The whales are here from roughly Christmas to Easter and they are spectacular to watch 
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Whale Watching Tours on Hawaii
($52.90 - $74.90)
Whale watching off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most popular activities on the Big Island.
Unlike other locations in Hawaii, the Big Island is not only the seasonal home for the famous Humpback whales but is also home year round to a selection of Sperm whales, Pilot whales, Pygmy Killer whales, the Melon Headed whales and the rare beaked whales. There are about 78 species of whales in the Order Cetacea. Cetaceans are classified into two subgroups, Mysticeti or "baleen whales", and Odontoceti or "toothed whales". Generally the toothed whales are found further off shore and can be often seen on one of the famous Kona coast fishing charters that ply the deep waters off the Big Island of Hawaii.
No other whale however matches the glitz and pizzazz of the active Humpback Whales which show up from roughly December through April. Big Island of Hawaii whale watching trips abound through this period with Kona whale watching trips being the most prominent. These beautiful animals make their annual journey from the waters off Alaska to the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Here they mate, cavort and give birth to their young. You can often see babies which were just born traveling with their mothers and learning how to dive, slap their fins or flukes and breach high into the air. One interesting fact about these new born calves is that they grow at the incredible rate of about 100 lbs a day strictly from the milk they receive from their mothers.
Speaking of food, another amazing fact about these annual visits is that the whales, while they are in Hawaiian waters, actually do no eating whatsoever. They just live off the bounty of stored fat they accumulated while feasting on plankton, krill shrimp and other crustaceans in the Pacific waters of North America. And while we’re discussing unusual facts, lets also mention that the lung capacity of full grown Humpback is approximately the volume that would be taken up by a Volkswagen bug. No wonder they can stay submerged for as long as an hour at a time.
There are a very large variety of whale watching trips. Big Island of Hawaii whale watches generally leave both mornings and afternoons.
Tom's Tips - Big Island of Hawaii Whale Watching Tours
- Morning is usually the best time for whale watching. The ocean is flat, making the whales easier to spot.
- Zodiac rafts are extremely exciting but not recommended for pregnant women or those with bad backs.
- Children love whale watching! The price for kids is usually half of the adult fare. Larger boats provide them with room to run around.
 Blue Sea Cruises- Don't miss the big excitement of seeing the whales off the Kona Coastline of the Big Island of Hawaii with Blue Sea Cruises. Blue Sea Cruises offers whale watches on the "Makai" which is a forty-six foot double deck power catamaran which holds as many as ninety passengers. These exciting whale watch cruises offered by Blue Sea Cruises are three hours in length which is about an hour longer than the traditional whale watch in most Hawaiian waters…(more info)$74.90 - $74.90 |
 Body Glove Cruises- Whale watching is a very big activity on the Big Island of Hawaii in the winter months and an ideal boat to see the whales from is the Kanoa ll used by Body Glove Cruises. These tours take about two-and-a-half hours and the whale sightings are guaranteed or you will be allowed to go again for free. Body glove will provide a certified naturalist on board each cruise and there will also be underwater hydrophones so that you can actually hear the whales sing…(more info)$61.99 - $61.99 |
 Capt. Zodiac- Whale watching tours offered aboard zodiac style boats are among the very most exciting and Captain Zodiac on the Big Island of Hawaii provides plenty of excitement. Because Captain Zodiac generally carries only about sixteen people they are very personalized and you can easily ask questions of the on-board naturalists about the whales. Being close to the surface of the water provides additional thrills as you often find yourself very close to these large animals and the on-board hydrophones…(more info)$57.90 - $57.90 |
 Kamanu Charters- During the winter month, usually from December to mid-March but often as late as May, the Kamanu will be privileged to be in the presence of the migratory Humpback Whales. These whales spend their spring, summer and autumn in the waters of Alaska and Canada and migrate down to Hawaii for the winter to mate and to birth their young. This is a most exciting time of year aboard the Kamanu as you will see these whales in the vicinity of the boat with great regularity…(more info)$65.90 - $65.90 |
 Kona Sunrise Charters- The Hula Kai from Kona Sunrise Charters on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii offers whale watches in season (December through April). The Hula Kai is large and swift and is able to get to the whales very quickly and its distinctive design provides it with a smooth ride. In addition its height above the ocean from the observation deck makes it a natural for viewing whales and spotting them from a distance. You'll be able to listen to the whales "sing" and their songs are picked up…(more info)$65.90 - $65.90 |
 Lava Boat Tours- Lava Boat Tours offers an exciting whale watch during the winter months from the Hilo side of the island. These tours are for small groups of people not to exceed six persons. The Lava Boat whale watch tours are short in time taking only one-and-a-half hours but long in excitement. The "Lava Wolf" is a twenty-seven foot World Cat with twin one hundred-and-thirty horsepower engines and is designed for speed. Tours leave from the Isaac Hale Beach Park north of Hilo town…(more info)$67.00 - $67.00 |
 Mauna Lani Sea Adventures- The winter months in Hawaii are cause for celebration as the magnificent Humpback Whale show up along the coastline on their yearly excursions to visit Hawaii from their home in Alaska when they come to mate and to give birth to their young. Wonderful whale watch tours are offered by the Mauna Lani Sea Adventures to sail out and observe these multi-ton visitors on their beautiful fifty-foot sailing catamaran, "Winona". Tours last approximately one-and-one-half hours…(more info)$70.90 - $70.90 |
 Sea Quest Rafting-- Some people like the additional excitement of being in a smaller boat with less people when viewing the whales when they come in the winter months and if that fits the bill for you, you might enjoy a whale watch with Sea Quest Rafting. Sea Quest uses heavy duty twenty-six foot rafts that carry a maximum of twelve passengers on their three-hour whale watch off the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Tours depart from the Keauhou Pier…(more info)$52.90 - $52.90 |
 Sea Wolf Charters on Hawaii- Looking for a short whale watch cruise on the Big Island of Hawaii? Sea Wolf Charters offers whale watches departing out of Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. These one-and-one-half hour tours are available during the winter months generally December through April. The whales are spectacular to see at any time but their immensity can best be understood when viewing them from a boat that is on the surface of the water like the Rigid Hulled Inflatables are used by the Sea Wolf Charters…(more info)$65.00 - $65.00 |
 Sunlight On Water- Sunlight On Water---is the name of the company on the Big Island of Hawaii that takes great whale watching tours out to observe the magnificent Humpback whales as they come to the warm waters of Hawaii during the winter months to breed, bare their young and nurse their newborns. Sunlight On Water-- offers these tours daily on their comfortable and stable forty-foot custom built vessel, "Uhane Nui O Nai'a", on a three hour cruise. They make use of a special hydrophone system which allow those…(more info)$72.00 - $72.00 |
