When is whale season in Maui? Humpback whales start arriving in October and November, and by December there are enough to see on every trip. Our whale watching tours start December 1 and the peak is February and March, when the most whales are here. Every tour comes with our guarantee: see a whale or go again for free.
Whale Watching season in Maui is one of the most adventurous marine mammals encounters you can have! This is one of the last great animal migrations and it happens every year as humpback whales travel between Alaska and Hawaii.
Maui whale watching season in the Fall Months
September, October, November
Humpback whales arrive at different times in the fall, sometimes as soon as September but more typically we begin to see them in October. There are a few sightings in the early fall and by November we see humpback whales on many of our ocean adventures.
Sighting whales from the beach is rare during the fall months as only a few whales have begun migrating to Maui. But by the beginning of December more whales arrive and we can spot them from land, breaching and spouting warm air from their blowholes like puffs of smoke! Sometimes the light refracts off this puff of air and water creating a rainbow above the whale’s blowhole!
The Best Months for whale watching season Hawaii: Winter
December
Our whale watching season starts on December 1st, and every tour comes with guaranteed humpback whale sightings! Smaller, quicker vessels, like ours, can maneuver better and the proximity to the water makes them ideal for spotting whales! The best months for whale watching in Maui are the winter months, from December through April.
In the first month of whale season in Hawaii, there are fewer whales. But the whales that migrate first tend to be juvenile humpback whales, which means they are curious and we often have close encounters with them as they approach our vessels to learn about us!
We think we are whale watching, but they are people watching! Whale watching in December gets much busier as the holidays approach. Many island visitors want a tropical Christmas just like our humpback friends who are being spotted on every whale watching trip and demonstrating fun surface behaviors!
Photo Credit: Slater Moore Photography
January
It is estimated that 12,000 whales migrate to Hawaii and by the winter season we are beginning to see more of these numbers arriving on Maui. January is a great time to visit Maui as the warm tropical beaches and whale watching make for a nice break from the mainland’s snowy weather and busy holiday season.
February
By February, everywhere you look you see whales! The majority of the whales that migrate will all be here during this month, making it one of the best months for whale watching in Maui. The Maui Nui Basin became a federally protected sanctuary for humpback whales in the 1990s because so many migrate to this little area of water in the Pacific Ocean. You may see whales around the other Hawaiian Islands but they do not congregate in any other area as they do here in Maui.
Hawaii also protects the whales while they are here: from December 15 to May 15, jet skis and parasailing are not allowed along much of Maui’s coast, to prevent collisions with swimming whales.
Photo Credit: Bayday808
March
Although whales are not more or less active during any particular time of day or month, when there are more in one area, our chances to observe more activity increase. Most whales have not begun their migration back to Alaska yet, so March is also one of the best months to whale watching in Maui.
While the humpbacks are in Maui they are mating, giving birth, and teaching their young important life skills like breaching. We often see mom and calf pairs breaching side by side! Another frequent behavior to see is competition pods (comp pods) of male humpback whales, all competing for the attention and right to mate with a particular female humpback whale. Some of these pods will travel in groups of upwards of 50 or more animals! What a sight to see!
Whale Surface Behaviors During Winter Months
Tail Throws
Occur when humpback whales lift their fluke (tail) out of the water and slap it back into the surface! This is typically performed by a female (cow) humpback whale trying to attract the attention of male humpback whales for mating purposes.
Pectoral Slap (or Pec Slap)
This is also performed mostly by female humpback whales. She will raise her pectoral fin (arm fin) and slap it on the surface similar to a tail throw! And yes it’s also to get the attention of the male humpbacks!
Spyhop
This is when a humpback whale floats with its head out of the water and its body vertically under it! Our humpback friends are getting a lay of the land, and viewing its surroundings!
When any of these behaviors occur, or when a whale swims near a vessel (within 100 yards), it’s called a mugging! This is a close encounter as our vessels are low to the water and small groups so every seat is a front-row seat!
Spring Months
April
When April rolls around, many humpback whales are already beginning their migration back to Alaska. How long they stay in Maui depends on many variables, most importantly, food and water temperature.
Researchers have observed that when there is less food available in Alaska, the whales stay longer in Alaska to get more feeding time. This includes returning to Alaska sooner as their nutrient supply begins to run low while in Maui.
Commercial fishing has one of the most negative impacts on humpback whales’ food source because the food the whales eat is often caught and fed to larger fish which are then harvested and sold commercially.
Water temperature also plays a role in their migration, as water temperatures have risen, there are more places for humpbacks to spend their summer months and the Alaskan waters are not as cool, so they may reside in the northern waters longer.
The Worst Months for Whale Watching in Maui
Summer Months (May-October)
The worst months for whale watching in Maui are the summer months because the humpback whales have returned to Alaska where they spend their summers feeding on krill, plankton, and small bait fish. Observing their activity during feeding months (May – October) is very different than their surface behavior seen in Maui during winter months!
What triggers their 3000-mile migration? The cooling of the Alaskan waters and the filling of their bellies. Once humpback whales begin their migration to Hawaii, they will not feed again until their return to Alaska. Instead, their bodies process their stored fat as their daily nutrition during the winter months of their migration to Maui.
During Maui’s summer months we dolphin watch and snorkel instead! We often see other unique marine species this time of year like false killer whales, whale sharks, and melon-headed whales!
Whatever time of year you visit Maui, there will be amazing marine encounters and adventures awaiting you! Check out our whale watching or snorkel tours for more info!
FAQs
When is whale season in Maui?
Humpback whales start arriving in October and November, and by December there are enough to see on every trip. Our tours start December 1. Most whales head back to Alaska during April.
What month is best for whale watching in Maui?
February and March, when the most whales are here. December and January are great too, with curious young whales and fewer people on the water.
When can you see whales in Hawaii?
In winter. Humpback whales come to Hawaii from Alaska from about November to April, with the peak in February and March. The most gather in the Maui Nui Basin, the water between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
Can you see whales in Maui in May?
Sometimes. A few late whales are still around in early May, but most have left by then. For the best chance, come between December and April.
Why do humpback whales come to Hawaii?
To mate, give birth and raise their calves in warm, shallow water. They don’t feed here: they live off their stored fat until they return to Alaska to feed in spring and summer.
Do you guarantee whale sightings?
Yes. If you don’t see a whale on your tour, you can go again for free.