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Winter Whales Around Hawaii Island

Big Island Whale Watching Tours

Big Island whale watching follows the winter return of humpback whales along the Kona, Kohala and Hilo coasts. Watch for blows, tail slaps, breaches and mothers with calves from a catamaran, raft or small-boat cruise during Hawaii’s whale season.

Big Island Whale Watching Tours
About this experience

Big Island Whale Watching Tours

Your Big Island Whale Watching Cruise

Whale watching on the Big Island is a winter ocean tour with plenty of room for surprise. One minute the water may look quiet, and the next a blow appears on the horizon, a tail rises, or a humpback breaches far enough away to make everyone on deck point at once.

Big Island whale watching routes may leave from Kona, Honokohau Harbor, Keauhou Bay, Anaehoomalu Bay, Kawaihae Harbor or Hilo, depending on the tour. Some cruises use larger catamarans with more deck space, while others use rafts or smaller boats for a quicker, closer-to-the-water ride.

Humpback whale season in Hawaii generally runs through the winter months, with the source page describing December through April as the main Big Island whale watching period. Bring sun protection, a light layer, motion comfort if needed and patience, since whales are wild animals and every cruise has its own rhythm.

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