Whale Watching

The ocean channels that run between Lānaʻi, Maui and Molokaʻi are some of the best waters in the world for whale watching. Each year, scores of majestic koholā (humpback whales) travel to Hawaiʻi to breed, calve and nurse their young in the winter and spring, before returning to Alaska for the summer.

If you will be staying on the island of Lānaʻi during whale season, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spot these giant marine mammals. At places like Puʻupehe, it is possible to catch sight of koholā spouting – and even breaching, tail slapping or any number of other surface active behaviors – right off the coast. You can also board the Expeditions passenger ferry at Mānele Harbor for a quick ride to Maui that may come with a few whale sightings.