KONA WHALE WATCHING TOURS
See whales year-round on Kona’s best tour boats
Big Island Whale Watching
Join us as we explore Kona’s offshore! Unique to the Big Island of Hawaii, we can find over a dozen species of whales and dolphins year-round! Kona’s rich coastal environment and deep offshore waters provide the best opportunity for the most potential encounters. Enjoy the magic of the winter humpback migration, or join us the rest of the year as we search for pelagic whales including pilot whales, sperm whales, whale sharks, beaked whales, false killer whales, melon-headed whales, and many more!
Our search extends to Hawaiian spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, mantas, turtles, flying fish, sharks, and a host of other marine life on the Kona Coast! Our tour duration and vessel speed allow us to cover a wide range and spend more time with wildlife. Our vessels are a platform for comfort and education, as our onboard naturalists will talk about the whales, wildlife, and Kona coastline throughout the trip!
Our Hawaiian Adventures crew is passionate about all whales, and we pride ourselves on being the whale experts of the Big Island. The ocean provides new opportunities on every tour, so trust the guides who do this every day! Our crew works hard to show you the most wildlife on every trip, and we aim to leave you with a new appreciation for Kona’s whales, wildlife, and vibrant ecosystem.
Whale Watching Seasons
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.
Experience the Hawaiian Adventures Kona difference. On all of our year-round dolphin/whale watch tours, enjoy complimentary cold beverages, an onboard professional naturalist, and guaranteed sightings.
Pelagic Whale Watch
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
Humpback Tours
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
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!
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!
Species Covered: 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.