KONA WHALE WATCHING TOURS
See whales year-round on Kona’s best tour boats
Year-Round Whales
Kona is the best place in Hawaii for whale watching because we have whales year-round! From December-March, see humpback whales as they migrate to Hawaiian waters for the breeding/birthing season. April through November, our focus shifts to the pelagic zone where we’re searching for pilot whales, sperm whales, dolphins, and other unique year-round species. Our sightings are so consistent that we guarantee whales/dolphins on every single tour.
Whale Watching Seasons
Humpback Tours
December-March
Season: Dec. - March
Duration: 2.5-3 Hours
Departure Times:
7 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM
Age Requirement: 8+
as low as $99
with 30+ day advanced booking discount
Regular Price: $119
Pelagic Whale Watch
April - November
Season: April - Nov.
Duration: 3-4 Hours
Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Age Requirement: 10+
as low as $109
with 30+ day advanced booking discount
Regular Price: $129
Book Direct and Save
At Hawaiian Adventures Kona, we offer the best available rates to our guests who book direct. Take the hassle out of making reservations through third-party booking agents and you’ll receive the lowest discounted rate. You’ll also receive direct communication with our team of year-round, full-time crew with confirmation emails/text messages, tour reminder emails, and special promotions after your tour. Should your travel plans change, it’s much easier to modify a direct booking as opposed to a third-party booking. Book direct with Hawaiian Adventures Kona to get the best service and lowest prices!
Follow our adventures from wherever you are! Hawaiian Adventures Kona is the only whale watch company with a weekly record of whale and wildlife sightings. Our goal is to be completely transparent on what to expect on the water, as well as document the wide variety of whales and wildlife that call the Kona Coast home.
Big Island Whale Watching
At Hawaiian Adventures, whale watching is what we do. We feel the Kona Coast is a prime destination for whale watching with calm waters, accessible shallow and pelagic areas, beautiful scenery, and a year-round variety of megafauna. Our goal is to show you whales, whether on our humpback-focused tours from December-March, or on our pelagic whale watching tours from April-November.
Our vessels are quick, comfortable, and US Coast Guard offshore certified. Equipped with research-grade hydrophones, not only can we see whales, we can hear them too (especially during the humpback season). Our investment means that you have greater opportunities for high-quality encounters. We’re confident in our ability to find whales, and sightings are guaranteed on every tour we run.
The Hawaiian Adventures team is incredibly passionate about the ocean, whales, and education. Our Captains and Naturalists are knowledgeable and highly-experienced. Sightings will vary from trip to trip (see for yourself in our weekly whale report), but you can be assured that every adventure will be a memorable one.
The Big Island’s only guaranteed dolphin/whale watch tour.
Kona is the ultimate whale and wildlife destination. Kona’s calm waters, deep coastlines, and variety of marine life make the region a world-class wildlife location. Our tours leave out of Honokohau Harbor, which has access to both near-shore and pelagic zones. Exploring the near-shore zone, you have the opportunity to see humpbacks during the winter months, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, and flying fish. With a US Coast Guard offshore certification, Hawaiian Adventures Kona can also reach the pelagic zone- something very few tours do. The pelagic zone expands the search into waters thousands of feet deep to look for pilot whales, beaked whales, sperm whales, spotted dolphins, whale sharks, and more! Hawaiian Adventures’ tour durations allow for a greater search range, more time with whales, and more wildlife encounters on every tour!
Types of Wildlife: Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Beaked Whales, Sperm Whales, Melon Headed Whales, Whale Sharks, Bottlenose Dolphins, Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, False Killer Whales and more!
Date Range: Year-Round
Sighting Success Rate: Over 99%. Our Whale and Wildlife Report shows a detailed account of our encounters every week!
What happens if I don't see a whale or dolphin? We have a passion to show our guests marine life. If you happen to be on one of the rare days we do not see whales or dolphins, you will receive a unique promotion code to book another tour for 50% off. This code is good for your return trip with us, does not expire, and can be used when booking your reservation online.
Whales and Dolphins of the Kona Coast
The Kona coast boasts an incredibly diverse array of marine life. Venture with us out into the blue in search of graceful mantas, massive mola mola, schooling sharks, or one of more than a dozen species of toothed whales that traverse these island waters.
Get Ready For Your Whale Watch Tour!
Prep & Enthusiasm!
Revisit your confirmation email! You will find the address to the harbor and a foolproof satellite image that will lead you directly to the meeting location. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to your tour’s departure. It’s much more relaxing if you’re a couple of minutes early, so bring your enthusiasm and the crew will take care of the rest.
Dress for Success
We recommend monitoring the weather and dressing appropriately for the conditions of the day. Storage onboard allows for bags, layers, hats, glasses, and other extra gear. The best way to have fun in the sun is sun protection, so we highly encourage a full layer of sunscreen before boarding!
Motion of the Ocean
Departing from the lee side of the Big Island the conditions are typically calm, but there’s always a motion to the ocean. Sea sickness is uncommon on our tours, but for those who are susceptible, we suggest taking seasickness medication the night before and the morning of your tour. We suggest staying hydrated, avoiding heavy foods, and abstaining from alcohol before your whale watch.
Check In and Boarding
We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to your tour. All guests need to meet at the Hawaiian Adventures Kona sign on the south-central side of the harbor, 15 minutes prior to departure. There’s no need to print off email confirmations or tickets –– we’ll check you in electronically with the last name on your reservation!
Meet Hawaiian Adventures
You’ve found the most comfortable eco-tour vessels on the Big Island.
You may only have one opportunity to go whale watching on your vacation, so choose a vessel that was specifically designed and built for Kona. Our vessel Artemis isn’t a fishing boat, dinner cruiser, or water taxi –– she’s a state-of-the-art catamaran that holds an award-winning design from WorkBoat Magazine.
Our brand-new boat built specifically for Kona whale watching.
Introducing Artemis, a 46 foot aluminum catamaran custom built for mission focused wildlife adventures on the breathtaking Kona Coast of Hawaii. Boasting two shaded viewing decks, easily accessible swim platform with dual swim ladders, forward facing bucket seating, spacious onboard restroom, boat-wide sound system, and scientific quality hydrophones, Artemis is the only vessel of its kind in Hawaii.
Our professional crew boasts a combined 100+ years of experience running whale watch tours. Hawaiian Adventures Kona understands that first-hand experiences are key to cultivating connections between communities and wildlife. We hope that our tours can inspire this respect for marine life in those visiting Hawaii, a respect that the Kona community embodies.