PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION

PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION

Maui Whale Watches

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Pacific Whale Foundation – Maui Whale Watches

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Book a Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch

Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) is the environmental leader of the activity industry in Hawaii. Each year they work tirelessly monitoring the Humpback Whales through their whale-watching tours and scientific research to find a common balance between man and whales. They are the ones who sponsor the great whale count every year in the waters off Maui. With an army of volunteers, the count has seen a dramatic increase in the whale population since the 1990s. The environmental work this Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch does has brought awareness to the public regarding climate change and its effects on it in Hawaii and around the globe. Climate change has already affected the beaches in Hawaii.

Educational whale-watching tours with Pacific Whale Foundation are the norm. With tours departing from Maalaea. Each whale-watching tour in Maui has a marine biologist on board that will share every aspect of the Humpback Whales. They also use a hydrophone that will bring you the songs of the whales.

Operating a large fleet of power catamarans, Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch has more whale watches per day than any other company. Each catamaran is comfortable, equipped with two restrooms and plenty of viewing room on the upper and front decks. They sell out every day and these tours are among the best things to do on Maui.

Visitors always ask what is the best time of day to schedule a whale-watching tour in Maui. Whales have to come up for air about every 30 minutes, so as far as the whale goes, it doesn’t really matter. You, on the other hand, are a different story altogether. Most visitors aren’t used to the tropical heat in Maui. As the day lengthens, it gets warmer and the trade winds pick up. The morning times

Whale Watching on Maui

Did you know that the Humpback Whale does not eat while in Hawaiian waters? There is no food source for them. Off the coast of Alaska, the Humpback Whale thrives on Plankton. Plankton is found in cooler waters than in the tropics. In Hawaii, Humpback Whales find their mates and then come back to birth their calves from their visit the year before. On a few occasions, the Humpback whale has been observed in mating rituals by Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF)  during their research tours. What an interesting whale-watching tour that must have been.

What to Bring for the Whale Watch Boat Tour

  • Bring a light jacket! After the sun sets you might get a little chilly with the light wind off the water.
  • Your camera/phone should be fully charged and have room for all your photos a potable charger can come in handy.
  • Wearing a hat and sunglasses can make you more comfortable as the sun sets into the Pacific Ocean.
  • You’ll want to apply some sunscreen before leaving your resort and reapply a few hours later.

Food?

There is no food or beverage included with your tickets. But there are beverages and snacks available for purchase.

Boat Tour Restrictions

No handicap access

Hawaii Whale Watching Tour

The Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch is 2 hours in length and departs from either Maalaea or Lahaina. Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch affords a great Maui whale-watching cruise for families as their fleet of catamarans is large and stable with plenty of room for movement. They will take you to the Maui whales in comfort and provide a whale watch tour that will keep you returning to Maui every winter.

The early bird catches the worm. In this case, the early bird catches the whale. As whale watches evolved on Maui, different charter companies were looking for ways to separate themselves from the competition. Pacific Whale Foundation had a solution that created the most successful whale watching tour of them all, the Maui sunrise whale watching tour.

Hawaii doesn’t participate in daylight saving, Maui is two hours behind the west coast of the mainland during the winter. As you move further east, the time difference increases to five hours. Most visitors who arrive from the mainland find themselves waking up a couple of hours before they normally would at home. The further away you live from Hawaii, the earlier you will wake up on your first couple of days on the island. There is nothing to do in the middle of the night on Maui, except for perhaps a stroll along a deserted beach.

The sunrise whale-watching tour was created to provide some form of entertainment for early risers. Sunrise is one of the best times on Maui to go whale watching. It’s cooler, the trades are light and the roads are all but deserted. The sunrise whale watch is the perfect choice during your first few days on the island because your biological clock is still in mainland time.

Watch watching at sunrise is special. Mother nature lights up the sky with the colors of dawn and against the sunrise, your whale-watching photos are priceless. The unique images from whale watching come from this time of day. As the island is waking up, so are the Humpback Whales.

Boat Tours Depart from Maalaea

There are two departure locations for the whale watch with Pacific Whale Foundation. If you are staying on the south side of Maui, Maalaea Harbor would be your departure point.

For families, the Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch is the perfect solution if you have younger children. They have the largest fleet of catamarans on Maui. They are large with plenty of viewing space outside the main cabin. In some cases, the boat was designed for whale watching with tiered seating on the bow like a theater. There are two restrooms aboard and tables both on the upper deck and main cabin.

Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Watch

Pacific Whale Foundation is the environmental company of our time in Maui. They are the leaders. Each year they sponsor numerous activities on Maui associated with the Humpback Whale and eco-environmental awareness. It was their efforts that changed the laws regarding whale watching on Maui in the 1990s. Each year Pacific Whale Foundation sponsors the great whale count. Volunteers from all over Maui join the ranks with Pacific Whale Foundation to help count the whales. In the 1990s there were fewer than 1000 whales that came to Maui, today there are over 7000. Their number has increased dramatically since being added to the endangered species list!

Whale watching on Maui is seasonal from December 15th through April 15th. There is no whale-watching tours in the Summer.

 

 

Other Activity Options by Pacific Whale FoundationPacific Whale Foundation – Molokini And Turtle Arches SnorkelPacific Whale Foundation – Lanai Dolphin Snorkel, Pacific Whale Foundation – Sunset Dinner Cruise

 

 

 

Booking

Regular Whale Watches - Maalaea Departures

  • Best Price Guarantee
  • E-Ticket Delivery
  • Free Cancellation
per Adult $68.95

Ages 13 and Up (8.62 Fuel Surcharge Applied in Checkout) Whale watching on Maui is seasonal from December 15th through April 15th. There is no whale watching tours in the Summer.

Ages 0-4 (1 Free Per Adult) Whale watching on Maui is seasonal from December 15th through April 15th. There is no whale watching tours in the Summer.

Ages 5-12 (8.62 Fuel Surcharge Applied in Checkout) Whale watching on Maui is seasonal from December 15th through April 15th. There is no whale watching tours in the Summer.

Total $0.00

Maalaea Harbor

Location: Maalaea: Village Shops Logo Store
Maalaea: GPS: 300 Maalaea Road, Wailuku Hawaii 96793 Maalaea Harbor
Meet at the Pacific Whale Foundation Village Shops Logo Store at Maalaea.

Days Available: 
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Times:

6:30am, 9:00am, 11:30am, 2:00pm

Maui Tickets For Less Cancelation Policy:
A 72 hours notice is required for a refund. Only exception is a note from a local doctor.
No-shows” will be charged full.

Times: Maalaea
6:30am, 8:00am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm

Check-in 45 minutes prior to event time.

Total Duration: 2 hours

Need Help ?

(808) 856-3500

Pacific Whale Foundation
4.7
Based on 1566 reviews
PacWhale Eco-Adventures
4.4
Based on 894 reviews
Had a great time! Lots of options for lunch, burgers, chicken and hot dogs and potato Mac salad! Enough space to retreat to your own corner of the boat....
Lynnsie L.
Lynnsie L.
This is a tough one for me as I love contributing to eco friendly causes. I did a celestial cruise which is only on Saturdays. Pros: 1: great cause and I...
Ratika N.
Ratika N.
We got a deal. JB from a stand we saw walking got us a two for one So we pretty much paid for one ticket marked down a little with the exception of...
Maria T.
Maria T.
We booked two excursions this visit. #1. Molokini and Turtle Town this past Tuesday on a catamaran. There were 63 passengers. We were on their largest...
Shirley N.
Shirley N.
This is a fairly priced whale watch that we take at least once each whale season. The staff are alway professional and knowledgeable. We go with a group...
Jennifer L.
Jennifer L.
Amazing experience! We saw at least 15 whales and had the best time. We went on the classic whale tour and sat up front. It was windy but really sunny....
Kelly M.
Kelly M.
Second outing with this outstanding company. Great communication, service, safety, and education; I love their tours.Today was an especially active "...
Joan F.
Joan F.
We've embarked on a couple of different whale watching adventures with PacWhale Eco-Adventures over the years. We've always had a great time and have seen...
Lon H.
Lon H.
Really great trip and crew!! Very surprised by all the room and how far we motored out along with a quiet sail!!!
Susan F.
Susan F.
We have taken this trip every other year and have had descent trips. I always choose it because their focus is to protect the whales. This year on Jan 2 we...
Julie G.
Julie G.
Traffic at harbor appears to is increased because there is no longer tours leaving from Lahaina. The Parking System at this Location Sucks Use Cation or you...
Brian S.
Brian S.
As a kamaaina, I've been on so many tours, snorkel cruises etc. But our trip on PacWhale today knocked them all out of the park. We took the snorkel/dophin...
Bob A.
Bob A.
Loved ! Fantastic crew ! Everything they do plus it's a nonprofit! Book them for any water adventures in Maui!
Cindy W.
Cindy W.
We had a fantastic time on our snorkeling tour. Saw so many fish and a sea turtle. Crew was wonderful -- upbeat, great service and also made a point to...
Chris C.
Chris C.
Recently went on the sunset cruise with our 9 year old daughter. The boat surprisingly fit a good amount of people comfortably. We were offered snacks upon...
Christina G.
Christina G.
After a bit of check in location confusion caused by change of boat/departure time, this was an excellent choice for a dinner cruise that and a terrific...
Tony T.
Tony T.
SNORKELING at Lana'i and Molokini for the win. PacWhale Eco-Adventures are based on nearly four decades of marine research and ecotourism experience. Every...
Jay P.
Jay P.
We did the celestial sunset cruise this evening and it was pretty amazing! First, we made sure we purchased our tickets directly from the pacific whale...
Tori B.
Tori B.
Visited Maui for the New Year! Excellent for whale-watching. This was my first experience with it, and it didn't disappoint! We saw a mother and her calf...
Susan J.
Susan J.
5 stars all around for this amazing organization and tour! Please book directly if you can. I made the mistake booking through our hotel and should have...
Leems B.
Leems B.
We did the sunset cocktail cruise out of Ma'alaea Harbor.My parents have limited mobility and this company could not have been more accommodating - they...
Jesse G.
Jesse G.
Started out with paying for parking, which is to be expected in Maui. I had read about it with the ocean center which shares the lot.Walked in to check...
Claire U.
Claire U.
Took the Maui Nui Wild Side/Lahaina tour as it was advertised as a more intimate setting and that you'll see things others usually don't. First off, what is...
Craig ..
Craig ..
We did two tours with them during our stay in Maui - a dolphin sightseeing tour and a snorkeling tour. We felt that the staff for both tours were...
Brandon Z.
Brandon Z.
This was the most affordable charter out here in Maui, it includes breakfast lunch and drinks For those that are vegetarian, call ahead to make sure your...
Alejandra B.
Alejandra B.
We got our tour to Turtle Town and Molokini crater; Turtle Town had almost no fish and nobody on our 96 person tour saw a turtle, unfortunately. Molokini...
Matthew W.
Matthew W.
We all had an exceptional time on this tour with the primary focus being snorkeling! The boat first took us out to the Coral reef outside of Lanai, then...
Laura L.
Laura L.
My experience with PacWhale Eco-Adventures was excellent. With the exception of some confusion at the Lahaina Harbor for the Whale Watching tour. For us,...
Alicia L.
Alicia L.
Checked out a pamphlet with whale watching tours starting at $52, by PacWhale Eco-Adventures. When making a reservation, it does not include a mandatory $5...
Robert C.
Robert C.
We did the mid day whale watch Trip. I would guess half capacity. Which is fine because the views are easier to see. We never went below. But there is a...
Marshall G.
Marshall G.
We took a day snorkel cruise to Molokini crater with a stop at Crystal garden on the way back it was about a five hour trip and we were served two light...
Brian S.
Brian S.
LOVED this sailing line! We got a delicious breakfast on the way to our snorkeling trip at Lanai and had the best time. The crew is all about safety and I...
Casey C.
Casey C.
I did a lot of research before booking the Molokini Crater snorkeling tour. Pac Whale looked like the best option and it didn't let me down. Let me first...
Alan H.
Alan H.
I went by myself for Molokini snorkeling. Still had a lot of fun. The only thing that I didn't like about was assigned seats. They're doing assigned seats...
Hyunjung L.
Hyunjung L.
This is my third trip to Maui and my third Molokini trip. PacWhale was amazing...the best Molokini trip I've ever been on. The crew and naturalists were...
Irene S.
Irene S.
My family and I booked the snorkeling experience with PacWhale, which was fairly enjoyable but perhaps not worth, given the expensive price. I later...
Sophia S.
Sophia S.
First time Snorekling and first time in Maui, so my wife and I didn't know what to expect. When I was trying to find places to take us Snorkeling at...
Derek P.
Derek P.
When you board, you are assigned to seats-no choosing. Ours were downstairs where you couldn't hear the speaker due to the engine noise. There were...
Betsy B.
Betsy B.
This was our third charter to Molokini and by far, the best. We took the Wild-Side tour that went to the front and back side of Molokini. They took us to...
Mary D.
Mary D.
My family and I did both the day snorkel boat/dolphin watch AND the sunset cocktail cruise. Both experiences were phenomenal! The day snorkel boat requires...
Phoenix B.
Phoenix B.
This experience is excellent for anyone that loves marine life and all efforts to protect it. I booked a trip for the dolphin and snorkel tour, which...
Jenner B.
Jenner B.
Booked a snorkel tour for 4 and it was amazing! They served breakfast and lunch, had a bar on the boat as well. Masks mandatory except when eating and...
Meagan Y.
Meagan Y.
We were able to get on this snorkeling trip and it was a blast! They were only doing about 3/4 capacity due to covid but that honestly made it a little more...
Justin W.
Justin W.
My family and I booked an adventure during our trip to Maui. We lucked out, as there were limited bookings available due to coast guard imposed...
Steve S.
Steve S.
We booked the sunset sail/cruise dinner. They have the check in procedures down. Drinks were open bar pretty decent I. Taste for the cocktail. Started...
Dang L.
Dang L.
We went on the Molokini & Turtle Arches Snorkel tour and had a great time. Overall I'd recommend it, but I'd be cautious if you're uncomfortable with the...
Andrew R.
Andrew R.
We just returned from the deluxe whale watch- 3 hours on the sail boat. We saw plenty of whales even though it was the end of the season. We saw a lot...
Beth N.
Beth N.
Absolutely amazing experience today. We took a snorkeling trip with 3 kids (one of them is under 2) and everyone was super attentive, understanding and...
Maria A.
Maria A.
Loved the staff, logistics were easy, and saw many many whales! They were very COVID safe: assigned seats, masks the whole time for guests and temperature...
Lindsey G.
Lindsey G.
We booked a family-friendly snorkel tour with this group, and would highly recommend!Covid precautions: check-in was socially distanced and with...
Julie F.
Julie F.
To be able to safely do a sunset sail cruise during a pandemic was a definite unforgettable experience for me in the island of Maui. I booked through airbnb...
William S.
William S.
we were 4 adults and 2 young children, we had a great whale watching experience, had great seating, saw 3 whales breaching. The staff went around making...
Nighthawk W.
Nighthawk W.
My only regret is that I can't give this more stars. We've done a lot of these types of tours, all around the world, and there have been none better than...
Ron C.
Ron C.
We did a sunset sail and it was great! Even saw some whales jumping and a giant rainbow. Pretty magical. The apps and drinks were great. Crew is super...
KK G.
KK G.
The trip was fantastic! The crew (Makayla, Lisa, Jen and Captain Doug) had an awesome energy, love for whales, and outstanding hospitality. I am already...
Jorja P.
Jorja P.
been on many tours with Pacwhale. ---have never been disappointed. first during covid. we did the sunset cruise out of Lahaina yesterday.. the crew did an...
K Y.
K Y.
Really fun snorkeling trip. We visited two areas - one in Molokini crater where the coral reefs and fish were great. The second was off the coast of Maui,...
Jason R.
Jason R.
Great, relaxing whale watching boat ride to see the migrating whales. Friendly staff and knowledgeable about the various whales.
Marc M.
Marc M.
Wow covid came these guys split. Closed. No phone call saying your boat trip canceled or we know you paid and you'll get a rain chk. I called twice no...
Tanya B.
Tanya B.
This is a great place to schedule a whale watching trip. Everyone is super friendly, the boats are clean and safe and you will see whales. More importantly,...
Stan G.
Stan G.
Had a great snorkeling trip with Capt. Allen and crew. I’d highly recommend the Wild Side tour. Great people, great food and plenty of Maui brews. Saw a number of fish, turtles, and whales. Will visit again.
Michael B.
Michael B.
This is an experience you can't pass up.I will always remember our first trip to Maui and a very special part of that trip was going whale watching....
Brenda C.
Brenda C.
Enjoying the whales while also knowing you paid toward helping conserve them feels pretty good. I was a little disappointed we didn't see any up close but it was amazing to see so many whales just swimming about. You will probably be traveling on a boat with many other people so try and get a good seat so you won't have to keep moving around. We had the best success at the front of the boat; many of the whale sightings were directly in front of us. Crew was young and passionate about the conservation of whales, it was heartwarming to see. Friendly and answered any questions too. Don't forget to put on sunblock; you will be out there for an hour or two. Overall, was fun to see whales. Was it like in the movies or tv shows where the whales do some cool jumping spin move right in front of your face? No. But you do get to see whales which doesn't happen very much in ones lifetime. Getting there was simple, its located in the same area as an aquarium so parking is adequate and free if you're doing the whale watching. All in all, had a fun time. Friendly crew, nice cause, saw whales..just don't expect a National Geographic viewing of them. Also never got to try this "whale soup" they kept talking about, so bummed out about that. Nice to do once but prob not again.
John Y.
John Y.
The staff on the ship were wonderful. We were served a light breakfast, and offered coffee or water while driving to our destination. We had the incredible experience of several sightings of mother and baby humpback whales. They told us February was a great time for this as that is when the whales come from Alaska to breed and birth their young.We were able to snorkel for an hour and a half, instructions were given to the beginners. We were provided lunch and drinks, which included Maui brewery beer. On the way back to port, we again spotted mother and baby whales. No dolphins or sea turtles, as our snorkel location was changed due to very choppy water conditions. Overall, a great experience, and the money spent is for a good cause.
Jennifer S.
Jennifer S.
I cannot recommend this snorkeling tour highly enough. Tons of fun with an informative and beyond friendly crew, with lunch and a free drink at the end...what more could you want? Well, the fact that it’s all a nonprofit for which your contributions go toward saving the whales (Of which we saw a TON, and this wasn’t even the whale watching tour!) can’t hurt. We would gladly return for another trip!
Heidi F.
Heidi F.
We chose these guys for a whale watching trip as we knew they were a conservation group and wanted to put our money toward that.The price was great for a...
Luke W.
Luke W.
We went on the whale watching cruise and it was so much fun. The caption and crew were amazing and gave us a ton of information about the whales. We saw...
Taylor E.
Taylor E.
Super cool group these guys. Smaller boat than some whale watching tour. Very professional but fun crew. Was pleasantly surprised that beer was served. Crew was very accommodating to family member who didn't handle the sea very well. Food served was abundant and delicious, if not very Hawaiian...My girls were excited to see an all female crew.Gift shop was wonderfully curated with items you would need on your whale watching or just to buy. Great brands for hats, shirts and sandals.Binoculars available for rent from 3rd party, $10
Tyler C.
Tyler C.
Great excursion, staff were friendly and knowledgeable and took time to answer my questions (thanks Brandon!). They fed us decent food. Was a crazy windy day but had fun snorkeling, staff ensured we were safe and watched over us as we swam/snorkeled. Bonus was we got to see whales!!!
Carlos B
Carlos B
Yeah, this is the Whale seeing experience you want. Knowledgeable, scientific, friendly. You cannot skip this tour.Our sight seeing tour came with all you...
Tim E.
Tim E.
We saw at least half a dozen humpback whales breaching, slapping their pectoral fins and singing to each other on an afternoon whale watching tour with Pacific Whale Foundation. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Maui. Parking is easy (and free) in the aquarium parking lot. Their boats hold up to 149 people and we were at capacity but I never struggled to get a view. Narrators are friendly and knowledgeable. The tour operator is a non-profit to boot and your money supports a good cause. Great for families.
Arjun D.
Arjun D.
We love supporting the Pacific Whale Foundation by going on their various ocean experiences. It is based at the Maalaea Harbor. We have been on...
Maria K.
Maria K.
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