Humpback Whales visit Hawaii every year from November until April to give birth and raise their calves until they are strong enough to make the swim back up to Alaska. Watching these massive beasts nearby is sure to be one of the highlights of your time in Hawaii. Spouts, tail slaps, breaching (jumping), and fin slaps are common sights when whales are awake during the day. It’s quite a spectacle to watch a newly born Humpback calf (baby whale) trying to learn how to breach for the first time.
We’ve sorted the best whale watching Kona Big Island has so you can choose among the best operations in town. While there are many operations that do whale watching in Kona, Hawaii we’ve picked only the best.
Top 5 Kona Whale Watching Tours
- Kona Snorkel Trips – Best Overall
- Body Glove – Smoothest ride
- Wild Hawaii Ocean Adventures – Fast Boat sees everything
- Body Glove Super Raft
- Captain Zodiac
1. Kona Snorkel Trips – Best Overall
Kona Snorkel Trips is the best rated and most reviewed tour operator in the state of Hawaii with thousands upon thousands of 5 star google reviews and a 5.0 star rating. Their smaller boat is fast and privides excellent 360 views of the ocean. This means you’re more likely to spot whales when they are spread out (as they often are). Binoculars are available and zoom cameras are best for those whales that are feeling shy. Read some of the latest reviews below to see why people love this tour so much.
2. Body Glove
Body glove is the Big Island’s largest catamaran. It can easily accomodate 80 passengers due to it’s spacious layout and top observation deck. Be shure to get a spot on the bow or the upper deck for the best view. This boat is best for people that suffer from seasickness or larger groups with kids.
While they can’t offer the same personalized service and cover as much ocean as Kona Snorkel Trips, the comfort of the vessel is a nice compromise. This is the whale watching Kona Big Island standard.
3. Wild Hawaii Ocean Adventures
Our favorite boat ride on the Big Island you can go out on the water all day, not see a single animal, and come back happy on this wild rollercoaster like ride. The animals are simply a bonus. And animals they do deliver! We’ve been on trips with this boat where they cover 50 miles in 4 hours plus time in the water to snorkel. We saw sperm whales, snorkeled with pilot whales, spotted spotted dolphins, and snorkeled with manta rays at a cleaning station all on one trip!
This is for more adventurous folk who want to get wet and get close to marine life other than humpbacks. Fortunately Kona has plenty of opportunities to spot marine mammals and more. This is one of those unique tours that is unlike anything else in the world.
Their 40 foot ex-navy seal boat operates via jey drive. You stand while underway and use your legs to absorb the swell as the boat rockets along at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
4. Body Glove Super Raft
Body Glove offers a high-quality experience and if you’re looking for something a bit more intimate and adventurous the super-raft whale watching Kona Big Island tour hits that sweet spot. This boat may sit lower in the water but what it lacks in visibility it makes up for in speed. The raft’s high cruising speed allows it to travel much faster on the ocean surface than their larger catamaran. This means it’s more likely you’ll spot whales.
Their 40 foot ex-navy seal boat operates via jet drive. You stand while underway and use your legs to absorb the swell as the boat rockets along at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
5. Captain Zodiac
Captain Zodiac’s boats may be small and exposed to the sun, but they are always around and on the move looking for whales and dolphins. It’s not uncommon to see a Captain Zodiac boat on the move or stopped near some whale or dolphin activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of whales will I see on a Kona Whale Watching Trip?
While the traditional whale watch targets one species of whale like the Humpback, the Big Island has year-round whale watching and 13 different species of whales to be seen. For example, while on a dive tour we have seen the elusive beaked whale up close and personal near one of our boats.
While out on diving tours we regularly encounter dolphins, pilot whales, and other cetaceans not to mention whale sharks and and large schools of hammerhead sharks. This means whale watching Kona Big Island is viable year-round.
When can you see whales in Kona?
It’s possible to spot 12 different whales and dolphins year-round. Humpback whales only visit from October – April.
Is Kona good for whale watching?
It’s one of the best places in the world to spot multiple different extremely rare species of whales and poroises including, sperm whales, killer whales, pygmy killer whales, false killer whales, melon head whales, pilot whales, pygmy sperm whales, beaked whales, whale sharks and more!
What month is best for whale watching in Hawaii?
February is probably best if you want almost guaranteed sightings and a high likelihood of spotting a whale calf (baby whale). January is also great but there may be fewer calfs. March is also great but there may be less whale activity as some of the early arrivals may have departed especially by the end of the month.
Which Hawaiian island is best for whale watching?
The Big Island of Hawaii is best for whale watching because you can spot them all year whereas it’s only seasonal, and only humpbacks, on the other islands.
What time of day are whales most active in Hawaii?
Whales begin their activity after sunrise and their activity slows around dusk. Activity is usually higher in the midday but whales can be observed tail slapping, and jumping throughout the day.
What kind of whales are off the coast of Kona?
In order of frequency of sightings
- Pilot Whales
- Humpback Whales
- False Killer Whales
- Melon Head Whales
- Beaked Whales
- Dwarf Sperm Whales
- Pygmy Killer Whales
- Sperm Whales
- Killer Whales
- Sei Whales
- Fin Whales
This does not include the whale sharks and dolphin species often spotted on Kona’s coast.
source: Cascadia Research
Is whale watching worth it Hawaii?
While you cannot guarantee whale sightings and sometimes the whales don’t show up, there are opportunities to spot other things like dophins. So if you’re open to seeing other marine life it can be a great experience. But when they do show (which is much of the time)whale watching Kona Big Island is an experience you will recall the rest of your life.
Are there orcas in Hawaii?
Killer whales are seen once or twice a year off the coast of Kona. There are also false and pygmy killer whales which are seem more frequently.
Can you see whales on the Big Island?
All year. There are 13 different species of whales and dolphins spotted off the western coast of the Big Island. While some are seen less often, pilot whales and humpbacks are seen very frequently and can be found easily by boat. Fin whales (the world’s second largest) where spotted a few times near Kona.
Spinner dolphins are seen every day and bottlenose dolphins are seen frequently. There are also whale sharks, and monk seals seen frequently throughout the year. Whale watching Kona Big Island provides so many oppotunities to spot so much wildlife.
