Oahu · WHALE WATCHING
19 reviewed
Below are the 15 best whale watching cruises on Oahu right now: what each one costs, how long it runs, and which kind of traveller it suits. Start at number one; it is there for a reason.
A 2-hour Oahu whale watch from Waikiki’s Ala Wai Harbor with humpback chances, big views, and an underwater hydrophone.
“We didn’t see any wales, thank you for the voucher to go again! the Captain was very funny and the crew was nice! over all it was a nice two hour tour.”
Luxury catamaran cruise from Ko Olina for whale and dolphin spotting, then guided snorkeling, Hawaiian buffet with drinks, and pickup.
“It was a wonderful beautiful day!! So magical couldn’t not have asked for a better day! We even had a surprise proposal and the photographer caught the moment!”
Two hours of Waikiki whale watching with winter humpbacks, dolphins, and sea turtles, plus a free re-ride if you miss the whales.
“Captain Jamie, Peter and Alex are funny, entertaining yet really knowledgeable about the whales and ocean. They have great chemistry together and make a great team. They do guarantee to see whales, if not your next trip us on them. We did see seals, turtles, spinner dolphin 🐬 and whales. I would recommend The sunset cruise.”
A 2-hour Waikiki catamaran whale watch from Kewalo Basin with expert narration, snacks, and a full bar, plus a re-ride if no whales.
“The crew were super nice and competent. The cruise was super fun. They gave us vouchers since we didn’t see any humpbacks during the time out. Would absolutely do again, whales or not.”
Early Bird whale watching from Waikiki on the Star of Honolulu. Big boat, live narration, included breakfast, and real chances to see humpbacks.
“Obviously it was magical seeing the whales, but in addition, the crew was professional and knowledgeable, the boat was clean and spacious, plenty of options to watch for whales, and I like that it is handicapped accessible, even though we didnt personally need that. Really glad we made the time to do it. Very well worth it!”
2.5-hour Oahu whale watch from Pier 6 aboard the Majestic. Naturalist spotting in Maunalua Bay and free return if none.
“Didn’t see much kinda a bust but it was a fun boat ride. Weather was amazing but only got to see two distant whales.”
Ride the Ocean Intrigue off Oahu for 90 minutes of humpback whale spotting, with binoculars, snacks, and a free re-trip if needed.
“It was awesome we saw a family of whales. Thank you so much.”
A 2-hour Waikiki whale watch on a modern trimaran with onboard naturalists, shaded seating, BYOB snacks, and a free return if whales don’t appear.
“This tour was pretty disappointing. We did see one group of whales, but instead of sticking around like the other boats, our captain turned away. After that, we just floated in the harbor, spinning in circles for over an hour. On top of that, we left late and came back early, cutting even more time off the experience. If you’re hoping for an exciting whale watch, this isn’t it. It felt more like a slow harbor ride with a quick glimpse of whales. Definitely not what we paid for.”
2-hour Waikiki whale watching from a stable catamaran with panoramic views, full premium bar, and a re-ride if whales don’t show.
“I love animals and nature and so this was such a beautiful experience. I enjoyed learning about the whales’ annual migration patterns and this is probably the closest I have ever been to them before.”
A small 18-seat whale watching hunt from Haleiwa, Oahu. Fast Zodiac-style boat, Waimea Bay and North Shore stops, possible humpbacks and sharks.
“The description on Viator really needs to be updated. By stating there are bathrooms on board, I was lead to believe this was a bigger boat that would have normal seating (not straddling like riding a horse) and a shaded area for my 80 year old mother. The trip out was extremely rough, like a roller coaster ride, and we got pretty wet. There was also a suggestion on the Viator site that we would be going into coves in search of wildlife. I don’t think any place we went was considered a cove. We parked in front of Waimea bay for a bit, and drove by what was called…”
A relaxing 1.5-hour catamaran whale watch from Pier E near Waikiki, with crew help, snacks, and binoculars plus a return option if whales miss.
“There was very little communication both before the trip and during the trip. We were not picked up at 7:20 as arranged (a the last minute) and were sure we were missing the boat at 8. They finally sent someone around 7:45. On the boat it was a young inexperienced crew. They didn’t tell us much. Could have talked about the whales and what to expect. Interesting the gal had the most to say in the last few minutes of the trip when she was asking for tips and reviews! Would not recommend.”
2-hour deluxe catamaran whale watch from Waiʻanae, with premium bar drinks, shaded seating, and a free re-ride if you miss whales.
“We saw so many whales and dolphins, crew was great and helpful, not too crowded, nice music, we had the best time!”
Oahu’s West Coast dolphin watching plus turtle snorkeling from Waiʻanae, with hotel pickup, snorkel gear, and a Hawaiian lunch.
“Great but no snorkeling with dolphins or turtles. I guess there are not that many fish, turtles nor dolphins around. After several hours on the boat with saw a few twister dolphins from the boats. The odd of actually swimming or snorkeling with dolphins seem very slim. Otherwise the all crew was lovable and we still had a good time.”
A 2-hour Pink Sails Waikiki sunset whale watch with chances to spot whales and dolphins, plus serious golden-hour views on Oahu.
“Fantastic sunset whale watch! The crew was phenomenal! The boat was nice, a little crowded but not bad. We saw quite a few whales and a beautiful sunset! Well worth the money!”
90-minute Waikiki catamaran whale watch with guaranteed humpback sightings, a full premium bar, and Diamond Head views from HONU LANI.
“Saw some whales :) Not very close to the boat, but close enough. The staff taught us a lot about them! Overall a fun experience.”
