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. They only would come to hawaii when they knew they could see whales, usually around february. Start looking for them in november with the season peaking between january and march every year. The best months to visit for peak hawaii whale watching. Theres plenty of whale watching tours or even snorkel tours to choose from.
Weve seen whales from 5 different islands, and the end of january is a great. Whale watching is a seasonal and very popular activity during the winter time in hawaii. Top whale watching cruises on the big island of hawaii. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from honokohau harbor. Hawaii whale watching guide for the big island big. 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. Though the humpback whales play to crowds in the winter, theyre out of here come spring, hungry and ready to head back to their summer feeding grounds in alaska. When is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii and which. Hawaii big island whale watching tours hawaii discount. The first whales start arriving to the big island in late november, and more arrive as the season continues, until their numbers peak. Whale watching season in hawaii is always a special time, and will be a great part of your trip.
In fact, puukohola literally means hill of the whale in hawaiian. Every winter, over 5,000 humpback whales travel from alaska to hawaii. 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. Officially, whale season in hawaii runs from december 15may 15, although the first whale of the season. A large number of humpback whales make their way from alaska to hawaii. Just as our idyllic weather welcomes tourists from around the world, the warm and shallow waters surrounding the hawaiian islands. A good example of that mix can be found in its resident whale population. Contributed photo by bo pardau special to west hawaii today. Call our local hawaii specialists for any questions about our island tours and activities. And while the whales do take an extended reprieve near the islands, they are not there year round, and there may be better areas than others to catch a glimpse at their massive beauty. This site uses cookies to improve your experience, to enhance site security and to show you personalized advertising.
West and south maui and the kohala coast of hawaiis big island. You wont see as many on the big island, but if youre on the shore you should still be able to see some. 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. The sanctuary ocean count project offers the community a chance to monitor humpback whales from the shores of o. Score one of our hawaii deals and take part in this annual migration. For example, if you are visiting hawaii outside whale season which is between november and may your chances of seeing a whale are very slim. Where to watch humpback whales from shore across hawaii. Hawaii statewide gis program, office of planning, state of hawaii. A snorkeler and a whale shark meet offshore north of ellison onizuka kona international airport on the big island. It takes hours of filming due to a large mass of ocean to scan over the. Whale watching on the big island of hawaii big island. Whale and dolphin watching from shore on big island hawaii. Whale watching on the big island your big island experience.
Hawaii ist fur whale watching eine besonders geeignete anlaufstelle. Get up close and observe them in their natural habitat as these magnificent. 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. 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. 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. We will be on the big island the first week of march. 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.
Whale season in hawaii it takes lots of patience and time for me to share these wonderful graceful creatures with you. See why body glove has the best on big island experienced guide, hear whales sing with hydrophone, spacious boat with bar, and sighting guarantee. Welcome to the official website for dan mcsweeneys whale watch learning adventures. The ocean in and around kailua kona and south is generally not bad in winter. Whale watching season in hawaii is one of the most exciting times for visitors and locals alike, and now you can join in the fun. Aloha and thank you for visiting adventure x boat tours. Whale season in hawaii lasts from november to may, with the peak of the season between january and march. During whale season, you can see whales from every coastline in hawaii. Are you looking for the adventure of a lifetime on the big island of hawaii. Humpback whales sure know where to vacation right here in hawaii.
Now, there is a possibility of seeing pilot whales in kailuakona on the big island hawaii island. Go here from your mobile device and click your account to create a user login. 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. The pwf difference pacific whale foundation is a world leader in marine ecotourism. Best chance to see them would be in the winter off the big island kona side or the channel between lanai and molokai. But pacific whale foundation ecoadventures is not your ordinary cruise company. The number one spot to go whale watching is in kaanapali, maui and the number two spot is kohala coast, big island. Years before we moved to hawaii, my husbands family would come to hawaii in the winter to see whales. The most wonderful time of the year is whale watching season in hawaii. This activity only operates from december through midapril during whale season. 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. 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. While maui is the best location for humpback whale spotting, the other islands also see many whales in season.
What is the best hawaiian island for whale watching. I would only suggest doing this if you happen to be staying there. 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. The whales do seem to prefer west maui, perhaps because of the shallow, warmer water. Hawaii whale watching guide for the big island big island guide. 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. Free gifts, no booking fees, and easy booking with travelshack. 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. We are proud to offer whale watching tours from maui, kauai, oahu, and big island. Where to find the whales on each hawaiian island hawaii. On the east side, hilo bay is another place popular for whale sightings. Well, look no further because adventure x boat tours specializes in giving guests safe, quality, and fun ocean adventures that are respectful and.
The last whales could stick around until april before they make their trek back to alaska. Encounter playful and majestic humpback whales on this midmorning trip through the big islands national marine sanctuary, one of. The first humpback whale sighting this year in hawaii was on september 29th near the small island of niihau. There are plenty of whales around the big island, although not in the numbers maui has, i dont think id fly to maui just for that if youre already going to be on the bi since the whale watching wont be all that substantively different to justify the island hop imo. 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. These beautiful creatures thrill and delight us with their incredible acrobatic displays during coastal boat tours. There are a variety of ways in which you can catch a glimpse of hawaiis humpback whales. And even then i dont know if there are whale watching tours specifically for them. As many as 10,000 whales winter in island waters, a good number of them visible from. We are interested in doing a whale watch tour but do not know which one would be the best. But that doesnt mean, you cant spot a whale in the summer. Sanctuary ocean count hawaiian islands humpback whale.
Its humpback whale season in hawaii hawaii magazine. 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. 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. Whale watching is a mustdo activity when visiting hawai. If you need a break from the lava fields and secluded beaches, these tours are just what the doctor ordered. Whale watching on the big island offers more than just humpback sightings, too. Head for the coastlines of all hawaiian islands right now. There is nothing like seeing a humpback whale up close and will be something that you remember forever.
Each season we look forward to the days when the wind is still and we can motor or paddle canoe offshore for a closer encounter. Humpback whale season on the hawaiian islands is between november and early may, but some months are better than others. The count is held the last saturday of january, february, and march during peak whale season of each year from 8. Humpback whales have returned to hawaii with frequent daily sightings. Whale watching on the big island mauna lani sea adventures. When we visit hawaii during humpback whale season, we spend just. Whale watching tour island of hawaii forum tripadvisor. Whale watching on the big island 2020 big island of hawaii. The hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary. Humpback whales visit hawaiian waters each year from november to may with the peak of the season being from january to march. We offer daily sunset dinner cruises and seasonal whale watch cruises. Scientists estimate that twothirds of the entire north pacific humpback whale population return to hawaii to breed, calve and nurse their young.
Whale watching on big island with tips on where to see the most whale action. They are just finishing the season in alaska and will soon be returning to their beloved hawaii. Has anyone had experience recently with whale watching tours. The whales typically arrive with the last full moon in december and stay through february. 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.
Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. There are fabulous whale watching tours on kauai, the island of oahu, and off the shores of big island. Zodiac raft whale watching adventure is one of our favorites. 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.
Come aboard winona for whale watching on the big island. So if you have not made your travel arrangements yet, shoot for these months. The office of planning encourages users to report any discrepancies or errors found. The definite guide to hawaii island whale watching tours. Whale season in the islands hawaii real estate market. However, peak hawaii whale watching season occurs during february and march.
December to april is an exciting time for the big island of hawaii because it marks whale watching season. Between november and april is peak whale watching season around the big island. Boat tours and whale watching cruises have become increasingly popular. We recommend heading out on whale watching tour to get the best views possible, and to experience the beauty of the ocean. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from. Explore whale watching hawaiian islands humpback whale. The benefit of the zodiac is that you are closer to the water, and. 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 tours are generally only available during humpback season between november and april. It is no wonder its one of the most popular times of the year to visit the island of hawai. It seems like a certain few individual sharks enjoy hawaii and return periodically but its still a holy grail sighting. The big island is known for its geographic and ecologic diversity. See hawaiis annual winter visitors the humpback whales in their natural habitats and even catch sight of the dolphins, manta rays and hawaiian green sea turtles that call these waters their home.
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