Pack binoculars because you can often see whales breaching from shore along the south and west coast of Maui, but for closer encounters, booking a whale watching tour on boats is the way to go (You can book a tour with us here).
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They do not have specific periods of time for rest or play, rather whales have intervals of activity throughout the day! This means you can whale watch in Maui sunrise to sunset! Early-bird whale watching typically checks in around 6:15 am and includes whale watching while enjoying the sunrise!
During the peak of the season from January-March, it isn't a question of if you'll see humpbacks—but rather which ones to watch. Maui is home to the world's densest population of North Pacific humpback whales, who make the six-week journey from Alaska to Hawaii to mate, rest, and give birth.
Stop if you're too close: Stop immediately if you are within 100 yards of a humpback whale. Leave engines running and out of gear (in neutral) until the whale moves away. Go around whales from behind: If you encounter whales in your path, go around them from behind while maintaining more than 100 yards distance.
Here in the confines of Maui County the water is very shallow, which consequently means it's free of predators like fearsome killer whales. The channel between Maui, Moloka'i, and Lana'i is only about 200 feet deep, and the sandy bottom and calm conditions are a tropical “kiddie pool” for whales.
The best time of day for whale watching is any time of the day! Whales are active and resting 24 hours a day. They have intervals of activity and rest because they do not feed while they are in Hawaii, their behavior is related to mating and giving birth which happens at random during the day and night.
Wailea: For high-end lodgings, look no further than Wailea. This area includes several incredible beachfront resorts, condo complexes, a lovely outdoor mall, and several quality restaurants. Our favorite luxury resorts include the Four Seasons Maui, Hotel Wailea, the Wailea Beach Marriott, and the Grand Wailea.
While your view of whales from the shore won't be the best, you may be able to catch some spouts (when they expel air from their blowhole, causing surface water to shoot up) or some tail-slapping, even at a distance. Some of the best places to watch from shore are:Ka'anapali Beachwalk (Lahaina)Olowalu Beach (Lahaina)
Because Maui is the most saturated with humpback whales of all the islands, it became a protected sanctuary for them in 1992 when NOAA began developing protection acts for the endangered species.
Whale-watching tours depart from Lahaina Harbor, Kaanapali, Kihei, and Wailea and typically last two to five hours. Most whale-watching cruises depart in the morning when the ocean is calmest and conditions make it easier to spot whales.