Introduction	F.A.Q.'s
	Facts	History
	Tips

Whale watching is fast becoming one of the most popular activities in Hawaii. Most of us have seen whales on TV, but it is not until you get up close to one of these huge creatures in their natural habitat that you can truly appreciate their size and remarkable grace.

Go With The Pro's
Don’t try to go whale-watching on your own – the best way to meet a whale is on a guided whale-watching boat. The guides know where to find the whales, and they know how to maneuver in order to avoid a collision. This last point can’t be emphasized enough. The safety of the passengers and the whales is sacred. Besides, when we are out in a whale boat, we are visitors in the whales’ home (in fact, they are the Hawaii state mammal), and we should act like polite guests who are trying not to be too intrusive. Another benefit of a guided tour is that many of these boats have microphones they drop in the water, allowing you to hear the whales nearby.

Be prepared to be "People-watched." Many of the whales you will encounter are just as curious about you as we are about them. It can be a bit unnerving to see a 40 ton creature fast approaching your boat, but you need not worry since our mammalian cousins are pretty smart and they won’t deliberately ram your boat.

Don’t forget to bring your camera, and have it loaded and ready AT ALL TIMES since whales move very fast and are not easy to photograph.

Another great way to spot whales is to keep your eyes open while driving around the islands. No, don’t watch the water. Instead, look for crowds of people pulled over and pointing toward the ocean – they are probably pointing at a whale.

When To Go

Visit between late December and April for Humpback Whales; Spinner, Bottlenose and Pantropical Spotted Dolphins, False Killer Whales, Short-Finned Pilot Whales and other cetaceans are seen year-round. The weather is warm to hot, sometimes with high seas and rain.