The Best Ways to See Maui’s Humpback Whales
Based on my whale encounters during the 10 years I lived there
I took this photo using my iPhone while on a whale-watching tour. During the ten years I lived on Maui, I was fortunate to have many close encounters with humpback whales. Read on to learn how you can have incredible experiences watching these gentle giants as they play in Maui’s waters.
Although humpback whales can be seen at any point during whale season (December through April), I recommend that you visit Maui in February. That is the month when the largest number of whales can be found in the waters off Maui’s coast. You are also likely to see plenty of whales if you visit in January or March.
If you want to have the best chance of getting photos like the one I took above, take a whale-watching trip on a zodiac raft. There are multiple companies to choose from; my personal favorite is Maui Adventure Cruises. That is NOT an affiliate link; it’s just my honest recommendation based on the many memorable whale encounters I’ve had while on one of their rafts.
If being on a boat that small or being down that close to the water frightens you, there are plenty of other larger boats to choose from.
If you get seasick easily or can’t afford one of the boat tours, it is also possible to watch the whales from shore. On several occasions I saw whales while driving down the highway (of course you should watch the road, not the ocean, if you’re driving). Maui’s beaches (especially the ones in Kihei) can also be good places to watch the whales. However, despite spending many hours at Kihei’s beaches during whale season, I rarely spotted whales.
The best ways to see humpback whales from land are to go to the Maui Ocean Center (a wonderful aquarium well worth a visit anyway), which overlooks Maalaea Harbor, or drive to the scenic lookout point located on the highway between Maalaea and Lahaina.
Maui’s humpback whales are wonderful to watch! They surface frequently and engage in behaviors like breaching (jumping completely out of the water), spy hopping (sticking their heads up to see what is happening at the surface) and forming competition pods (groups of males that attack each other while pursuing a female).
Humpback whales give also give birth in Maui’s waters, so you may get to see a young calf with its mother (and possibly also a male escort, as shown in the photo I took).
While federal law prohibits anyone (other than rescuers and researchers with special permits) from approaching within 100 yards of a humpback whale in Hawaiian waters, curious whales frequently choose to come much closer than that.
In those instances, the boat’s captain has to put the engine in neutral and cannot move the boat until the whale(s) swim away. This is called a “whale mugging” and makes it possible for those on board to take amazing photos or capture the experience on video.
I hope this article inspires you to visit Maui during whale season. It is an incredible experience you will never forget!
If you are planning a trip to Maui, you may also want to read my recommendations for other activities to enjoy while you’re there:
