Humpback whales visit the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands each year from November to May. The the peak of the season is between January and March.
On our last vacation to Hawaii in December 2019, My Vacation Lady was lucky to catch some great views of whales on a whale watching cruise from Maui!
There are a number of ways in which you can catch a glimpse of Hawai’i’s humpback whales. Boat tours and whale watching cruises have become increasingly popular but believe it or not, you can also see whales right from the shoreline.
Some hotels will have binoculars right in their ocean front rooms and there was a telescope in the lobby of the Andaz Maui @Wailea during our stay but we weren’t lucky enough to see whales from the lobby. According to gohawaii.com, humpback whales can be seen from all of the Hawaiian Islands, and some of the best places to see them will be:
- the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Molokai and Lanai is one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world.
- You may also spot whales from the southern shores of Oahu, especially at Makapuu Lighthouse and along the seaside overlooks near Leahi (Diamond Head).
- 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.
- 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. The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is another great viewing spot, with its sweeping, elevated views near Kawaihae Harbor. In fact, Puukohola literally means “hill of the whale” in Hawaiian.
My Vacation Lady is a Hawaii Destination Specialist. When we plan our client’s dream honeymoons or vacations to Hawaii, we can give them first hand advice because we’ve been there and done it. Let us help you plan your Hawaiian adventure!
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