Cruise in the Company of Whales, Year-Round Whale Watching
Get
in touch with your Wild Side on marine wildlife encounters with Hawaii's "Other Cetaceans'"...WHALE
PHOTOS from Wild Side Whale Watch Cruises
The clear temperate waters of the west O'ahu coastline are known world-wide amongst marine biologists, serving either as a permanent home, or as a temporary mating ground (such as Hawaii's favorite visitor - the Humpback Whale), for an array of whale and dolphin species.
Due to the importance of these waters as breeding and feeding grounds we at differing times of the year, encounter such species as Humpback Whales, Sperm Whales, Pygmy Whales, Melon-headed, False Killer, rouge Orcas and rare Beaked Whales. Other dolphin species encountered include
e Risso's Dolphin, Rough-Toothed Dolphins and of course the resident Pilot Whales, Spinner, Bottlenose, and Spotted Dolphins.
Away from the accelerated pace of dolphins, Pilot Whales can often be encountered lying almost motionless at the water’s surface. They can sometimes be found stretched out over many miles of ocean, with larger males acting as guardians at the pod boundaries.
For many dolphin and whale species, pods are commonly made up of "nursery groups" - mothers with their young, adolescent females taking turns "babysitting" younger animals, and a few "uncles" or "scouts" mixed in. The pod stays in contact with each other via an extensive and complicated sonar communication system made up of click’s, whistles, squawks, and high pitched squeals.
False killer whales can be found at the
broadest range of depths of all cetaceans in Hawai'i. They are found throughout the Hawaiian Islands in both shallow and deep
water.
An outgoing, large dolphin, false killer whales are usually found in pods of
ten to twenty - in Hawaii they can belong to larger groups of up to 40 individuals.
Offering ideally suited feeding and resting grounds and miles of open ocean, the Waianae Coast has been "adopted" by pods of resident, Spotted, Bottlenose and Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins who put in almost daily appearances.
Spinner dolphins are the most acrobatic of all dolphin species. These smaller animals, in comparison to the Bottlenose Dolphin, move with lightning speed and are prone to providing onlookers to an impressive display of aerial leaps.
Spotted Dolphins often treat visitors to an impressive aerial display (quite different in style then the spinner dolphins) and are found in much larger groups. It is quite interesting to watch feeding behaviors, often accompanied by pelagic birds.
Comfort no matter where the day takes you
Throughout the course of the year many species are encountered in these waters. Part of the excitement of Wild Side trips - each day offers unexpected surprises, along with the common. It is almost impossible to 100% guarantee sightings of any of the 15+ species of cetaceans regularly documented in Hawaiian waters, either residing in or temporarily using Oahu as a "Pit-Stop" before continuing journeys to world or island wide destinations.
How about a whale tail with your sunset sail? See our late afternoon offerings during winter humpback season. Late afternoon sightings are just as good as morning, with much less boat traffic (shhh... don't let them know)!
Click on Chart below to see larger file
Wonderful photographic models, these animals provide passengers the opportunity to take home fantastic vacation snaps or video footage, and one of the best souvenirs of their time spent in Hawaii.
Year Round Whale Watching in Hawaii, morning hours
Afternoon into Sunset Whale watching, Winter Only
Sunset/Full
moon/Stargazing Sails l Meteor Showers/
Astronomical Events
Vacations with a "Porpoise" | Exclusive Adventures Afloat
Free Dolphin Wallpaper and Screensavers l Internships
and Volunteers l About Us |Frequently
Asked Questions |
Rates, Prices l Online Booking
l Photos
Wild
Side Specialty Tours
Tours
with Integrity - on the island of Oahu:
Waianae Boat Harbor, A-10
Outside of Waikiki, Honolulu; Oahu Hawaii 96792
whale watching near Ko Olina - ocean adventures
TEL (808) 306-7273
FAX (808) 668-4075
email: reservations@sailhawaii.com
