Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are the most popular islands for Hawaii whale watching, so plan to visit one of these islands on your vacation. If you are visiting Oahu, you can see whales there too, they just won't be as abundant.
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The Maui Nui Basin was designated as the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale Sanctuary because Maui is the main Hawaiian island destination for Humpback Whales. Maui is the best island in Hawaii for whale watching and begins offering whales tours from December 1st every year until April 15th.
The whale watching season in Kauai runs from November through March. While whales can be frequently spotted during any of the winter months, if you are looking for the best months to see whales in Kauai – January and February are the peak of the whale watching season.
Visit Kauai for Whale WatchingKauai is home to some of the most picture-perfect whale-watching destinations, such as the Kilauea Lighthouse and Poipu Beach. The Kalalau Trail on the north shore is another famous spot. Many avid whale watchers also stop by the Kapaa Overlook, which is close to Kealia Beach.
The best time for whale watching in Hawaii is between December and March. Though you can begin to see whales off the coast in the beginning of October (or even September) and as late as May, between December and March is when the population of humpback whales in Hawaii is the largest.
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.
Maui is the best Hawaiian island for whale watching.While you can see whales off all the Hawaiian islands, Maui is the best one for it, given that the shallow Auau Channel, between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, provides one of the highest concentrations of humpback whales on the planet during the winter months.
As for the time of day, the whales are active at all times from dawn to dusk. The wind, however, is generally gentler in the morning and calm waters can make it easier to see them. Your best bet? Keep your binoculars in easy reach at all times and take a tour when it best suits you.
The reality, however, is that they do exist in Hawaii, but they aren't a part of a resident population that is regularly spotted in the islands. There have been a handful of orca sightings off the Big Island of Hawaii as well as Maui and Lana'i, and a dead orca once washed ashore along the southern coastline of Lana'i.
Maui is more expensive than Kauai by a decent margin. So your dollar will stretch further on a vacation to Kauai. Usually, the largest vacation expense is going to be your accommodations. According to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui has the most expensive average hotel room cost.
Maui vs Kauai: CrowdsMaui is a larger island (465,000 acres vs 353,000 acres for Kauai), but it still feels more crowded than Kauai. You won't be able to escape the crowds completely on either island — they are both popular vacation destinations — but Kauai is the less crowded option.