Whale Watching in Maui

Have you ever been mugged by a whale?

Maui’s unique geography offers some of the best whale watching in world. Whale watching is definitely a must do, when visiting the island. Maui’s official whale watching season begins in December, when the first keener whales start to arrive in Hawaii from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska. Generally, the season ends in March, which is when the last few straggler whales head north again. Humpback whale travel 3500 miles from Alaska to Hawaii because the shallow waters of Maui’s ʻAuʻau Channel, are ideal for birthing and raising their calves. During the peak months of the whale migration, visitors can often see whales breaching from the shoreline; but it’s best to take a tour and get up close.

Heading out on the open water - looking back at Lahaina from the boat.

Although the winter months are your best bets to see whales, the humpback whales start to arrive in Maui as early as October and can stay as late as May. Tours run throughout these months.

What makes the ʻAuʻau Channel so special, is that because it’s much warmer and shallower that other areas, it provides a safe refuge between Maui and the smaller Hawaiian Islands of Lanai and Molokai. This area attracts thousands of humpback whales during the winter migration. Because the channel faces the west side of the island, most whale watching tours leave from the Lahaina waterfront, although there are also options that depart from Maalaea, Makena or Kaanapali.

Whale watching guides usually spot a pod of whales by watching for the humpback whale’s spout – which is very visible from the surface of the calm waters. Many different tour operators will normally cooperate to share sight-lines by radio, so that every tour gets a turn with the whales. Professional tour operators are also on the water daily, and have great knowledge of the area whales and where they can be found. Visitors can experience various types of whale behavior including tail slaps, deep dives, and even breaching from different whales. Tail-slapping is though to be a way that whales communicate with each other. Because the whales need to be protected from interference from people, the tour companies generally follow state guidelines and stay 100 yards away. However, in some cases, the whales may approach the tour boat themselves, pulling up alongside or swimming underneath it – the tour companies call this “a whale mugging”. This is a special experience that gives you an amazing appreciation for how large these animals are. Many tour companies also utilize a hydrophone that can be placed in the water to allow visitors to listen to the whale’s song.

There are lots of different types of whale watching tours and all offer something a bit different. During whale watching season there are several tours offered per day. It’s best to reserve a seat a day or two in advance and booking online often gets you a discount.

Decide if you want to go out on the open ocean in a high speed raft or relax on a catamaran. Some tour companies offer lunch with the tour, or package it with a snorkel tour. For this reason, they vary in price and length. Tours can last anywhere from two-four hours and can cost between $30 - $60 per adult

The Pacific Whale Foundation is known for it’s educational eco-tours and offers tours on both catamarans, and rafts. Every morning they offer a discounted sunrise tour that gets you out on the water during the calmest part of the day. Pride of Maui offers a deluxe tour and their boat is fitted with a glass bottom and a water-slide. For visitors looking for a completely private experience – many companies such as Trilogy Tours offer charters sails.