Big Island Whale Watching

This tour is available at 3pm from January 5th to March 15th on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Please be sure your dates are correct when placing a reservation! A credit card is required to guarantee your reservation, but no charges are made at the time of your order. You pay for the tour when you check in on the day of your cruise. There's no reason to wait ... make your reservation today so your space is guaranteed!

No, you don't have to go on a boat to see whales if you are here during the right time of the year. It is common to see people standing on a hillside overlooking the ocean and watching the signs of distant whale activity through binoculars.  

You can often SEE whales from shore ... but you can't EXPERIENCE them from that distance. There is a tremendous difference between watching a whale splashing in the water two miles away and experiencing the thrill of looking over the edge of the boat and having one of these gentle giants swim directly underneath you. If you are here during peak season, do yourself a favor and go on a whale watch.  

The Hula Kai is a brand-new high-tech powered catamaran that provides a comfortable and stable platform from which to watch whales. Guests will view first hand the phenomena of these breathtaking mammals. You will learn fascinating facts enhanced by visual aids, and enjoy engaging conversation with their experienced and local naturalist.

The Hula Kai features a special hydrophone system so that you are able to listen to the unique underwater songs of the whales. You'll also learn about the ancient Hawaiian connection to the gentle underwater giants in their kumulipo (creation chants). 

Snacks and tropical juice are included. A cash bar is available during the cruise too for those who would like a Mai Tai, beer, wine, or other drinks. The cruise begins at 3pm and ends at 6pm and is held Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from January 5th to March 15th.

NOTE: Minimum age for Hula Kai cruises is 8, and there is no child rate ... all passengers pay the same price.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS

Whale Watching is not available for cruise ship passengers unless your cruise ship departs Kona after 7pm on the day of the whale watch. We recommend doing your whale watching on Maui.

Big Island Whale Watch Reservations

Upon submitting your activity reservation for processing, one copy is sent to your e-mail address so that you have a record of your order. We will make reservations for you and send an e-mail confirming all of the details. These confirmations are often sent a few minutes after your reservation, but some activities take longer to confirm than others. You will receive an e-mail confirmation by the end of the next business day at the latest. There are no tickets that you need to pick up prior to your event. Your e-mail confirmation will have all the details you need to check in and enjoy your selected activity. This saves you precious time when you arrive in Hawaii. 

A credit card is required to guarantee payment for your reservations, but in most cases WE DO NOT charge your credit card when your order is placed. Your credit card is typically charged five days before you leave for Hawaii, and a voucher is faxed to the vendor. Some activities are charged at the time of check-in and your e-mail confirmation will inform you if this is the case. If you cancel your activity after your credit card has been charged you will receive a refund less 10% to cover our credit card processing costs.

We do have one vendor that requires payment at the time that your reservation is made. These activities are clearly marked on our website with the words, "Payment required at the time of reservation."

After making reservations, you may reschedule or cancel your activity up until 48 hours prior to its start (a few activities have 72 hour cancellation policies ... see your confirmation e-mail for details). Within 48 hours of the start of your activity all reservations are final and non-refundable (unless the event is cancelled by the vendor due to weather or other factors). Due to our incredible climate here, weather cancellations are rare.  No-shows and cancellations without adequate notice are charged in full on the credit card used to secure the reservation and are non-refundable.