All things to doKona and the west coast
Whale watching from Kona
Humpbacks are in these waters from about December to April. The Kona and Waikoloa boats are the easy departures: short ride, calmer water than Hilo, and you stay on deck.
- Time
- 2–3 hours, morning
- Leaves from
- Kona or Waikoloa
- When
- December–April
- Out of season
- Book the manta snorkel instead
A season, not a year-round tour
If your dates fall outside December to April, do not book a whale watch and hope. Spend that money on the manta snorkel, which runs all year. Inside the season, a morning trip is the one to take. Whales are up, the wind is down.
You are watching, not swimming. Boats should cut the engine and keep a legal distance. A listing that promises an in-water encounter is the one to close.
What to expect on the boat
Two to three hours is typical, from Kailua-Kona or Waikoloa. Sightings are reliable in January and February and merely likely in December and March. No operator can promise a breach over the bow.
Bring a layer. The boat moves, the wind picks up, and a swimsuit is the wrong outfit even when the beach looked hot an hour earlier.
