Quick Details
Duration: 2 hours
Availability: Daily at 8am, 11am, & 2pm Dec 15th – April 15th
Note: All Half Day Snorkeling & Sunset Trips also include Whale Watching!
These magnificent mammals congregate yearly in Hawaiian waters and on Hawaiian shorelines for their annual winter migration. In Maui, whale watching is a must-do activity. The whales can be seen effortlessly in the tranquil waters of west and south Maui. You can either choose to stay on Maui’s shore and observe the whales from dry land. Or you can go on a Maui whale watch tour on the water. Even standing on the beach, you will have some of the best whale-watching opportunities during your Maui vacation. You’ll see a whale in the water at some point during your trip if you find a safe place to stand.
You don’t have to get aboard a boat to see whales. Whales are visible from various points along the Maui coastline, so that you can see them along these locations. These are some of the best Maui whale-watching spots from the shore, from South to West Maui.
This path connects Black Rock and the Hyatt. It is common to see whales out on the water from this path, so be patient and keep an eye out for one as you walk.
Olowalu is located five miles south of Lahaina. Continue down Honoapiilani Highway until you reach the Olowalu General Store and Leoda’s Kitchen. Follow the road, where you can pull off near the beach to catch a quick glimpse of the Humpback whales.
On the Hawaiian island of Maui, there are numerous beaches. If, for instance, you want to combine whale watching and beach time in a single day, Big Beach is the ideal choice!
The scenic McGregor Point Lookout is located between Ma’alaea and Lahaina. The height of the cliff makes it one of the most well-known whale-watching spots on Maui. If you’re lucky, you might find a marine naturalist from the Pacific Whale Foundation at a table near the lookout during your visit. They can answer the questions you have about whales.
During the winter, you can walk along this path at any time of the day to see whales. Moreover, the Wailea Oceanside path is an ideal location for a sunset stroll you can enjoy with your family.
When a whale breaches, it leaps out of the water before splashing back down. Some whales will jump and land, whereas others may flip or turn before touching down.
A humpback whale must be kept 100 yards away from boats. Mugging happens when a whale approaches a boat to get a better look.
A spy hop is when the whale’s rostrum, or head, is entirely out of the water. This happens when a whale pops its eyes out of the water while floating vertically in the water to see what is going on on the surface.
An adult humpback whale swims to the surface to breathe every 15 to 20 minutes. A deep dive can last 45 minutes. A blow causes a fine mist of hot, condensed water to erupt from their lungs, reaching heights of up to 20 feet. A blow is the most convenient way to see whales.
A pectoral slap occurs when a female whale lifts one or both large fins out of the water and repeatedly slaps the water. Scientists believe this is done to attract local males. The pec can grow to be up to 16 feet long.
Whales make noise underwater, which is known as a whale song. A hydrophone in the water is the only way to hear a whale song.
Try a tail slap or tail throw if the pec slap isn’t enough for you. The slap can produce a gunshot-like sound that can be heard on the shore. It is frequently done repeatedly to demonstrate aggression or play. This trick is popular among children.
You’ll know the celebration is over when their bodies are in an upside-down upward arch under the water. And when the tail is evenly and entirely out of the water. This indicates that the whales are now up for a deep dive.
You surely can get to see the whales on shore. However, booking a tour with Sea Maui is the best way to see the whales up close. Going on a tour to see whales in Maui requires wearing proper clothing and accessories for a beautifully memorable experience.
The boat will provide some shade, but the shade will shift as the boat moves. Wearing a hat can help you get more shade during the tour! Wearing a chin strap may be your best option for keeping your hat on while the boat is moving or if there is wind! Waterproof materials and broad-brimmed hats are excellent choices.
A shirt with a light jacket and shorts or pants is recommended when going on a Maui whale watch tour. In addition, a rain jacket or poncho can be helpful in the event of tropical rain or ocean spray. Though the Coast Guard does not require life jackets to be worn on the boat because the water in Hawaii is warm. They are available on the boat and will be distributed to guests in the event of an emergency.
Because our whale watching tours are barefoot, please wear shoes that can be easily kicked off and stored at the harbor slip. We can also accommodate you if you have a medical condition that requires you to wear shoes.
If you need sunscreen, please bring only reef-safe sunscreen. This sunscreen would be free of oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, homosalate, and octinoxate. We also provide complimentary reef-safe sunscreen in case you forget your zinc or mineral-based product.
Your vacation in Hawaii is not complete without having any whale-watching experiences. Book a full Maui whale watch tour at Sea Maui today! Experience an extraordinary journey during your stay in Hawaii. Call us today!
All of our trips include a full open bar for guests that are 21+ years of age with proper ID.
We offer 2 local beers, white wine, champagne, bourbon, light rum, dark rum and vodka. We can create many different cocktails such as Maitai’s, Maui Mules, etc.
Our non-alcoholic beverages include a variety of soft drinks, lemonade, passion orange guava juice, and water.