When are humpback whales in Hawaii? Check the current status, monthly sighting levels, peak months, and best shore spots.
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When Is Whale Season in Hawaii?
Humpback whale season in Hawaii generally runs from November through May, with the most dependable viewing from January through March. A few early whales can appear in late October, sightings build through November and December, and the peak winter months bring the highest activity around Maui, the Kohala Coast, Kauai, and Oahu's leeward and southeast shores.
Use this page for the season-status answer. If you are deciding which island, harbor, or tour format to book, use our Hawaii whale watching guide after you confirm your travel month below.
Season Timeline
Monthly Activity
Best Shore Viewing Spots
Papawai Point
Maui
The single best shore-based whale watching spot in Hawaii. This overlook between Lahaina and Ma'alaea funnels your view straight into the Au'au Channel where whales congregate.
McGregor Point Lookout
Maui
Elevated vantage point on the drive between Lahaina and Ma'alaea. Whales are often visible right from the parking lot — breaching, spouting, and tail-slapping.
Nine humpback behaviors to spot from shore or boat — check each one off in the scavenger hunt when you see it. Tap to zoom or download the print-ready PDF.
Whale Watching in Hawaiʻi Illustrated Field Guide
Illustrated guide to nine humpback behaviors to spot from shore or boat during Hawaiʻi's winter whale season.
North Pacific humpback whales migrate roughly 3,000 miles from Alaska to Hawaii each winter. They come to breed, give birth, and nurse calves in warm, shallow waters around the islands before returning north to feed.
What You'll See
Breaching (full-body jumps), tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps, spy-hopping (heads poking out), and spouts (exhale plumes visible from a mile away). Males sing repeated underwater song sequences that can continue for long sessions. Calves are especially playful and curious.
Best Time of Day
Early morning (7-10 AM) offers calm seas and active whales. Late afternoon is second-best. Midday tends to be rougher and glare makes spotting harder. Morning boat tours have the best conditions overall.
Federal Protection
Humpback whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In Hawaii, federal law prohibits approaching within 100 yards by boat, kayak, drone, swimming, or any other vessel or means. If a whale approaches on its own, give it room and follow the captain's instructions.
Trade winds are strong right now, with high surf hitting the south shore today. Windward areas are seeing frequent showers through the weekend.
South-facing beaches have dangerous surf today through Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will build rough water by Sunday or Monday. The bigger picture is a tropical system, Fausto, heading our way. It's weakening but should arrive near the islands by Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. The exact track is still uncertain, so check the forecast daily.
Get your beach time and water activities in today through early next week on the leeward side, where conditions stay calmer. Be ready to shift plans by midweek when conditions turn rough.
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Windy conditions across Maui right now, with trade winds gusting strong. South-facing shores have high surf today and will see another big swell Saturday and Sunday—the water's dangerous unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Through the weekend, windward areas will get frequent showers while trade winds stay gusty. The bigger picture arrives midweek: Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward the islands and should reach Maui as a tropical storm or weaker system Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll bring rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Hit the leeward beaches and snorkel south Maui coasts today through early next week, but stay out of windward and south-facing waters through Sunday.
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Windy conditions dominate right now with strong trade winds pushing across the island. South-facing shores have high surf today—dangerous water if you're not an experienced swimmer.
Through the weekend, those south shores see another big swell Saturday and Sunday, and east-facing shores will build dangerous conditions by Sunday or Monday. Windward areas get frequent showers. A tropical system—the remnants of Hurricane Fausto—is weakening and headed toward the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system by Tuesday or Wednesday, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain midweek. Timing and track are still uncertain, so check updates daily.
Leeward beaches on the Kona side stay your best bet today through early next week, but avoid the water on the windward and south shores through Sunday.
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Strong trade winds are pushing showers across windward areas through the weekend. On Kauaʻi, expect frequent showers on the windward side.
High surf is running on south-facing shores today and will build again Saturday and Sunday—stay out of the water unless you're an experienced swimmer. East-facing shores will also see dangerous swell by Sunday or Monday. Hurricane Fausto is weakening as it moves toward Hawaii. By Tuesday or Wednesday it should reach the islands as a tropical storm or weaker system, bringing rough seas, strong winds, and heavy rain. Track and timing are still uncertain, so check updates daily through midweek.
Beach time on leeward shores works through early next week. Plan water activities for today, but be ready to shift if Fausto's track becomes clearer—conditions will deteriorate by midweek.
Created with AI from the official NWS forecast discussion · verify with NWS before heading out