HAWAII WHALE WATCHING GUIDEGet an intimate view of humpback whales on a whale watching tour. Most whale watching boat tours operate from December to April and last 2-4 hours. Whale watching tours are offered on almost all of the islands. Treat yourself to scenic ocean views as expert guides take you to the best spots to observe whales playfully surfacing, tail-slapping, or blowing spouts in the air. Regulations prohibit boats from approaching within 100 yards of a whale and you should never swim with or touch whales or any other marine mammals. You don’t have to go on a whale watching tour to see whales. In fact, there are plenty of areas on each of the islands where humpback whales can frequently be spotted from the shore during whale season. Places to whale watch:KAUAIOn Kauai’s northernmost tip, the Kilauea Lighthouse offers magnificent, elevated ocean views to spot whales. On the east coast, the Kapaa Overlook is another notable viewing spot. On the south shore, beautiful Poipu Beach is another place to watch for spouts as you tan on the sand. OAHUYou can see whales from southeastern Oahu spots like the scenic Makapuu Lighthouse, Hanauma Bay, and along the seaside overlooks near Diamond Head. Whale watching tours and cruises can be taken from Oahu’s southern and western harbors. MAUI, LANAI & MOLOKAIBetween western Maui, Lanai, and Molokai lies the Auau Channel, an area famous for spotting whales because of it’s calm, clear, and shallow waters. On Maui, the historic whaling town of Lahaina offers a variety of whale watching tours. Cruises and tours also depart from southwestern Kihei and Maalaea. From the shore, the scenic McGregor Point lookout west of Maalaea and the beaches of Kihei are also great spots to see whales. On Lanai, Hulopoe Bay and Shipwreck Beach (Kaiolohia Bay) offer whale-spotting opportunities. On Molokai, the Kalaupapa and Kaunakakai shorelines are good viewing locations. HAWAII’S BIG ISLANDKeep an eye out along the Kona and Hilo coasts for playful humpback whales. Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is a sacred heiau (temple) in North Kohala, which literally means “hill of the whale.” Learn more about whales in Maui. Beyond Lahaina, which has many historic whaling era sites, visit the Whalers Village Whale Museum just north in Kaanapali. Here you can see artifacts from the whaling age and see examples of scrimshaw—the art of carving intricate etchings on whale teeth and bone. South of Lahaina in Maalaea, the Maui Ocean Center offers state of the art whale exhibits as well as a massive, 750,000-gallon aquarium. Even further south in Kihei, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary offers comprehensive information on Hawaii’s humpback whales. Humpback whales are a protected species throughout Hawaii. For more information and to learn more about shoreline whale watching on each island, visit: > Essential Hawaii: Whales
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