The hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary. In hawaii, the big island is like the sometimes awkward older sibling. Big island whale watching tour venture out with wahine charters and witness one of the largest animals on the planet on the best whale watching charter in hawaii. Public restrooms, phones, drinking water, and shade are available. Hvo welcomes new deputy scientistincharge hawaii covid19 updates for may 16. Dont miss this fun opportunity to count whales and record their behavior from the. Big island whale watching whale watching tours on the. I know what size i have to get but not sure what type. Hundreds of humback whales counted along hawaiian island shores. From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaiis shorelines. Should you find yourself on the island of hawaii, making an effort to go whale watching is an unforgettable experience, but youll need to do a bit of planning to make it happen.
Though the humpback whales play to crowds in the winter, theyre out of here come spring, hungry and ready to head back to their summer feeding grounds in alaska. Seeing one of these 40ton, 40foot long giants breach the water is an unforgettable sight. Big island of hawaii whale watching tours one of the most popular and fun things to do on the big island in the winter months december through april is whale watching. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. There are at about 10,000 to 15,000 humpback whales in the world, and over 1,000 of them visit the tropical waters of hawaii every year at the end of november. Saw manta rays, dolphins and flying fish with help from the careful cruise guests and good presentation from staff naturalist. Waikoloa whale watching 8am whale watch hawaii ocean sports offers wake up with the whales a 90 minute morning whale watch on a sailing catamaran, casting off. For a large group and families one of the best boating activities on the island. Every year in the winter they travel from their summer feedings grounds off alaska to the warm hawaiian waters to mate and nurse their young. You might also spot some of the other whale species that make their home in these waters yearround sperm whales, pilot whales, pygmy killer whales and rare beaked whales as well as dolphin pods and curious sea turtles. We are hawaii s first dolphin smart recognized operator for proper viewing of dolphins. Wahine charters kona, hawaii swim with dolphins, mantas. Unlike the other main hawaiian islands of maui, oahu, and kauai, the big island offers ideal whale watching conditions throughout the day.
It is the largest and the southeasternmost of the hawaiian islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the north pacific ocean. We are hawaiis first dolphin smart recognized operator for proper viewing of dolphins. In my experience, the very best spot to whale watch on the big island is from the top of puu kuili, a 342foot tall cindercone in the middle of the kekaha kai kona coast state park, located a few miles north of the kona airport. Here is a selection of big island whale watching tours or other cruises on which you are likely to see whales.
The whales do seem to prefer west maui, perhaps because of the shallow, warmer water. We are looking at dan mcsweeneys whale watching tour. But if youre more than 12 miles away, you can listen to live whale songs online. Come aboard the hang loose, a modern luxury catamaran, and enjoy a whale watch cruise along the big islands kona coast. Included in the children category are infants and children up to age 11 weighing 90 lbs or less call us for exceptions for infant rates on selected trips.
Hawaii big island whale watching tours hawaii discount. December to april is an exciting time for the big island of hawaii because it marks whale watching season. Island of hawaii forum, travel discussion for island of. Whale watching on the big island 2020 big island of hawaii. A good example of that mix can be found in its resident whale population. More than 600 volunteers gathered data from the shores of oahu, kauai, the big island, and kahoolawe for saturdays annual hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary ocean count. Big island whale watching whale watching tours on the big. Weve seen whales from 5 different islands, and the end of january is a great. Whale and dolphin watching from shore on big island hawaii. Get involved sanctuary ocean count hawaiian islands. Incredible sailing experiences and ample deck space 58 feet long by 28 feet wide make the sea smoke a favorite choice for excursions of all types. Hawaiian islands humpback whale get involved sanctuary.
To say that its an amazing sight and experience is. Below you can see the results of an aerial survey that was held between 1993 and 2003 by dr. Every year more than 2000 humpback whales travel to hawaiian waters in winter to mate and give birth to offspring and about 800 of these animals spend their time in hawaii around the shores of big island. See why body glove has the best on big island experienced guide, hear whales sing with hydrophone, spacious boat with bar, and sighting guarantee. Well, look no further because adventure x boat tours specializes in giving guests safe, quality, and fun ocean adventures that are respectful and. We are aware that there will be no humpbacks in the area at that time of year. Jul 03, 2017 mini movie of this tropical paradise the beautiful big island of hawaii. And even then i dont know if there are whale watching tours specifically for them. Aug 16, 20 hawaii, big island caretaker couple needed for a property in hawaii, the big island. Whale watching is a seasonal and very popular activity during the winter time in hawaii. Body glove offers a variety of cruises along the big island of hawaiis kona coast, including dolphin adventures, dinner cruises and whale watching tours. Hvo welcomes new deputy scientistincharge hawaii covid19. We visited the volcanoes, the beaches, did some whale watching, snorkeling, saw. Now, there is a possibility of seeing pilot whales in kailuakona on the big island hawaii island.
Big island whale watching can be an oceanshattering experience, literally. There is an approximately 2 mile hike on unpaved dirt road to reach site. Humpback whales make their annual journey to hawaii between the months of november and april whale season, and the big island is our favorite of the. Participants tallied humpback whale sightings and documented the animals surface behavior during the survey, which will continue on the last saturday in february and march. Where to whale watch in hawaii fodors travel guide. Jun 28, 2010 now, there is a possibility of seeing pilot whales in kailuakona on the big island hawaii island. Every winter, our humpback whales in hawaii make the 3,000mile journey from alaska to hawaii to mate and give birth in our warm tranquil waters. Other good islands to go whale watching are maui and kauai. Big island covid19 announcements, list of online resources and talk story about ways we can assist our communities. The kohala coast of the big island is a marine mammal sanctuary and provides these animals a warm and safe environment to give birth and tend to their young. I would only suggest doing this if you happen to be staying there. Whale watching on the big island mauna lani sea adventures. Where do i stay to visit the east side of the big island andor to see volcano. Just like us, the humpback whales like some parts of hawaii more than other parts, but there really isnt a whalefree part of hawaii.
You can listen to the whales under water, spot them from. Go here from your mobile device and click your account to create a user login. When youre in hawaii, you can listen underwater and hear the humpbacks whale song from up to 12 miles away. Take a trip to the beach or a scenic lookout and watch for the blows, pec slaps, flukeup dives, and breaches of hawaiis humpbacks. The big wave oceanfront penthouse on the big island. Free gifts, no booking fees, and easy booking with travelshack. Are you looking for the adventure of a lifetime on the big island of hawaii. Perched at the eastern tip of the big island of hawaii, theres 3,000 miles of pacific ocean before you come to land. Located near kawaihae and spencer beach north of waikoloa, the elevated view from puukohola makes this one of the best places to spot whales. There are special viewing opportunities at puukohola heiau from december through march, fridays between 9 and 11am. Mini movie of this tropical paradise the beautiful big island of hawaii.
With an area of 4,028 square miles 10,430 km 2, it has 63% of the hawaiian archipelagos combined landmass, and. Come aboard winona for whale watching on the big island. Some of the best hawaii whale watching can be found where lava flows protrude out into the ocean along the west coast. These gentle giants come to the warm hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves.
Sunset cruise with hawaiian cultural speaker with local hawaiian singer made it top notch for us. The best months to visit for peak hawaii whale watching. The humpback whales leave the icy waters of alaska and migrate 6000 miles to hawaii every year to give birth and care for their calves. The sea smoke has won several awards, including accolades for voyages across the pacific ocean. Follow the paved road approximately 1 mile to the coast.
Site is located off highway 11 mamalahoa highway near punaluu, just after mile marker 56. Jan 28, 2018 in january of 2018 we took a tropical vacation on the big island of hawaii. The best time for humpback whale watching in hawaii is between november and april, with the peak taking place between january and march. The pdf files are very large and may require considerable. The big island is known for its geographic and ecologic diversity. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from honokohau harbor set out on a search for humpback whales on a speedy 24ft zodiac raft, and get a front row seat to see these majestic mammals in the beautiful waters of kona. In fact, the agency which promotes island tourism once called itself the big island visitors bureau bivb before changing its name to the island of hawaii. Aloha and thank you for visiting adventure x boat tours. We visited the volcanoes, the beaches, did some whale watching, snorkeling, saw some waterfalls, and enjoyed the food. This is when thousands of pacific humpback whales make the journey from the waters off alaska to hawaiis warm waters to breed and give birth to their young. Below you will find our top ten viewing locations by island. Whale watching boat tours and diy guide big island. Hawaii whale watching guide for the big island big.
From december to may, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola humpback whale off the island of hawaii s shorelines. Set sail on your destinations toprated boat tours and cruises. Theres plenty of whale watching tours or even snorkel tours to choose from. They said something about no snap sided kennels which is all i seem to find. The hamakua coast also hosts rare whale sightings, but these are few and far between. Whether its an entertaining and informative boat tour or a relaxing sunset dinner cruise, these are the best island of hawaii cruises around. Most of big islands east side is unsuitable for whale watching, but occassionally whales can be seen from the highway near naalehu in the south, and off 4 mile beach near hilo in the northeast. Although humpback whales can be seen from all of the hawaiian islands, the shallow auau channel between maui, molokai and lanai is one of the best. You can do just that at thurston lava tube inside hawaii volcanoes national park, just off crater rim drive. You wont see as many on the big island, but if youre on the shore you should still be able to see some.
Our vessel, the wicked wahine, is a fast, comfortable ride that. Captain zodiac ocean rafting kona whale watch tour from. All through outt the island from volcanos to amazing beaches to underwater with the dolphins and huge. Whale watching on the big island of hawaii big island. Aside from being a source of irritation to some island residents, the name often confused visitors planning their trips. Whales can be seen quite easily from most shorelines around the hawaiian islands. Hawaiian islands humpback whale marine life top 10. The airport fence is locked on weekends but parking is still available. During whale season, you can see whales from every coastline in hawaii.
Hawaii, big island caretaker couple needed for a property. At one point in time, the majority of folks youd ask including many who live there and most print and online publications would say that either the big island or the big island of hawaii is the name of hawaiis largest island. The humpbacks are an endangered species that travel to hawaii from the north pacific waters off alaska each winter to breed. Hundreds of humback whales counted along hawaiian island. Through the gates of shangrila you will experience a retreat with a beauty and atmosphere that is unmatched anywhere on the island.
Click on the chart number to download a portable document format pdf of the chart. Scientists estimate that nearly twothirds of the entire north pacific humpback whale population returns to hawai. Best spots to whale watch from shore island of hawaii forum. In january of 2018 we took a tropical vacation on the big island of hawaii. Over the years, the island of hawaii became more and more known as the big island. A snorkeler and a whale shark meet offshore north of ellison onizuka kona international airport on the big island. Body glove hawaii snorkel, dinner cruises, scuba diving. Whale watching on the big island offers more than just humpback sightings, too. Mauna loa, which is the secondtallest mountain on the big island, helps block trade winds that can more easily affect whale watching on the other hawaiian islands, especially in the afternoon.
Check out our list of mustdo water activities in island of hawaii. My husband and i will be on the big island from september 8 to the 15. Well, look no further because adventure x boat tours specializes in giving guests safe, quality, and fun ocean adventures that are respectful and sustainable to our ocean, animals and island. Visitors have been known to book a trip to the big island assuming that big means a big city, honolulu, pearl harbor, etc. But that doesnt mean, you cant spot a whale in the summer. Scientific studies have shown that hawaiis humpback whale population has been increasing at an annual rate of approximately seven percent, and over time data from the sanctuary ocean count can be used to corroborate these findings. Humpback whales come to hawaii between november and april whale season, and the big island is our favorite of the hawaiian islands to go see the whales. Contributed photo by bo pardau special to west hawaii today. Mar 01, 2010 did you know that on the big island of hawaii.
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