Best time to see whales in Hawaii?

What are the best months to see humpback whales?

Humpback whales begin arriving in Hawaii mid fall, with successful whale watching increasing as the season progresses. By mid-December, daily sightings are common. The peak population of whales occurs around mid-February, making mid-February to mid-March the prime time for observing their behavior.

By March, newly pregnant females have already started their journey back to the feeding grounds in Southeast Alaska, driven by hunger. Meanwhile, humpback males compete intensely for the remaining single females (akin to closing time at a bar!).

As hormone levels decline and hunger sets in, the population continues to decrease. In April, mother-calf whale (the last to leave) interactions are prevalent on our whale watching tours, as calves are building up strength and weight for that 3,000-mile journey. By May, humpback sightings dwindle to just a few stragglers.

When is the best time of day to see whales in Hawaii?

Best time of day to see active whales is on the early morning charter or the late afternoon sunset cruises. True for most any wildlife, they are all most active during those times. Weather is usually better (calmest) early or late in the day as well.

Is whale watching better in Maui or Oahu?

Here’s the secret. The biggest, most active, just mind-boggling prime breeding population of humpback whales is on the Penguin Banks, SW of Molokai, South of Oahu. If you check out that map, you’ll see that the topography of that area lends at a bottleneck area between Maui and Lanai. It can also very calm (protected from wind) in that area. Great area to see prime breeding stock of humpback whales in action.

Over here on Oahu, especially in the NW area near Ka’ena Point (about 10 miles from our departure area) we tend to have a subpopulation of not-elegant younger humpback whales. Things get quite exciting as they don’t quite know, or follow, the rules yet but are very hormonally driven. Think teenaged males turned loose, where it seems at times that testosterone may be a (self-destructive) neurotoxin.

Here during summer (not humpback whale) season? Year-round Whale Watching

In Hawaiian spiritual custom, whales are an essence of the ocean and are important in Native Hawaiian cultural practices, including using the ivory of whale teeth to create highly prized niho palaoa (necklace of sperm whale tooth and human hair) worn by high-ranking ali’i (royalty).

Hawaii’s waters are serve as habitat to 27 species of marine mammals, of which 26 are cetaceans (whales or dolphins) and one is a pinniped (the Hawaiian monk seal). Of these 22 whale and dolphin species, four (the blue whale, the fin whale, the Hawaiian false killer whale, and the sperm whale), are endangered, while the rest are still federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Humpback whales are still threatened and have special protection in their Hawaii home with 100 yard approach laws. There are 19 species of odontocetes (toothed whales) that have been documented in Hawaiian waters, and eight species of mysticetes (baleen whales).

Several additional species of odontocetes are likely to be recorded in Hawaiian waters in the future, based on their overall distribution patterns. These species are:

• Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
• Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
• Ginko-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens)
• Mesoplodon hotuala, a species of beaked whale recently re-discovered from Palmyra Atoll and other locations in the western Pacific.

*Note the eighth species of baleen whale documented for Hawaiian waters was a gray whale seen in February 2022 – a report on that sighting is available at this link.

Wild Side has been offering marine wildlife charters since 1996 and involved in research and conservation of the same animals even longer. The company has built a reputation of sensitivity to the needs of these fellow-travelers, their environments, and habitats. Since these activities are becoming more and more popular, the need to share awareness (backed by scientific study) of safe parameters becomes essential.

The species we most commonly see are spinner dolphins, spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, false killer whales, pygmy killer whales and melon-headed whales. Of course, the humpback whales over winter season.

Share tropical Hawaiian waters with the whales (na kohola) and our crew of biologists and naturalists. Experience first-hand action in pristine whale-rich, areas away from the rush of Waikiki and Honolulu. Your photography gear will stay dry, while you view marine life in a non-invasive manner.