Hawaii Whale Watching 5 Tips For An Enjoyable Adventure

Each year, large humpback whales migrate around 4,500 miles, from summer feeding grounds in Alaska, to mate in the warm waters of Hawaii.

Hawaii is a popular destination for whale watching because during the mating season, humpback whales are more active, leading to high surface activity. This gripping surface behavior, such as breaching and tail slaps, make for exciting whale watching in Hawaii.

As a local and avid waterman Hawaii, 5 simple tips that will help you make the most of your Hawaii whale watching adventure.

1. Plan your trip during the peak months

Humpback whales begin arriving in Hawaii in November and return to Alaska in late May. If you plan a vacation to Hawaii during this time, you should have no problem spotting whales. However, peak Hawaii whale watching season occurs during February and March.

2. Visit the islands known for whale watching
 

Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are the most popular islands for whale watching in Hawaii, so plan to visit one of the islands on your vacation.

3. Plan a boat trip
 
Hawaii whale watching tours are ideal for seeing these spectacular animals in their natural habitat. Not only will you be in the whale environment, but because humpback whales are curious about their environment, they sometimes approach your boat. Plan a boat trip to Hawaii really get the most out of your adventure whale watching.

Boat trips are available departing from Lahaina Harbor many times throughout the day during whale season. On the Big Island and Kauai, opportunities for whale watching abound with a full schedule of tours offered by experienced knowledgeable guides.

Humpback whales can also be observed from the earth, if you prefer a solid foundation for the deck of a boat. Once you are in the right place, spotting whales is easy: just look majestic plumes of water ( "hits") increase in air and the playful splashes made by these gigantic creatures.

4. Respect your space
 
In Hawaii, whale watching is an avid activity, and like most outdoor activities, there are rules. Observers can approach by boat or swimming within 100 yards of a whale (known as the minimum requirement of 100 yards). However, there is no rule preventing the whales from approaching people. Experienced executives Hawaii Whale watching tours know how to gently approach these animals and encourage them to approach.

5. Preserve the Humpback Whale
 
The humpback whale almost came to extinction in 1966 after the commercial hunting ground in the early 20th century today, there are about 30,000 to 40,000 humpback whales worldwide. Federal laws protect them, but there are things we can do to help preserve this amazing animal to generate future whale watching.