Oahu Whale Watching Excursion
4.5
Oahu Whale Watching Excursion
By Hawaii Nautical
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About
Get a front-row seat to the spouting, breeching, and tail slaps of some of Earth's largest creatures on this whale-watching adventure. The experienced captain and crew know just where to go for the best vantage points, and share their in-depth marine knowledge along the way. Whale sightings are guaranteed, so in the unlikely event you don't see any, you can cruise again for free.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 49 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- See humpback whales in Oahu from December to May
- Learn about the long-distance migration of these amazing mammals
- Whale sightings are guaranteed thanks to the crew’s expertise
- Whale watching tour
- Snacks
- Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages
What's not included- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Transportation. Meet at Kewalo Harbor Slip F28.
- Start:
- Kewalo Basin, Honolulu, HI 96813, USAKewalo Basin Harbor, Slip F28 - Hawaii Nautical - Honi Olani
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2774WHALE- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2774WHALE
From
$82.96
per adult
Select date and travelers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- lisaj4820190 contributionsAmazing sunset cruise!We absolutely LOVED our sunset cruise and it was the highlight of our trip! Everything about it was so perfect and the staff were attentive and so kind! This should be a must when you visit the Bug Island!Written October 9, 2024
- debbiewL7086QZ0 contributionsFun time!!Amazing employees and an awesome experience! Delicious lunch, drinks and staff that made the experience unforgettable!!Written October 8, 2024
- Kathy C0 contributionsSuper experience!We loved our tour with Hawaii Nautical. The team was amazing and took great care of us. They took us directly to a great spot where we saw many sea turtles. It was our favorite Hawaii experience and we would do it again in a heartbeat!.Written October 5, 2024
- sophiebL269HF0 contributionsAmazing experienceWonderful morning seeing beautiful scenery and snorkelling with turtles. Captain and first mate were so helpful and knowledgeable. Boat was lovely and fast. Our kids loved it.Written October 4, 2024
- Jjs_email0 contributionsGreat experienceI booked my trip somewhat last minute and was looking for a fun activity my first evening here. I was so happy that I decided to go with this tour. The crew was wonderful and welcoming. They always made sure we were comfortable and had what we needed. It was a great evening!Written October 3, 2024
- Jimb0LA0 contributionsEnchanting!Enchanting! Had a lovely sunset sail. The catamaran was spacious and comfortable, views splendid, drinks excellent. The crew was terrific, food was good, but could use a little more like chips or something. Would highly recommend… much less expensive than similar trips on Maui. Caden the crewman was a wealth of knowledge. We really enjoyed the whole trip and the other passengers were delightful as well. We will be back.Written September 28, 2024
- 457kasied0 contributionsTotally Worth It!It was so clean and was so much fun. The staff were incredible and so attentive. Beginning to end it was so relaxing and beautiful. Totally worth it!!!Written September 21, 2024
- J2391DKamys0 contributionsPerfect tourThis was an awesome adventure. Captain Jesse, Bronson and Megan were wonderful. We saw bottle nose dolphins and spinner dolphins. Snorkeling was superb. We saw turtles, fish, star fish, sea urchins and octopus. This is a great tour and wonderful cree. I highly recommend.Written September 21, 2024
- Emma P0 contributionsBeautiful, Fun, amazing first experience on a catamaran, would definitely recommend and would absolutely go again myselfFrom the beginning to the end it was just a great experience. Everyone was extremely friendly and the mai tais were on point! Loved it thank you.Written September 19, 2024
- G7538XKjamesr0 contributionsGreat time.Very good time with Captain Greg, Phil, and Natalie. They were very personable and took care of our needs. Great time snorkeling in the refreshing water.Written September 15, 2024
- jamesdV606JF0 contributionsOnce in a lifetime experienceThis was an absolute blast. Dont ever feel you are too old for this excursion. The boat team were amazing, helpful, kind. If you are looking for an amazing time with breathtaking views of not only the island, but the ocean life if full. From turtles to many different species of fish. You will not regret booking this tour.Written September 14, 2024
- alntresad0 contributionsHorrible experience. I do NOT recommendThe views of the coastline were wonderful! We did see a huge pod of pilot whales. No dolphins. We were on the boat cruising for 2 hours out and then we turned around to go back almost to where we started. Then, we snorkeled for 15 minutes. Saw 1 turtle and a lot of tiny fish. Nothing spectacular. 😥 I had no experience in snorkeling, no instructions were given🤔 Of course, I was a little frightened. After I was in the water, my life vest was up high. I got out. I was encouraged to get back in... With assistance from Quinn. The captain was rather uninterested, and not engaging. I got sick after a few minutes and Quinn helped, but no assist getting out... I had dry heaves....ugh. Breakfast was crummy and sparse. A few grapes, 4 Strawberry's and tiny piece of pineapple bread... Megan, crew member was engaging and kind. She was the ONLY crew member that connected with me. We had a nice convo. I would not recommend this tour company. One sea turtle, no dolphins, and sparse # of fish😔Written September 12, 2024
- kristinat1420 contributionsGreat trip! Saw turtles highly recommend!We had the best day - another tour provider cancelled on us and the concierge at the Ritz Carlton Residences recommended this one. Joey, Doug, Andrea and Nick did a fantastic job! We saw turtles and the boat was very clean and we always felt safe. Thanks all! We will book again next week when we are back in Waikiki!Written September 9, 2024
- Dottye19500 contributionsA Must on Maui!It was the best adventure with the best crew ever! The captain and first mate made the 3 hours the adventure of a lifetime. It was so good we had to go back two days later!Written September 4, 2024
- X865QYjohnb0 contributionsExcellentAwesome fun evening. The sunset was fantastic. The crew is the best!! The company and its owner are top notch! Spinner dolphins and cruising make for a great evening with family and new friends.Written September 2, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
160 reviews
Excellent
117
Very good
16
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
9
Maps638718
1 contribution
Feb 2022 • Family
We were really disappointed in this tour. First, not good (or safe) for kiddos. We left our 6 yr olds life jacket at the hotel because we’ve been on other catamaran tours in Oahu and the first thing they did was require young kids to be in life jackets. We had to request one 3 times and the staff acted like it was very inconvenient. The life jacket was an adult size emergency one… not sure if it would have even worked on a small body.
We saw 2 whales from very far away but really this was just an overpriced catamaran cruise in a so/so boat and not a very nice marina. No checks for vaccine cards (even though required by the state of Hawaii right now) and very crowded. I’d guess 40-50 people aboard.
Save the money, book with someone else, or even watch from shore… you’d prob see the whales just as well.
We saw 2 whales from very far away but really this was just an overpriced catamaran cruise in a so/so boat and not a very nice marina. No checks for vaccine cards (even though required by the state of Hawaii right now) and very crowded. I’d guess 40-50 people aboard.
Save the money, book with someone else, or even watch from shore… you’d prob see the whales just as well.
Written February 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lawrence
Helena, MT17 contributions
Jan 2022
We utilized the services of Hawaii Nautical our of Waianae, HI for a Whale watching tour. Our original tour date and the craft we selected was rescheduled by them due to mechanical issues. I minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience to our vacation schedule nonetheless. Their Catamaran was very smooth riding, even in the swells on the ocean that day. We did see a few whales and at least one tail breach on our trip. So we did see some whale action, albeit from several hundred yards. Which was kinda what I expected.
For those who care, their Covid protocols are a joke! Once you board the boat no one was reminded to keep their masks over their nose and mouth, and social distancing was completely out the window. Very unsafe.
For those who care, their Covid protocols are a joke! Once you board the boat no one was reminded to keep their masks over their nose and mouth, and social distancing was completely out the window. Very unsafe.
Written January 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie N
Oxford, UK7 contributions
Jan 2022
We went early because reviews said there was a better chance to see the whales this cost slightly more, but was worth it as we saw a large whale very close and several others further away. The best experience was being on the boat which was nice and the views of Diamond head were worth the tour alone. But after 1 hour I did feel sea-sick, this meant that the 2 hours were more than enough time on the water. Overall I think this is a good value for money experience as long as you are happy to share the boat with others and expect not to see lots of whales, watching for them was part of the experience.
Written January 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom R
Bethesda, MD9 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
Early in the season and we were able to see 2 whales. They were on the move but the captain spotted one and she steered us over closer. We then realized there were two and to see them blowing water out and their huge tails was very cool!
The crew was awesome and knowledgeable, happily answering a lot of questions!
Great experience and I wish we had more time to try their snorkel experience.
The crew was awesome and knowledgeable, happily answering a lot of questions!
Great experience and I wish we had more time to try their snorkel experience.
Written December 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lakohls
Queensbury, NY64 contributions
Jan 2023
Crew was very upbeat and skipper called out "Whaaale" every time one was spotted. We took the 1:30 excursion and may have benefitted from the crew's experience that morning. They located at least 3 different whales groups during our trip and were successful in basically matching the cruising speed of a mom & baby across the inlet so we were able to parallel their course and see multiple instances of the pair surfacing and a breech as well!
About 40 folks on our trip with a wide age range. 2 hour trip was a good length and it seemed the younger participants were enjoying hanging out on the netted areas on the front of the catamaran.
I would suggest dropping any gratuity in the jar while a crew member is in the area so that they are aware of the appreciation shown.
About 40 folks on our trip with a wide age range. 2 hour trip was a good length and it seemed the younger participants were enjoying hanging out on the netted areas on the front of the catamaran.
I would suggest dropping any gratuity in the jar while a crew member is in the area so that they are aware of the appreciation shown.
Written January 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J.P.
7 contributions
Dec 2020
The crew was great! They promise you will see whales or else you get another ticket to ride for free. We didn't see any whales which worked out even better cause we got to to do a sunset trip on our last night which was also awesome.
Can't recommend these guys enough!
Can't recommend these guys enough!
Written December 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve D
3 contributions
Mar 2020
We decided to take the morning tour, we were picked up promptly at our hotel with a reminder the night before to be at the meeting location. Our guide arrived promptly and we drove to the docks.
We were given the safety instructions and then it was off to our excursion. Half of the fun was meeting new people while sipping on some adult beverages, great bloody marys by the way.
We were able to cruise along the coast down to just past Diamond Head and then back again. We were able to see one whale tail and a sea turtle but the captain felt that the whale tail was not enough of an adventure so he gave everyone on board a free pass for another excursion.
The waters were choppy but the captain made the ride smooth as could be.
We were able to see a submarine and a cruise ship as well.
A very good time all around, nicely done to the staff!
I found out from someone on our cruise that they took the makeup cruise the next day and got a full breach photo!
We were given the safety instructions and then it was off to our excursion. Half of the fun was meeting new people while sipping on some adult beverages, great bloody marys by the way.
We were able to cruise along the coast down to just past Diamond Head and then back again. We were able to see one whale tail and a sea turtle but the captain felt that the whale tail was not enough of an adventure so he gave everyone on board a free pass for another excursion.
The waters were choppy but the captain made the ride smooth as could be.
We were able to see a submarine and a cruise ship as well.
A very good time all around, nicely done to the staff!
I found out from someone on our cruise that they took the makeup cruise the next day and got a full breach photo!
Written April 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve D, we’re so happy you enjoyed your whale watch! We hope you come back soon.
Written April 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jim Jones
3 contributions
Feb 2020
This tour is listed as a 2h tour, starting at 3PM. We didn't start boarding until 3PM, left port at 3:15 and we were off the boat at 4:25. We did see whales. It was as though the crew said "Ok, we saw whales, let's head back to port". One of the crew members said she watched a National Geographic special on whales and that's how she learned about them. Another crew member said "I have a friend arriving at the airport now and we're going out on the town tonight". We did not feel that we were their top priority at all!
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for reaching out. We appreciate you joining us and take guests feedback very seriously. We will share your feedback with the crew.
Written March 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nan C
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Family
The whale guarantee is misleading. If you don’t see whales, you get a voucher for a re-sail. If you still don’t see whales, too bad. We paid twice as much as we would have with another company because of the guarantee, but we still didn’t see any whales. We had thought we could keep going back until we did, but that’s not the case. Very disappointing!
We had a great time our first time out. The crew was energetic and fantastic! But we had a different crew on our second sail, and we got the impression they didn’t expect to see any whales and were just going through the motions. Case in point: folks have to leave their shoes in a plastic bin before boarding. The shoes are laid out on the dock for you when you get back. It was a little rainy for our second sail and my shoes were sodden when I put them back on which made for a very uncomfortable walk home. They could have easily been left in the bin until the boat docked.
We had a great time our first time out. The crew was energetic and fantastic! But we had a different crew on our second sail, and we got the impression they didn’t expect to see any whales and were just going through the motions. Case in point: folks have to leave their shoes in a plastic bin before boarding. The shoes are laid out on the dock for you when you get back. It was a little rainy for our second sail and my shoes were sodden when I put them back on which made for a very uncomfortable walk home. They could have easily been left in the bin until the boat docked.
Written December 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paradise22887
7 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
You guys… we just got off afternoon whale watching trip with Hawaii Nautical. They were fantastic! Crew was super attentive and on point when whales were spotted. It was myself, my daughter and both my grands, 4 & 5. They let my grandson sit in captains chair! Cost was very affordable and totally worth it!!
Written January 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you have a pick up and drop off in the Waikiki area or are you near a bus route and. How do you get there on bus?
Written March 9, 2022
Do you have a pick up and drop off area in the Waikiki area or is the harbor near a bus route
Written March 9, 2022
What is the price difference am vs pm tour? What makes the morning tour more favorable if the guarantee is always offered?
Written March 3, 2022
Supposedly, the whales tend to be more active in the mornings. We did the 1:30 and had fantastic sightings, so I don’t know that it really matters!
Written March 3, 2022
Is the boat located within walking distance from the cruise ship (Princess) port or clock tower?
Written October 15, 2021
Why is there a difference in price between the morning and afternoon trip?
Written February 7, 2021
Are you still doing pickup from waikiki mid dec 2020?
Written November 17, 2020
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