Kauai Whale Watching
One person's whale watching adventure down the Na Pali
Whales, dolphins, turtles, they were all on this boating adventure. Kauai's marine life offers a wonderful array of critters and colors. Be sure to bring plenty of sun block and a swimsuit. You will get a chance to snorkel.
Whales on the Na Pali
Kauai’s marine ecosystems are both beautiful and diverse; a recent experience onboard sailing catamaran was no exception. February and March are the peak months for Hawaiian Humpback whales, so I calleda local boat tour company to see if we could jump on one of their Kauai whale watching tours.
Our departure time was 6:30am from Port Allen (a long haul from Haena). Once on the water, we were thankful to be up early. Chilly Kokee mountain winds made for good coffee and nice ocean conditions. It didn’t take us long to find the whales. Throughout the trip we would view these winter guests breaching, showing their flukes, and moving about in all directions. Playful Hawaiian Spinner and Spotted dolphins were happy to ride the bow wave created by our large catamaran – hundreds of them just a few feet from us.
Boat tours to the Napali Coast are available when conditions permit. On this day large winter surf made the South Shore a better choice. We found a great snorkel area near Koloa Landing, and then made our lunch and relaxation stop off Lawai Kai.
On our trip home the 35-knot trades made for a great downwind sailing run. Everyone was enjoying the ride; some chose the wet and exciting ride up front, others preferred the comfort and warmth of the rear cabin area. The crew ran a tight operation, doing a great job tending to the passengers’ safety and enjoyment. The boat was clean and offered different rides (depending on where one sits). Thanks for the trip gang! When can we go again?
What to Bring
- Swimsuit
- T-shirt
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Jacket
- Most boat companies provide snorkel gear and food and beverages
Difficulty
Easy – the boat ride does not involve any real physical exertion. Be prepared to get wet, catch some rays, and enjoy the ride through always changing Hawaiian waters.
Beach Safety
- Beach Safety Tips
- Lifeguard's Ocean Safety Video
- Changing Ocean Conditions
- Rip Currents
- Seasonal Surf Trends
Beach Activities
Preservation
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Your Questions Answered!
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Let's Discuss (4 comments)
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Jun 01, 2008 5:04AM
How Much for a family of 7
Is August a good time of year to see whales?
We can also snorkle on this trip?
Kauai Explorer Staff
Jun 02, 2008 6:53PM
Hi Karla. The whales will not be in Hawaii in August. They have a migratory path between the islands and Alaska. We see them around the beginning of December until the end of April. Various boat companies offer snorkeling tours year round and you can contact them for pricing and options. We do not recommend any one company over another, but encourage the users of this site to support our sponsors, some of which offer these tours.
Aloha. J
Jul 03, 2008 8:14PM
we will be there in feb 2009 around the 20th what size boats do you have ...I have been out in calif whale watching on 35 foot fishing boats but know that your tours have to be much better !!
Kauai Explorer Staff
Jul 07, 2008 7:54PM
Aloha Randy. Kauai Explorer does not offer tours, we are a website resource for info about the island. Some of this website's sponsors do offer whale watching tours, which are seasonal. We encourage Kauai Explorer users to support our sponsors. A list of who sponsors this site is on our homepage. You'll see some boat companies there. Aloha. J
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