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If you’re looking for an awesome eco-friendly whale watching tour while visiting Maui, check out the Pacific Whale Foundation!
The humpback whale is one of Earth’s most majestic giants. I’m no stranger to seeing humpback whales frolic in the warm Hawaiian waters during the winter months and even though I grew up with this as part of the norm, seeing them never ceases to amaze me.
Maui is one of the best destinations in the world (and in Hawaii) for whale sightings thanks in part to the shallower waters of the Au‘au Channel between Maui, Molokai and Lanai. If you’re visiting Maui during humpback whale season, a whale watch is a must-do activity!
Best Time for a Whale Watch
The best months for whale watching on Maui are typically December through March, though whale sightings can happen as early as October/November and stretch through May.
Deciding on a Tour Company
There are quite a few companies that offer whale watching tours on Maui, but how do you decide?
- Are you comfortable on small boats or do you prefer a larger vessel? Boat sizes range from small dingy-style boats to larger sailing and engine-powered catamarans.
- Do you like small group tours or are you okay with a boat full of other travelers?
- Are on-board amenities like restrooms or food and drinks important to you?
- Do you want to learn from Certified Marine Naturalists, or are you just there to see the whales and take some pictures?
I’m not a huge fan of the small boat tours for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I think they give chase to the whales at a higher rate of speed (not really cool to do that). I also prefer some amenities like bathrooms and refreshing drinks on board.
Sure, it might be kind of cool when a whale gets up close to you unexpectedly, like in the photo below. But I also witnessed a lady on this same tour dangling off the side of the boat with her face in the water too (hello, safety?).
We’ve always chosen to tour with Pacific Whale Foundation and I want to share with you a little bit of info on what to expect from their tours, and why we continue to support their efforts.
Why Pacific Whale Foundation?
Our first and foremost priority when choosing an activity that involves animals is learning how we can have this experience while still respecting their natural habitat.
The humpback whales embark on a long migratory journey from Alaska that takes them about six to eight weeks each way, travelling a total distance of 6,000 miles (round-trip)! We want to be respectful of their incredible journey to the Hawaiian waters to mate, give birth, and nurture their baby calves. We are entering their world.
Promoting Eco-Tourism
Pacific Whale Foundation is a non-profit conservation company that promotes eco-tourism. Each cruise is led by a team of certified professional Marine Naturalists and biologists, making for a great learning experience on your trip. If you don’t know much about whales before your cruise, you will certainly take away some pretty good basic knowledge.
Here is a list of my favorite eco-features from Pacific Whale Foundation:
- 100% of the profits from their eco-adventures go to supporting their research, education and conservation programs on behalf of whales, dolphins and the ocean environment.
- Promotional materials and paper products on the ships are all made from recycled paper AND their utensils, plates, and cups are made from tree-free, petroleum-free materials. They even use biodegradable/compostable bags. There is NO plastic on the boat.
- They use Whale Protection Devices to guide whales away from propellers and running gear, and have sound-deadening vessel hulls and oversized mufflers which help protect sound-sensitive wildlife.
- They use Laser Range Finders to ensure accurate compliance with Federal and State whale approach laws (more on this below).
- Pacific Whale Foundation also supports local farms and companies by using their products on their cruises, thereby helping to reduce their transportation carbon footprint.
There is actually quite an impressive list of the reasons why Pacific Whale Foundation is a good choice for both having a great experience and for being eco-conscious. To read a full list of their eco-tourism features, please visit their website here.
What You Can Expect to See
Humpback Whales
Humpback whales are an endangered species, which means approaching them requires utmost caution. As a protection for these gentle giants, Federal regulations prohibit you from approaching humpback whales within 100 yards by ocean, and 1,000 feet by air.
They can, however, approach you – and they often do. There’s nothing like bobbing in the water and having a whale surprise breach just feet in front of you!
Pacific Whale Foundation will do their best to ensure you have some whale sightings but as with all elements of nature, whale activity can’t be 100% guaranteed. However, I’ve never taken a whale watch cruise where we didn’t get any glimpses of whales.
We’ve seen whales do some pretty cool things – everything from breaching and diving (tails up) to flapping their fins (waiving) and flukes. It is unreal to see them up close!
Spinner Dolphins
Dolphin sightings are a huge bonus and they loooove swimming alongside the boats (Pacific Whale Foundation also offers dolphin-specific cruises).
In Hawaii, the native species of dolphin is the spinner dolphin. Can you guess why they call them that? They spin when they jump out of the water, up to 7 times each jump! They really are quite the little showoffs. While I love to see the whales, seeing these little guys in action is sure to put a huge smile on your face.
What makes dolphin sightings even more special is that they are in their natural environment. They aren’t jammed into a small aquarium or forced to jump through hoops for human enjoyment. They are free (and happy) to do it on their own.
How to Book a Whale Watch
There are several ways to book with Pacific Whale Foundation:
- Booking ahead online directly via the Pacific Whale Foundation site can typically save you 20% of the cost of their tours (recommended option).
- Alternatively, you can check with your hotel concierge who may also be able to find you a good deal on tickets.
- Lastly, you can simply stop by their offices in Ma’alaea and hope to snag a spot on a tour (however, I recommend booking Maui activities as far in advance as possible).
Tour Pricing
Current tour prices start around $88 per person for the classic tours or $138 for those that include lunch. They also offer deluxe tours for a more in-depth learning experience with the onboard Marine Naturalists.
Any way you book, you can feel confident that your dollars go towards helping conservation of marine life with Pacific Whale Foundation.
Tour Locations
Pacific Whale Foundation offers several different eco-adventures that embark out of Ma’alaea.
Unfortunately, in 2023, a large wildfire destroyed the town of Lahaina where they also used to run tours out of. Fingers crossed for a rebuild in the next few years.
Prepare for Your Whale Watch
Here are some tips to help you prepare for a whale watch with Pacific Whale Foundation:
Prepare for Seasickness
If you get seasick or motion sickness easily, take a non-drowsy Dramamine an hour before your boat ride. I am notoriously easily affected by the sea and you do not want your special experience to be ruined by a bout of nausea. If not Dramamine, have some other method handy to help with seasickness (I’m also a fan of ginger chew candies).
Apply Sunscreen
This one should be pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t take enough care in the sunscreen department. Apply it generously. With all the whale action going on, you might forget that you’re still out baking in the sun!
Whatever sunscreen you choose, make sure it’s reef-safe! Pacific Whale Foundation has reef-friendly sunscreen available for purchase at their stores (check-in points) that you can get prior to your trip.
Camera Safety & Tips
It is a given that you’re going to bring a camera to capture all the whale action. Even if you’re using your phone for photos, protect your gear by making sure it’s secure. You don’t want your camera or phone falling overboard in a rush of excitement when the whales pop up! Make sure you’ve got a good camera strap to hold onto.
Also, a telephoto zoom lens will come in handy. With the distance regulations, you might not get that epic shot you are wanting as the whales may be too far away.
Hair Care
For ladies and men with longer hair, you may want to bring some hair ties. It gets windy out there on the boats and it does get quite warm. Keep your hair from blocking your view or making you extra sweaty by carrying some extra hair ties.
With that said, I hope we gave you some good information on how you can enjoy a whale watching eco-adventure with Pacific Whale Foundation! We really care about how our travel impacts the environment, especially when it comes to animals, and finding companies that are eco-friendly.
If you’ve been on one of their tours before, we’d love to hear about your own personal experiences in the comments below.
This looks like such an incredible experience. I would love to do this sometime. Nice to know groups like this are so ecologically responsible! When I finally make it to Hawaii definitely doing this!
It’s really amazing. Probably an experience I’ve taken for granted a little bit being able to see that for so many years growing up there!