Hawaii’s Favorite Whale Watch
Whale watching in Kona is truly year-round. From December to March, our 2.5-3 hour humpback-focused tours reveal surface-active whales, heartwarming mom-and-calf pairs, and some of the area's largest humpback gatherings. For the rest of the year, our 3-4 hour tours explore Kona’s deep ocean in search of over a dozen different species of pelagic whales and dolphins as well as captivating coastal wildlife. At Hawaiian Adventures, our passion for whales and wildlife knows no bounds. We're dedicated to making every tour unique and unforgettable. No two tours are the same, allowing you to witness different wonders daily.
Trust the guides who live this adventure every day as they uncover the treasures of Kona's whales, wildlife, and diverse ecosystem.
Year-Round Whales
A common misconception is that whales are only here December-March. They’re referring to humpbacks – the species that migrates here for the winter months. Most boats in Kona aren’t US Coast Guard Certified, which means they’re limited to searching for wildlife within three miles of shore. Our boats are certified to explore offshore, allowing us to reach the area where Kona’s year-round whales are found! Our tours have the opportunity to view a wide variety of megafauna and some of the most unique pelagic whales in the world.
Season: April - November
Duration: 3-4 Hours
Departure Time: 8:30 AM
Possible Whale Types: Beaked whales, false killer whales, melon-headed whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, and more. Humpbacks commonly seen in April and November.
Season: December - March
Duration: 2.5-3 Hours
Departure Time: 7 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM
Possible Whale Types: Humpback whales are the main focus, but we also can see beaked whales, false killer whales, melon-headed whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, and more.
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.
Guaranteed Dolphins/Whales
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!
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.
Why choose Hawaiian Adventures Kona?
Exceptional Crew
Hawaiian Adventures’ crew are true ocean experts. After thousands of tours, the most important is still yours. With years of experience on the water, our captains and guides are eager to share their knowledge and passion for the Big Island and its marine life. Behind every great program is an even better team, and our crew makes the real difference in your tour.
Safe, Fast, Comfortable Boats
Artemis and Callisto are designed for adventure. Comfortable seats, onboard bathrooms, dry storage, great viewing, and spacious areas add to a premier experience. Our vessels are offshore-certified, ensuring a safe journey whether venturing exploring Kona’s inshore or offshore waters.
Wildlife and Tour Expertise
The ocean provides different opportunities on every tour, so trust the guides who do this every day! Located on the lee side of the Big Island, Kona’s calm and deep waters are home to unique species and diverse marine life. Your crew will be constantly searching for whales and dolphins throughout your tour. Our goal is to leave our guests with a new appreciation for Hawaii’s waters and wildlife.
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.
Contact the Hawaiian Adventures Kona Crew
Hawaiian Adventures Kona is one of the only companies on Hawaii Island to have a dedicated year-round office crew that answers the phone 12 hours a day, seven days a week. You won’t reach an outsourced call center – you’ll talk directly to the crew that shares the passion of whales and wildlife.
