Every winter, one of the ocean's greatest migrations unfolds just offshore of the Hawaiian Islands. From roughly November through April, thousands of North Pacific humpback whales travel more than 3,000 miles from Alaska to breed, calve, and nurse their young in Hawaiʻi's warm, shallow waters — making Hawaii whale watching season one of the most anticipated events of the year for locals and visitors alike.
When Does Whale Season Happen?
Humpback whales begin arriving in Hawaiian waters as early as November, with numbers peaking from January through March. By April, most whales have begun their long journey back north to feed in colder Alaskan waters. If you're planning a trip specifically to see whales, aim for mid-January through early March for the best odds.
Where to Spot Them
The waters of Maui, particularly the ʻAuʻau Channel between Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi, are considered the heart of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and one of the best places on Earth to see humpbacks. Big Island's Kona Coast, Oʻahu's Waikīkī shoreline, and Kauaʻi's Poʻipū coast also offer excellent shore-based and boat-based whale watching.
What You Might See
Humpbacks are famous for their acrobatics — breaching (leaping almost entirely out of the water), pec-slapping, tail-lobbing, and spy-hopping are all common sights during the season. Mother-and-calf pairs are frequently spotted resting in shallow, protected bays, and on calm days you can sometimes hear the males' haunting underwater songs simply by putting your head below the surface.
Watching Responsibly
Humpback whales are protected under federal law, and boats and swimmers are required to stay at least 100 yards away. Reputable whale-watching tour operators follow NOAA guidelines closely, and many contribute data to ongoing research on the whale population. Shore-based watching from a cliff, beach, or lānai is a wonderful no-impact way to enjoy the season.
Bring the islands home: Explore our Ocean & Wildlife Collection — original designs from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. Here are a few of the newest additions:
Manta Ray Night Snorkel Kona Poster — a digital oil painting capturing Kona's famous night manta dive.
Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles Honu Poster — an oil-painting-style print of the beloved honu gliding through Hawaiian reefs.
Hawaii Night Owl T-Shirt — a pueo-inspired tee for those who love Hawaiʻi after dark.