Whale watching season in Hawaii?
Hawaii humpback whale season (when we are seeing them daily) is mid December-ish through mid April-ish. First 2024 Hawaii humpback sighting was in early October. We’ve seen them (very sporadically) as late as June. Dolphin season, multiple species including toothed whales (sperm whales!) is all year long.
Spring and fall seem to be gathering times for our favorite sightings and otherwise more elusive whales – the Hawaiian false killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, and pygmy killer whales. Summer months are even calmer, with opportune weather to spot those lesser-known whales, sometimes even sperm whales! Also great for pelagic birding, and dolphin excursions in our blue water adventures. And who doesn’t want to see the not-a-whale whale shark? Summer historically is the best time (clearest water) for snorkeling coral reefs with Oahu’s sea turtles and endemic fish.
With up to 30 whale and dolphin species found in Hawaii, whale season and dolphin watching never stops. “Bucket-list” satisfying – we’re Fodor’s choice for Oahu whale watching, CBS’s “Top Five American Whale Watching Tours” and USA Todays’ pick for “a sustainable tour company that respects the animals and the laws”. Yay us! Three+ hour long charters gives us time for all.
The best time of day to see whales and dolphins?
The ‘edges’ are always best for wildlife, be it the edge of the meadow or the edge of the day. Early mornings are the best time for dolphins in Hawaii. Not only due to the ‘edge’ but that mornings are normally the calmest time of day. Dolphins, birds, whales, whale sharks etc. are all easiest to see on the blank background of a calm sea. As the day progresses and the island heats up, so does the wind. A blessing on hot days, but makes for choppy water on winter days.
Like land mammals, humpback whales can be predictably less active during midday siesta hours. For whales, it may not be that it is hot around noon, as much as that the sun’s UV rays are intense for this Alaskan visitor. However, catch humbacks on the edge of napping and lots of action can be occurring! Here on west side of Oahu, we tend to have a higher ration of juvenile whales who seem to have endless exuberant energy. There seems to always be a couple teenagers who aren’t napping midday.
How often are Hawaii’s “other whales” seen?
How often are Hawaii’s “other whales” seen?The chart to the right is (was) a good indicator of how often sightings of Hawaii’s 19 species of toothed dolphins and whales occur. In recent years the Hawaiian false killer whale is seen less and less. However (on our tours anyhow), even so the pygmy killer whales are marked “occasional”, we see them quite frequently over the summer months. Much more often then the “occasional” sperm whale!
The Risso’s, Striped and White-sided dolphins are marked ‘rare’, but we do see them on our 6 hour wildlife photo tours as we venture into deep enough water to do so.
