Whale season on the Big Island starts in November, and peak season runs from December through March. If you are planning a winter trip and want to see whales, this guide covers when to go, what you might see, and how our Dolphin and Whale Watching tour in Kailua-Kona works from check-in to the ride home.
When Is Whale Season on the Big Island?
Humpback whales are not year-round residents of Hawaii. Each winter they travel from their Alaskan feeding grounds to Hawaii's warm waters to mate, give birth and raise their calves. Early whale season in Kona starts in November. Peak season runs from December through March.
The season builds in steps. Pregnant females tend to arrive first in late fall. Mothers with young calves follow, then breeding adults. From December through March, new mothers, calves and escort males are all in the area.
No two seasons look exactly alike. These are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed in any month.
Why Humpbacks Come to Kona
An estimated 10,000 humpback whales make the trip from Alaska to Hawaii each winter. It is more than 3,000 miles, one of the longest migrations of any mammal. Hawaii is the only U.S. state where humpbacks reproduce.
The reason is warmth. Newborn calves do not yet have enough blubber to handle Alaska's cold water. The whales also do not feed while they are in Hawaii. They live off fat reserves built up over the summer up north.
Our Kona tours offer the southernmost whale watching in the United States. To go deeper on the science, read our page on humpback whales in Hawaiian waters.
What You Might See on a Winter Whale Watch
Adult humpbacks can grow up to 45 to 50 feet long and weigh as much as 40 tons. Here are the behaviors our crew watches for:
- Breaching: a full-body leap that ends in a big splash.
- Tail slaps and pectoral fin slaps: loud smacks on the surface.
- Spy hopping: a whale rises straight up to look around above the water.
- Calves practicing: young whales learning to flip over and slap their fins.
- Competition pods: males jostling for position near a female.
Males also sing long, complex songs. On our tour you can listen with an underwater microphone, called a hydrophone. Each whale's tail, or fluke, has its own pattern of markings, a lot like a fingerprint.
Whale season is not the only season
Visiting between April and October? Kona still has plenty to look for. Year round we often find Hawaiian spinner dolphins, Pacific bottlenose dolphins and pantropical spotted dolphins. Pilot whales, beaked whales and melon-headed whales can also be found along the Kona coastline all year. Our page on Hawaiian spinner dolphins explains their daily routine and why mornings are a good time to look.
What to Expect on Our Dolphin and Whale Watch
The Dolphin and Whale Watching tour is 2.5 hours, with time to check in built into the schedule. You ride on an open-air boat built for wildlife viewing. It is $99.99 per guest, for guests ages 5 to 70, with 6 to 20 guests per group. This is a non-snorkeling tour, so it suits anyone who would rather stay dry.
Step by step
- Sign your waiver. Use the link in your booking confirmation email. Each adult signs their own waiver. One adult can sign for each minor.
- Check in on time. Our retail store is in the Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Ali'i Drive, Space F-146, Kailua-Kona. It is in the courtyard behind Tropics Tap House and KTA Grocery Store, and the sign on the door says 174. Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before your check-in time. Parking instructions are in your confirmation email.
- Cruise the coast. Your captain narrates the trip, pointing out wildlife and sharing Kona's history and geology. Binoculars are on board, and we visit sea caves, sea arches and lava tubes along the way.
- Engines go idle. When we are near a pod of dolphins or whales, we turn off our engines and stay idle. The animals choose whether to come closer.
- Listen in. The hydrophone lets you hear whale vocalizations from under the surface.
- Head back. Island juices and bottled water are included for every guest. If no dolphins are seen, you can come back out for free, space available.
Running late? Our tours depart on time, so call us at (808) 322-8000 as soon as you can. For packing and check-in tips, see Know Before You Go.
How We Watch Whales Responsibly
Humpback whales are protected under U.S. federal law. Our captains are trained to keep a safe legal distance at all times. We let whales approach on their own terms and never chase them. Turning off our engines near a pod is part of that. It also means you may get a close, quiet look if a whale decides to check out the boat.
Other Ways to See Whales in Kona
The Dolphin and Whale Watch is the tour built around whales, but it is not the only time you might see one. On our Morning Captain Cook Snorkel Adventure, guests watch for dolphins and whales on the way to Kealakekua Bay. The Captain Cook Snorkel Tour covers the same bay with snorkeling at the Captain Cook Monument.
For a group, a Kona private boat tour lets you choose the plan, including time to look for whales in season. Private charters are booked by phone, and pricing starts at $800 for 1 to 6 guests. After dark, the Manta Ray Night Snorkel runs year round, so it fits any trip, whale season or not.
Want more whale-spotting tips? Our earlier humpback whale watching guide for the Big Island covers how to spot a humpback from the boat.
Book Early for Whale Season
Whale season lines up with the busiest time of year for visitors on the islands. The season is short, so we recommend booking well in advance once your travel dates are set. You can see open dates on the tour calendar.
Whale Season FAQ
When is the best month to see humpback whales in Kona?
Early whale season starts in November. Peak season runs from December through March.
How old do you have to be to go on the Dolphin and Whale Watch?
The tour is open to guests ages 5 to 70.
Do I have to swim?
No. The Dolphin and Whale Watch is a non-snorkeling tour. You stay on the boat the whole time.
What if we do not see any dolphins?
If no dolphins are seen on your Dolphin and Whale Watch, you can come back out for free, space available.
Where do we check in?
At our retail store in the Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Ali'i Drive, Space F-146, Kailua-Kona, in the courtyard behind Tropics Tap House and KTA Grocery Store.
Can I see whales outside of whale season?
Humpbacks are seasonal, but pilot whales, beaked whales and melon-headed whales can be found along the Kona coastline year round, along with several kinds of dolphins.
