2.5 Hour Whale Watching Experience in Kona

Overview

Unique to the Big Island of Hawaii, over a dozen species of whales can be found on the Kona Coast year-round! Join us as we explore the offshore in search of pilot whales, false killer whales, whale sharks, spinner dolphins, sperm whales, and more!

Our Hawaiian Adventures crew is passionate about whales, and we pride ourselves on being the whale experts of the Big Island. The ocean provides new opportunities on every tour, so trust the guides who do this every day! Our crew works hard to show you the most wildlife on every trip, and we aim to leave you with a new appreciation for Kona’s whales, wildlife, and vibrant ecosystem. Come winter, spring, summer, or fall, our goal is to show you it all!

Departure Times
March 24 - December 15: 8:30 AM
December 16 - March 23: 7 AM, 11 AM, & 3:30 PM

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Fri 16 May

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $119.00

Make a reservation

Fri 16 May

Starting at $119.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Whales!

Professional Crew

Cold Drinks – Soft drinks and bottled water

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not appropriate for children under the age of 10

What To Expect

Kailua-Kona

Kona is the ultimate whale and wildlife destination. Kona’s calm waters, deep coastlines, and variety of marine life make the region a world-class wildlife location. Our tours leave out of Honokohau Harbor, which has access to both near-shore and pelagic zones. Exploring the near-shore zone, you have the opportunity to see humpbacks during the winter months, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, and flying fish. With a US Coast Guard offshore certification, Hawaiian Adventures Kona can also reach the pelagic zone- something very few tours do. The pelagic zone expands the search into waters thousands of feet deep to look for pilot whales, beaked whales, sperm whales, spotted dolphins, whale sharks, and more! Hawaiian Adventures’ tour durations allow for a greater search range, more time with whales, and more wildlife encounters on every tour!

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (467)

429lynner

Dec 2022

Great trip! We saw a mother and calf at one location and two humpbacks & bottlenose dolphins at another. Awsome! Capt. Carl & Naturalist Kelsey were informative and enthusiastic. Their goal was to make sure all on board were safe and had the best chance of seeing whales.

Response from Host

Dec 2022

Thanks for joining us! It’s always amazing when we get to spend time with new mom & calf pairs! We’re so glad you had a great time and had some great encounters with Kona’s wildlife!

NasosKl

Dec 2022

It would be better to avoid whale watching when there are no whales in the area. It was disappointing to float around, in high speed, trying to find a whale when even from the start the crew told us this is not the whale season yet. It would be better to rename it "watching whatever we can find" which in our case were a few dolphins we could see from our hotel's balcony almost every day. I am even thinking it would be better and ethical to cancel when there is no whale at all around, something i am sure the crew should know. If they really don't know they should get better at it. Having said that the crew did their best, they were nice. We paid $900+ for 8 people to eat some snacks on a boat for less than 2 hours in the Pacific Ocean looking at the sea and finding almost nothing worthwhile.

Response from Host

Dec 2022

We understand your disappointment, but know that we would not leave the dock if we knew there were no whales to be found. The reality is, Kona is home to some of the most incredible whale diversity in the world, and it is a rare day where we don’t see wildlife on our tours. The rest of our reviews speak to this. Our crew are incredibly experienced and work very hard to craft the best trips possible each day given the conditions at hand. While we can do everything in our power to set ourselves up for success, ultimately mother nature has the final say. We appreciate you taking the time to write this review, as it is a good reminder to everyone that nature can be unpredictable.

Denise C

Dec 2022

We had an awesome time! The guide and captain were so warm and hospitable! We saw two types of dolphins and a humpback whale! A true must if you are in Kona! Whale worth it!!

Response from Host

Dec 2022

Thank you for coming out with us. The coast provides new wildlife opportunities every day and, and it’s always incredible to see Kona’s dolphins and humpbacks. We hope you had a fantastic experience!