Whale Watch & Cocktail Cruise
Scan the ocean for humpback whales from our power catamaran while enjoying drinks, snacks, and time on the water.
Trip details
We watch for humpbacks from a power catamaran, with drinks and snacks during the cruise.
Kauai Whale Watching
2–3-hour whale watch tours. Minimum ages: catamaran 3, super raft and private boat 4, adventure raft 7.
Look for blows, tail flukes, and breaches while our crew shares the story of the humpbacks’ winter visit to Hawaii. Choose a catamaran, super raft, traditional raft, or private boat. Sightings vary.
Choose your adventure
Super Raft Whale Watch
Forward-facing seats and open ocean views make our larger super raft a comfortable platform for spotting whale activity.
Trip details
We look for whales from a larger raft with forward-facing seating and open ocean views.
Private Whale Watch
Reserve the boat for your group and let our crew plan a whale-watching outing around the day’s conditions.
Trip details
We welcome your group aboard a private boat and plan our outing around the day’s conditions.
Adventure Raft Whale Watch
Ride close to the water on our traditional adventure raft, keeping watch for a blow, a raised fluke, or a distant breach.
Trip details
We ride close to the water on a traditional raft, watching for blows, flukes, and breaches.
Before you book
Your booking confirmation provides check-in instructions and trip requirements. Wildlife sightings vary.
Bring your binoculars
Whale watching from shore
We love a quiet shoreline stop during whale season. An open ocean view, good visibility, and a little patience can turn a beach day into a whale-watching moment.
East side
Kapaa’s coastal path
We suggest the ocean-facing stretches of Ke Ala Hele Makalae near Kapaa and Kealia. Pause clear of the shared path, look beyond the breaking waves, and watch for a brief white blow offshore.
Find the coastal path (opens in a new tab)South shore
Poipu Beach
We look beyond the nearshore reef for distant blows and splashes. Find a safe, dry spot on land with a clear ocean view, and give yourself time to scan the horizon.
Find Poipu Beach (opens in a new tab)North shore
Kilauea Point
When the refuge is open, its elevated outlook offers a broad view for spotting whales farther offshore. Use designated viewing areas and check access before planning a visit.
Currently closed for repairsThe refuge lists a post-hurricane closure. Checked October 8, 2026.
Check refuge access updates (opens in a new tab)Our shore-viewing tip: Scan slowly with your eyes first, then use binoculars when you spot activity. Stay behind barriers and away from cliff edges and wave-washed rocks. Whale sightings depend on nature and visibility.
Kohola · Our winter visitors
Meet the humpbacks
On our whale watches, we share the story behind the journey. After feeding in colder North Pacific waters during summer, humpbacks travel to Hawaii to mate, give birth, and nurse their calves.
Our whale watch tours start December 15. The whales follow their own schedule, with some arriving earlier or staying into spring.
Explore NOAA’s humpback sanctuary (opens in a new tab)
Three moments we watch for
The blow
A misty plume appears when a whale surfaces to breathe. We watch for that quick puff, then keep our eyes nearby for its back or tail.
The breach
A humpback launches much of its body out of the water and lands with a splash. It can happen suddenly, so we keep scanning the surrounding ocean.
The flipper slap
A whale lifts a long pectoral fin and slaps the surface. It may repeat the movement with one or both fins; the sound may help it communicate.