Humpback whale tail off the coast of Maui

If you find yourself in Maui during whale season (December through May), I highly recommend that you take a whale watching tour. Watching whales breach and slap their fins just hundreds of yards from you is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It could easily be your favorite memory of Maui.

Federal regulations prohibit boats from approaching a whale within 100 yards (90 m), but humpback whales around the Hawaiian islands are known for “mugging” boats — an expression used when a whale comes right up to a parked vessel. Curious whales will often stay close for long periods, making for great photo opps and sometimes spraying water onto amazed onlookers!

There are various options for whale watching companies leaving out of Maalaea Harbor, Lahaina and South Kihei.

SECRET: My favorite whale watching company is Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting our oceans through science and advocacy. All profits from cruises and Ocean Store retail operations support Pacific Whale Foundation’s research, education and conservation programs.

Pacific Whale Foundation offers stable boats with a large viewing deck

The Pacific Whale Foundation offers large, stable double decker boats, which are family friendly. Children under 5 are free and kids 5-12 are free with a paid adult (one free child per adult). This whale watch is led by certified Marine Naturalists for fun and informative interpretation of humpback whale behaviors and characteristics. Watch mothers and calves interact, see males compete for females, hear underwater whale songs – every trip is unique.

Departing from Kihei boatramp (across from Anthurium House), Blue Water Rafting is another popular, highly rated option for those seeking a smaller, more intimate experience. With a maximum of 24 people, the rafts get you close to all the action. Take caution if you are prone to seasickness. Children under 4 are not permitted and they can’t accommodate pregnant passengers, fragile elderly, or those with back or neck problems. There are also no wheel chair accommodations or provisions for service animals.