sighting guarantee. Your vacation travel planning and activities guide for whale watching on the big island of hawaii. December to april is an exciting time for the big island of hawaii because it marks whale watching season. Whale watching boat tours can offer a closer view of humpbacks. Whale watching is a seasonal and very popular activity during the winter time in hawaii. The last whales could stick around until april before they make their trek back to alaska. 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. Go here from your mobile device and click your account to create a user login.
Whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you. Officially, whale season in hawaii runs from december 15may 15, although the first whale of the season. Forgotten in favor of adorable little brothers and sisters, her attributes are often glossed over. Big island whale watching tour venture out with wahine charters and witness one of the largest animals on the planet on the best whale watching charter in hawaii. Hawaii whale watching tours are generally only available during humpback season between november and april. Saw manta rays, dolphins and flying fish with help from the careful cruise guests and good presentation from staff naturalist. Seeing one of these 40ton, 40foot long giants breach the water is an unforgettable sight. 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. 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. The whales leave hawaii again late april early may. And even then i dont know if there are whale watching tours specifically for them. Come aboard winona for whale watching on the big island. This site needs to store information on your computer in the form of cookies to work.
By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. Mauna loa, which is the secondtallest mountain on the big island, helps block trade winds that can more easily affect whale watching on the other hawaiian islands, especially in the afternoon. 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. Ocean sports wake up with the whales hawaii discount. 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 big island whale watching tours hawaii discount. It takes hours of filming due to a large mass of ocean to scan over the. Every winter, our humpback whales in hawaii make the 3,000mile journey from alaska to hawaii to mate and give birth in our warm tranquil waters.
Most of big islands east side is unsuitable for whale watching, but occassionally whales can be seen from the highway near naalehu in the south, and off 4 mile beach near hilo in the northeast. Ocean sports offers a variety of tours including this wake up with the whales tour. 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. The first humpback whale sighting this year in hawaii was on september 29th near the small island of niihau. The best places i have seen from shore include the kawaihai area in south kohala.
During this season, fifteen inches of rain can pound the earth on this tropical island each month, resulting in just under 200 inches at the end of the year. Where to whale watch in hawaii fodors travel guide. Mar 12, 2014 whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you. Hawaii info guides big island whale watching results for visitors to the hawaiian islands. Although humpback whales can be seen from all of the hawaiian islands, the shallow auau channel between maui, molokai and lanai is one of the best. Our vessel, the wicked wahine, is a fast, comfortable ride that. Hawaii whale watching is definitely an activity you dont want to miss out on if youre visiting the islands during whale watching season. The kohala coast of the big island is a marine mammal sanctuary and provides these animals a warm and safe environment to give birth and tend to their young. The ten deadliest snakes in the world with steve irwin real wild documentary duration. The airport fence is locked on weekends but parking is still available. 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. When youre in hawaii, you can listen underwater and hear the humpbacks whale song from up to 12 miles away.
Every year more than 2000 humpback whales travel to hawaiian waters in winter to mate and give birth to offspring and about 800 of these animals spend their time in hawaii around the shores of big island. We are proud to offer whale watching tours from maui, kauai, oahu, and big island. Kauai offers a range of whale viewing opportunities, including poipu beach on the south shore, kilauea lighthouse on the north shore and kapaa overlook on the island s coconut coast. You can listen to the whales under water, spot them from. Body glove hawaii snorkel, dinner cruises, scuba diving. Hawaii ist fur whale watching eine besonders geeignete anlaufstelle. Big island whale watching whale watching tours on the. In hawaii, the big island is like the sometimes awkward older sibling. I would only suggest doing this if you happen to be staying there. Here is a selection of big island whale watching tours or other cruises on which you are likely to see whales. 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.
Whale watching on the big island mauna lani sea adventures. Should you find yourself on the island of hawaii, making an effort to go whale watching is an unforgettable experience, but youll need to do a bit of planning to make it happen. Hawaii whale watching guide for the big island big. Nov 17, 2016 whale watching is a great big island activity. During the whale watching season in hawaii, whale sightings are nearly a sure thing. Humpback whales sure know where to vacation right here in hawaii. However, peak hawaii whale watching season occurs during february and march. The whales do seem to prefer west maui, perhaps because of the shallow, warmer water. You can also try the honokohau harbor in kailua kona. Free gifts, no booking fees, and easy booking with travelshack.
The humpbacks are an endangered species that travel to hawaii from the north pacific waters off alaska each winter to breed. Whale watching boat tours and diy guide big island. The sanctuary ocean count project offers the community a chance to monitor humpback whales from the shores of o. Big island travel big island vacation destination360. An adult humpback whale typically surfaces approximately every 10 to 15 minutes to witness the humpback whales breaching out of the water is spectacular. From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaii s shorelines. Weve seen whales from 5 different islands, and the end of january is a great. Best spots to whale watch from shore island of hawaii forum. 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. 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.
1501 821 1225 1389 860 536 224 351 1661 455 1263 326 183 592 1182 1341 1619 650 1146 162 658 110 57 930 921 1250 834 1656 446 264 1198 139 1357 1490 1427 434 1422 869