Maui Whale
Watching
Whale watching on Maui promises an adventurous and unforgettable experience. As you set sail on the vast Pacific Ocean, expect to witness the North Pacific humpback whales breaching, tail slapping, and elegantly gliding through the waters. These gentle giants migrate to Maui’s warm waters during winter, offering visitors an up-close encounter. Amidst the scenic beauty of the island of Maui, guests will be captivated by the whales’ acrobatics and their soul-stirring whale songs. This tour offers many amenities to enhance your experience:
- Ocean safety devices and state-of-the-art snorkel gear is provided
- A BBQ lunch and premium open bar is included
- Snorkel and whale watch during peak season
- Snorkel in calm waters with supreme visibility
- Enjoy stunning island and ocean views
- Witness the majesty of the North Pacific humpback whales in their natural environment!
Call Guest Services at 808.242.0955 for Military, Senior, Kama’aina, Group, and Special Rates.
Maui Whale Watching & Snorkel Tour
Maui’s best
whale watch
value
Exceptional Vacation Value
Our Maui whale watching tour is truly an exceptional vacation value. You’ll enjoy a full two-hour whale watch combined with snorkeling a beautiful coral reef.
Pride of Maui is the most stable and spacious boat on Maui with incomparable amenities including two restrooms, a water slide, submerged boarding ladders, warm showers, a large hardwood bar and over 2500 feet of open deck space.
Maui Whale Watching
Every year from December through March, the North Pacific humpback whales migrate to the warm tropical waters of Hawaii. The coastal waters of Maui enjoy the largest concentration of these amazing animals by far. Whale Watching in Maui is commonly considered some of the best in the world. Whale Watching aboard our flagship Pride of Maui is even better.
During your whale watch cruise, these amazing animals will often display themselves in full glory, giving you the ultimate Maui whale watching experience. You may witness a mother whale frolic with her calf, or a full-grown adult breach exuberantly out of the water. Sightings of these playful behemoths, which grow as large as fifty feet and weigh about one ton per foot, are GUARANTEED on our Whale Watch Tour. Whales will be sighted, or your next whale watch tour aboard the Pride of Maui will be complimentary.
January 1st – March 31st
Maui
whale
season
For more than one reason, the Island of Maui is consistently rated the Best Island in the world. Not only do the visitors and happy locals of Maui know this, but so do the humpback whales. Year after year, the humpback whales travel from cool Alaskan waters all the way to warm Hawaiian oceans for their annual winter breeding.
They are first spotted in Maui’s waters as early as October and their presence gradually increases as more pods and escorts finally arrive in Hawaii just in time for the holiday season. Maui’s Whale Season runs from mid-fall to April. The peak season for watching whales is generally during the latter part of the season: January, February and March.
Humpback Whales
What
you’ll see
Common behavior
Some common behavior displayed on a whale watching trip includes blowing and spy-hopping. They’ll also slap their tails, which is believed to be an act of communication and to demonstrate their individual strength. Spy-hopping is when the humpback whales come high out of the water to have a look around at the world above.
A mature North Pacific humpback whale averages about 40ft in length and weighs about 40 tons, although they’ve been known to grow up to 16 meters or 52ft long. Their heavy bodies can weigh up to 50 tons; the heart alone is about 400lbs or more. The size of these whales makes them hard to miss, especially when they swim in groups. Female whales are slightly larger and use their size to defend themselves and their nursing calves from the more aggressive males.
Restrictions
Data compiled and sponsored by The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, National Marine Sanctuaries (Hawaiian Islands) and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The North Pacific humpback Whale is a baleen whale (toothless), which is an endangered and protected species.
Whale watching on Maui is as good as it gets, with the opportunity on any given trip to see numerous animals displaying a variety of interesting and memorable behaviors. Newborn calves, in addition to being adorable, are curious and often bring mom up to the boat for a close encounter. As a protected animal, it is unlawful to approach these majestic animals at a distance of less than 100 yards during a Maui whale watch and we adhere strictly to these regulations.
It is not uncommon for the whales to approach us as we sit idle in the water. Close encounters initiated by the whales are common on a whale watching tour on Maui.
Maui Whale Watching & Snorkeling
Maui
Snorkeling
Snorkeling while on a Maui Whale Watching tour is truly the best of both worlds. You’ll get to see North Pacific humpback whales in all their immense glory, while also snorkeling in some of the most diverse underwater worlds. It’s an experience quite unlike any other.
Snorkeling in Maui is an absolute must-experience. You will revel in the beauty and delight in observing the behaviors of tri-colored Moorish idols, rainbow and many more varieties of butterflyfish, ornate angelfish, saddle wrasse, triggerfish, and so much more.
Whale Watch Tour
Why
choose us?
Guarantee
December is when the whales arrive, and they are not in full numbers until mid-January.
Whale sightings are guaranteed January through March only. Our guarantee includes a free pass for your next whale watching tour if no whales are sighted on your trip. Whale sightings are not guaranteed in December or April due to whale migration patterns during the arrival and departure periods. The whale sighting guarantee is good for free passes only, no refunds or cash value.
Snorkel Gear
We provide all of the sanitized snorkel gear that you will need so that you can have the best experience possible while looking for whales and other amazing underwater life. For your convenience, we also have wetsuits available to rent.
Amenities
Pride of Maui is BIG, and yes, bigger is better! Her sprawling observation deck offers panoramic viewing free from obstruction and ample opportunities for taking photos.
She comes equipped with a large hardwood bar in the main cabin, Wolf commercial BBQ grills, two restrooms, warm freshwater showers, submerged ladders for easy entry and exit from multiple locations, and a jumbo water slide for fun entries more than 10 feet off the water.
Crew & Safety
Your safety, above all, is the most important thing to us. Our owners have been in business for over 40 years, and it shows in our daily operation. Your crew is certified and proficient in life-saving skills and CPR. Captains provide comprehensive site orientation and snorkel lessons right onboard for those with little or no prior experience.
We post lifeguards in the water and on deck for your safety and assistance. Our modern vessel comes equipped with the latest navigation and emergency equipment, and your highly-trained crew is proficient in all aspects of passenger and safe-vessel operations so that you can relax and take it all in.
Interesting Facts
About
Humpback
Whales in
Hawaii
Biology
North Pacific humpback whales can weigh anywhere between 25-40 tons (50,000-80,000 lbs), and approximately 1-ton (2,000 lbs) as newborns. They can grow up to 60 feet in length, with the females being the larger sized of the breed. The humpback whale’s upper (dorsal) body is primarily a dark shade of grey, with distinct areas of white on their flippers (pectoral fins) and under (ventral) bellies. On average, the North Pacific humpback whale can live for about 50 years (although there have been accounts of some living up to 90 years), and reach sexual maturity between 5-7 years old. The North Pacific humpback whales feed on small crustaceans, krill, plankton, and small fish, consuming up to 3,000 lbs of food per day. Humpbacks don’t ever feed in Hawaii’s oceans; they only feed during their Alaskan Summers. They focus on storing strength and the blubber that they will live off of during their annual winter migration to Hawaii.
Behavior
The male humpback whales are driven to mate with the females and procreate. It is common during the heat of the Maui whale watching season to find large competitive groups (pods) of male humpback whales jousting for the opportunity to mate with a single female. It is quite an exciting experience to watch them as they wrestle with each other for the position to mate.
The female humpback whales with newborn calves are particularly vulnerable to the advances of the males during the Maui whale watching season. Sometimes during our whale watch, we will be mugged (an affectionate term) by a female and her calf, as she uses our large yacht to hide under in an attempt to ditch the hopeful males. Other times, curiosity causes them to come closer to us. Being mugged by humpback whales while on a whale watch in Maui is the ultimate whale watching experience where photo opportunities give way to cherished memories.
Conservation
The original Endangered Species Conservation Act (ESCA) of 1969 has been amended and updated as The Endangered Species Act of 1973. This act was the first of its kind to protect marine species in danger of extinction from common threats including poaching and hunting for sport. Before the act, the humpback whales were maltreated and had no protection. The foreseeable future for the humpback whale species was at a great risk.
Working in conjunction with various marine related non-profits and education-based activity tour companies, the ESCA and the MMPA are responsible for protecting the growing numbers of the magical humpback whale species.
Pride of Maui goes to great lengths to educate guests on the habits and beauty of the humpback whales, as well as to ensure that our practices are at the highest standards of safety for the ocean, marine life, and our guests. All tours are in line with the most recent marine conservation practices. Pride of Maui vessels are top of the line; boat captains and staff are all educated and expertly trained.
Migration
Humpback whales migrate 3,500 miles from Alaska to Hawaii every year. It takes them 4-8 weeks to complete this journey. Alaska is their feeding ground, and Hawaii is their breeding and birthing ground. The island of Maui offers sheltered water where the females can more safely give birth and raise their young.
Whales are mammals and the calves are fed with their mother’s milk. While suckling, it is believed they may be safer from predators in the sheltered Maui waters, as opposed to out in the open ocean or less-protected seas.
Whales start migrating to Hawaii in December and leave in April. Past year sightings have been as early as October, with the whales staying in Hawaiian oceans as late as June. The peak time to watch whales in Maui is in February during mating season, with March coming in second.
Mating
Humpbacks are still a huge mystery. There have been no recorded sightings of humpback whales mating or giving birth.
During the late season, as the whales are preparing to leave the Hawaiian waters, male bulls come to escort a female and her calves out of the Hawaiian channels. It is quite common to see “competitive pods” of males at this time. These are pods of males fighting amongst each other to win over and impress the females. Male humpback whale competitive pods can be very aggressive, with head slapping, tail slapping, and breaching upon each other sometimes resulting in bloodshed.
Humpback whales are not monogamous! They are believed to be promiscuous breeders, and the males do not play a parental role in the lives of their calves. Genetic testing shows that over the breeding life of an individual female, calves will have different fathers.
Baby humpback whales are in utero for 11-12 months. When born, they can be between 12-14 feet in length, and weigh 1-1/2 tons. Surviving off their mothers 50% fat milk, the calves grow at least 1-inch and gain approximately 100 pounds per day.
Complimentary Lunch & Open Bar
Freshly
prepared
BBQ lunch
Lunch
Your freshly prepared BBQ lunch includes cheese and crackers, big juicy burgers, jumbo hot dogs, potato chips, fresh fruit, and marinated chicken breasts, as well as an open bar with ice-cold micro-brewed beer, regional wines, and tropical Mai Tais. Delicious homemade Macadamia white chocolate chip cookies are baked fresh daily for your enjoyment.
If you have vegetarians or vegans in your party, please give us a call on our customer service line at 808.242.0955, at least 72 hours in advance. Mahalo!
Please note: Our delicious BBQ lunch is typically served from 3:30pm-4pm after our water activities.
Premium Open Bar
Our Premium Open Bar includes micro-brewed beer from local favorite Maui Brewing Company (Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA) on tap, Napa, and Central Valley red and white wines, tropical cocktails featuring hand-crafted spirits, juices, filtered water, and soda.
Requests
If you have vegetarians or vegans in your party, please give us a call on our customer service line at 808.242.0955, at least 72 hours in advance. Mahalo!
Whales
Migrate to
Maui’s Waters
Every Winter
Maui, consistently rated the “World’s Best Island to Visit,” is a haven not only for delighted locals and visitors but also for humpback whales. These majestic creatures journey from chilly Alaskan waters to the inviting Hawaiian oceans annually, seeking warmth for their winter birthing and mating season. As early as October, they grace Maui’s waters, with their numbers swelling throughout the holiday season as more pods and escorts arrive. The Whale Season spans from mid-Fall to April, with the peak whale watching period typically falling between January and March.
- Maui is consistently rated as the best island in the world to visit!
- The North Pacific Whales travel from Alaska to Hawaii every year
- They travel to Maui to birth and mate
- Whales pods start to arrive on Maui around October and throughout the holiday season
- Peak season to whale watch on Maui is January thru March
FAQ
Maui whale watching is incredibly safe. It’s also one of the most amazing experiences you can have in your life! On a top-rated Maui boat tour on our spacious and stable catamaran, guests feel reassured that safety is always the top priority. Pride of Maui employs an experienced and professional crew that follows ocean safety guidelines and the legal regulations of the NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Hawaii DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
It’s incredibly rare to snorkel around whales. Although snorkeling may happen near whales, we must never forget that the NOAA’s Endangered Species Act protects Maui’s humpback whales. Boat tour operators must keep a safe distance from the whales to ensure their safety and well-being. If you’re snorkeling on the coastline of a Maui beach, the water depth will most likely be too shallow for the whales.
While enjoying a Maui whale watch tour, guests will see whale behaviors like blows, spy hops, tail slaps, pectoral slaps, head lunges, peduncle arches, peduncle throws, fluke up dives, and fluke down dives. The most eagerly awaited whale behavior is breaching. It’s truly majestic to see! Guests may also be able to hear the whale songs aboard a Maui Whale Watching tour onboard the Pride of Maui.
The North Pacific humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters every year. They travel over 3,500 miles from Alaskan waters for mating and birthing in Maui’s warm waters. In fact, for the duration of time spent on Maui, the whales do not eat. They migrate back to Alaskan waters in late spring for feeding.
The whales most commonly seen by visitors on a vacation to Maui are the North Pacific humpback whales. Many other species of whales are known to frequent the waters surrounding Maui though, like the False Killer Whale, Pygmy Killer Whale, Pilot Whale, and Orca. There have also been recorded sightings of Sperm Whales, which are extremely rare!
Yes, we guarantee sightings during whale season (January through March), or your next tour is on us.
We will snorkel for about 45 minutes and then head out for whale watching.
Snorkel & Explore Molokini Crater near Maui
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