Other species of whales are attracted to hawaiis warm, shallow waters year round, so wherever you travel on the island of hawaii, keep your eyes open for these marine visitors. Other great islands for whale watching are maui and kauai. These gentle giants come to the warm hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves. If the main purpose of the trip is to see whales you might consider late january to get away from the throngs who travel to hawaii during the holidays, february, and early march before spring breaks begin, again, avoiding crowds. 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. Whale watching in hawaii is the perfect way to enjoy the incredible humpback whales as they make their yearly journey to the hawaiian. We will be arriving in maui on april 12 and would love to go on a whale watch. I read somewhere that the whale watching season is from october to april.
Humpback whale watching december to april hawaii oceanic. Each december, whale watching begins for hawaii, but tourists are seeing very few whales out in the water when they venture out for their whale watching expeditions. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic. When preparing for a deep dive, humpbacks arch their back and raise their tail flukes above the water. Whale watching in first week of april 2018 maui forum. It is estimated that more than 10,000 of these whales migrate to the hawaiian islands each year during the winter, in search of a warmer climate. 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 is their winter home, a place to play, to give birth and to start new generations. Whale watching on molokai humpback whale watching on molokai is some of the best you will find anywhere from december to april every year an estimated 10,000 12,000 whales migrate to hawaii to breed and give birth to their young. In hawaii, maui is a top whale watching spot for boatbased viewing.
Go whalewatching off the coast of oahu on this excursion from waikiki or ko olina. Mar 20, 2017 watching humpback whales breaching off the coast of kohala on the big island of hawaii. Hawaii big island whale watching tours hawaii discount. November, december and january are frequently listed as the start of the season with april and. Go whale watching off the coast of oahu on this excursion from waikiki or ko olina. Types of whales in hawaii almost a dozen whale species. Captain andys has years of whale watching experience having been exploring the na pali since 1980. Cruise in the comfort of hawaiis largest vessel with hightech stabilizers for smooth cruising and the most outdoor space with four walkaround decks and a top observation deck for optimal whale encounters. Whale watching cruises are some of the most popular things to do in hawaiis whale season, which runs from december through april. You wont see the hundreds that are there earlier though. Watching humpback whales breaching off the coast of kohala on the big island of hawaii. But im going to maui on my honeymoon in september the 4th12th and was wondering if there was any possibility i would see any whales lol silly question but i figured im going to be there id love to see a whale if. Sickly humpback whale spotted in hawaii waters this image provided by national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa shows a humpback whale sighted off maui, hawaii. Big island whale watching is unavailable for cruise ship passengers who are in port for the day as these tours depart from the waikoloa area which is a significant drive from the dock.
Officially, whale season in hawaii runs from december 15may 15, although the first whale of the season is usually spotted sometime in early october. Plan a hawaii boat tour to truly get the most out of your whale watching adventure. From december to april thousands of humpbacks gather in the waters off hawaii. Its a very cool experience to see these magnificent animals in action and cruising along our warm hawaiian waters. Kauai whale watching tours whale watching kauai capt andys. 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 hawaiian islands to see them. Jan 04, 2016 hawaiis humpback whale population has not made its yearly return to the islands yet. But there are only a lot of whales around maui from mid january to early march. My wife saw some whales splashing offshore at lawai beach one afternoon in. Humpback whale watching december to april see humpback whales in hawaii.
Kauais marine ecosystems are both beautiful and diverse. Enjoy the norwegian and icelandic winter and combine whale watching orcas, humpbacks and fin whales. In april, humpback whales begin their migration north to feast on rich krill in alaska. Finally, of all the whales in hawaiis waters, two of the most curious are the beaked whales that inhabit offshore waters. 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. Do you have any advise for us, on which island we should go for a whale watching cruise thank you all for your help. I know that the best time to go whale watching in maui hawaii is the winter months decemberapril.
April is close to end of whale watching season, correct, does tour guarantee seeing the whale or perhaps is weather dependent. Maui whale watching guide humpback whales in hawaii. With a nose that resembles a bottlenose dolphin s, cuviers beaked whales are the more commonly seen of the beaked whale species in hawaii. You can use the species and date filters to see changes throughout the year.
Thousands of humpbacks gather in the warm waters to mate and give birth. 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. Of these 22 whale and dolphin species, four the blue whale, the fin whale, the humpback whale, and the sperm whale,are endangered, while the rest are all federally protected. With a small group of people, watch the gentle giants swim, feed, breach and play around your boat. Go here from your mobile device and click your account to create a user login. During the months from december to may, pods of humpback whales migrate through hawaii s warm waters, and this tour guarantees whale sightings.
Whale watching ecoadventure from kailuakona 2020 big. While the best hawaiian island for whale watching is said to be maui, theres a chance you can see whales in oahu too if. You might consider doing your whale watching on maui. On the island of maui, the peak months for whalewatching are january, february and march.
There is a slim chance you might catch a few from shore but the best way to see whales late in the season is by being on the water. The whales journey across vast oceans, navigating by instinct alone. A list of tours to see humpback whales as they migrate through hawaiian waters during the winter months. From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaiis shorelines. 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.
Hawaii whale watching tours are ideal for seeing these spectacular animals in their natural habitat. One year of whale watching in just one infographic. The humpback whale is known for making an annual migration of nearly 6,000 miles, one of the longest of any mammal. The humpback whale is the fifth largest of the great whales. Start your whale watching year with ease why not visit hawaii. Nov 17, 2016 whale watching is a great big island activity. Honolulu ap there were at least nine collisions between humpback whales and boats last season, a marine sanctuary said. 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. See humpback whales in the warm waters of hawaii on this 3hour whalewatching tour from kailuakona. That might be a tough one as april is toward the end of their migration.
Aug 27, 2016 sickly humpback whale spotted in hawaii waters this image provided by national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa shows a humpback whale sighted off maui, hawaii. Learn a few tidbits about the fascinating humpback whale, then book your whalewatch tour november through april annually and enjoy. Hawaii is a popular destination for whale watching because, during mating season, humpback whales are more active resulting in elevated surface activity. The whaleplanner april a whale watching infographic whaletrips. Where they call hawaii their winter home december to april of each year.
Kauai whale watching tours whale watching kauai capt. Kailuakona maria harvey worked for seven years in various capacities off the shores of west hawaii before she saw her first whale shark. On the east side, hilo bay is another place popular for whale sightings. There are a few whales around maui from midnovember to midapril. Best of whale watching, monterey california as of 7. I know we are at the end of the whale watch season.
Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. February and march are the peak months for hawaiian humpback whales, so i calleda local boat tour company to see if we could jump on one of their kauai whale watching tours. Humpback whales in the company of whales in the wake of giants. There are a few whales around maui from midnovember to mid april. Whale study may show possible link between hawaii and. Seeing one of these 40ton, 40foot long giants breach the water is an unforgettable sight. 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.
In hawaii, humpback whales can be easily spotted from land or sea as they frequent hawaiis nearshore waters. 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. I dont know if i would do in april if my only objective was to see whales. Whale watching in april hawaii message board tripadvisor. Experience whale watching in hawaii, one of the most popular activities in the winter. Whale watching on the big island of hawaii big island.
See the most comprehensive whale watching visual guide all about humpback whales in maui. When is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii. The peak season for humpback whales has pretty much come to. First humpback whales of season spotted in hawaii cbs news. If one of your goals is to go whale watching, april might not be the month for you. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your whale watching experience. Not only will you be in the whale s environment, but because humpback whales are curious about their surrounding, they will sometimes approach your boat. Officially, whale season in hawaii runs from december 15may 15, although the first whale of the season. In fact, puukohola literally means hill of the whale in hawaiian.
Mar 28, 2014 the season runs from december to april. Every year between december and march, these marine mammals migrate through the ocean to breed and give birth. Im hoping the whales hang out in hawaii alittle longer this year. During these winter months thousands of pacific humpback whales migrate from their summer feedings grounds in the waters off alaska to the warm hawaiian waters to mate and nurse their. You will see whales in early april, ive seen them around maui as late as may. 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. 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. Maui whale watching is one of the most popular activities to do in hawaii. Explore more things to do in hawaii go to experiences page. Whale watching in 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. Whale watching tips hawaiian islands humpback whale. 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.
One of the most popular and fun things to do on the big island in the winter months december through april is whale watching. Hawaii whale watching, oahu whale watch near ko olina, waikiki. Jan 02, 2016 humpback whales slow to arrive in hawaii. Hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary. 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. Even so, excellent opportunities abound to view whales in this cusp period of their island visit and youll experience smaller crowds and shoulder season savings. During the months from december to may, pods of humpback whales migrate through hawaiis warm waters, and this tour guarantees whale sightings. Whale study may show possible link between hawaii and mexico new robotic device used for humpback research, tracking local news. So unless youre already going in the next few weeks, now is a good time to plan for next season. Humpback whale watching tours look for humpback whales along the kona coast. Sep 26, 2017 when is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii. Life is a breach then you dive official oahu humpback whale season, mid dec. As you cruise along the kona coast, look for the whales and other wildlife, and learn about them from the onboard staff.
Remember, by regulation, humpback whales cannot be approached closer than 100 yards. December to april is an exciting time for the big island of hawaii because it marks whale watching season. Dear all, we will be in hawaii in apri next year with the 1st week of april on kauai, 2nd week on big island and 3rd week on maui we would love to see whales especially humpback whales. Hawaiis waters are serve as habitat to 23 species of marine mammals, of which 22 are cetaceans whales or dolphins and one is a pinniped the hawaiian monk seal. Hawaiis humpback whale population has not made its yearly return to the islands yet. Humpbacks are in hawaiian waters during the winter months to birth their calves and to mate.
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