Every autumn, thousands of humpback whales leave the cold, food-rich waters off Alaska and swim about 3,000 miles south to Hawaii. They do not come to eat: they come to mate, give birth and raise their calves in warm, shallow water. For a few months each year, the channels between the islands fill with breaching, singing whales, one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.
When to see whales
Humpbacks arrive from about November, and numbers build through December. The peak is January to March, when whales are common in every channel. Most leave by April, with a few stragglers into May. The Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, created in 1992, protects their breeding grounds around the main islands.
The best places to see whales
Maui
The best whale watching in Hawaii. The shallow channels between Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahoʻolawe are a prime breeding ground. Watch from McGregor Point, the Wailea Beach Path or Kāʻanapali, or join a boat from Lahaina Harbor, Māʻalaea or Kīhei.
Oʻahu
Whales pass along the south and east coasts; the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail and Hanauma Bay ridge are excellent lookouts. Boats leave from Waikīkī and Kewalo Basin.
The Big Island
Whales are common off the Kohala and Kona coasts; watch from the shore at Kohala or join a boat from Kona or Kawaihae.
Kauaʻi
Watch from Kīlauea Point or Poʻipū, or on a Nā Pali boat trip in winter.
What you might see
- Breaching: a whale leaping almost entirely out of the water.
- Tail slaps and pectoral slaps: loud splashes that may be communication.
- Spy-hopping: a whale raising its head to look around.
- Mothers and calves resting near the surface.
- Competition pods: males chasing a female, often with dramatic action.
Male humpbacks sing long, complex songs, and all the males in the population sing a similar song that changes over the season. Many boats carry hydrophones so you can hear them; snorkelers and divers often hear the songs underwater.
Choosing a tour
- Choose an operator that follows NOAA's viewing rules and carries a naturalist.
- Morning trips usually have calmer seas.
- Larger boats are steadier; rafts are closer to the water but bumpier.
- Bring seasickness remedies, sun protection and a light layer.
The rules
It is illegal to approach humpback whales within 100 yards (about 90 metres) by boat, kayak, paddleboard or swimming, and aircraft and drones must stay at least 1,000 feet away. If a whale approaches you, stay still and let it pass. Report injured or entangled whales to NOAA's hotline.
A story of recovery
By the 1960s, commercial whaling had reduced North Pacific humpbacks to perhaps a few thousand animals. International protection has allowed the population to recover strongly, and today thousands return to Hawaii every winter. In Hawaiian, the humpback is koholā, and it appears in chants and stories as a symbol of the sea's power. See also Hawaii in February, the heart of whale season.
The best whale-watching day
Head out on a morning boat from Māʻalaea or Lahaina Harbor on Maui in February, when the channel is calm and full of whales. Within minutes you may see a spout, then another. A mother and calf rest at the surface; a male breaches in the distance with a crash you can hear across the water. The captain cuts the engine and drops a hydrophone, and the boat fills with the song of a whale somewhere below. Back on land, walk to McGregor Point at sunset and count the spouts as the sky turns pink. That is whale season in Hawaii.
Count the whales
On the last Saturdays of January, February and March, volunteers at shore sites on Oʻahu, the Big Island and Kauaʻi take part in the Sanctuary Ocean Count, recording whale sightings to help scientists track the population. Check the sanctuary's website to join in.
Quick answers
When is whale season in Hawaii?
From about December to April, with the peak from January to March.
Where is the best place to see whales in Hawaii?
Maui, in the channels between Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Kahoʻolawe. Whales are also common off Oʻahu, the Big Island and Kauaʻi.
Can you see whales from shore in Hawaii?
Yes, often. Try McGregor Point or the Wailea path on Maui, Makapuʻu on Oʻahu and the Kohala coast on the Big Island.
How close can you get to whales in Hawaii?
No closer than 100 yards by boat, kayak, board or swimming, under federal rules.
Facts checked October 2026. Prices, schedules and rules change, so confirm with the operator or official source before you book.
