2 Hour Afternoon Lahaina Whale Watch
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Maui, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Maximize your chances of seeing humpback whales in their natural habitat on this small-group boat tour that takes you out onto Maui's waters and into the national marine sanctuary. Get 360-degree views of whales against a backdrop of the surrounding islands and West Maui mountains, and listen to them underwater with the on-board hydrophone.
- Learn all about whales and their behavior from your guides
- Enjoy plenty of space on a comfortable boat with shade
- A small group means more opportunity to ask your guide questions
- This compact tour is perfect for travelers short on time in Maui
What's Included
- Bottled waterWe use paper cups and filtered water from a cooler to minimize our environmental impact!
- Extendable GoPro sticks are available on the boat.
- No restrooms onboard
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Mala Boat RampLahaina, HI 96761, USA
*Meet at Mala Boat Ramp* Please do not park in the Mala Boat Ramp lot—it’s reserved for resident trucks and trailers. Look for the “Jesus Coming Soon” sign on Front St and walk toward the water. Uber/Lyft recommended. Maui Bus stop at Cannery Mall is an 8–10 min walk.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.1:30 pm
Ticket Redemption Point
Mala Boat Ramp, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- No children under 3 permitted.
- No children under 3
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Louise_W
OMG what an experience, from start to finish, it was an amazing experience. The girls were so welcoming, informative and made the experience just overwhelming. We headed straight out and they spotted wales straight away, where we were given the most spectacular show. Thank you thank you thank you, we haven’t stopped smiling.
Reviews
5.0
based on 101 reviews
Michele_C, Mar 2026
Captain Emma and First Mate Shannon were a joy to share our up close whale experience! We even saw a mamma and baby! Then later, a female literally put on a performance, dancing in the waters and ultimately showing her snoot!
Tina_P, Mar 2026
Comfortable boat, excellent crew, great info, fun. We had the most incredible experience. Baby whale learning to breach. Momma whale under our boat, beside our boat. Whale was interested in us and came to us. Special.
Jamie_S, Mar 2026
The captain and first mate were incredibly knowledgeable and made it a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend this experience.
Gloria_L, Mar 2026
This is our second time for this whale watching tour and we think it’s just spectacular. It’s definitely something you should do while visiting Maui. You won’t be disappointed.
Petra_M, Mar 2026
That was a real fun experience! We saw a lot of Whales; some swimming right at the boat. The crew was fantastic, very knowledgeable and personable.
Melanie_A, Mar 2026
Perfect size 'pink' boat to be up close and personal with the whales :). We had a marvelous time with James and Mindy. SO many encounters - so many times. It was beyond words and our crew and group was so much fun! Highlight of our trip!
Alane_H, Feb 2026
We saw mamas, babies, and escorts frolicking. The music playlist was great!! James and Mindy are passionate about the experience they provide and are very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour.
Stefan_C, Feb 2026
Awesome boat tour crew, captain and first officer. They brought so much knowledge, experience, and excitement to such a cool experience. We had a fantastic time, thank you!
Fred_H, Feb 2026
Shannon and Lainie did a great job and were very experienced with whale behavior. Very personable and cheerful. About all one could ask for for this type of tour. We were even in whale jail which meant the boat was surrounded by several whales.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you Fred! Shannon and Lainie are just the best, they really are in tune with the whales! Whale jail is where we want to be, so glad you got to experience it!!
ChristineTittle, Feb 2026
Whale watching with Maui Ocean Adventure, saw so many whales in the misty, foggy weather. Mammas, babies, breaching and playing around. Incredible experience. 10/10 would do again
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Sometimes the fog and mist really make it adventurous! Thank you for braving the weather with us, and the whales always make it worth it!
Veta_T, Feb 2026
The crew were amazing and got as excited as the guests each time we saw a whale. Hearing the whales sing underwater was an added bonus.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
The whale song is definitely one of the most incredible things, and our crew never get tired of listening to or looking at the whales! Thank you for choosing us and joining us on the water!
Randy_H, Feb 2026
Small group on a small boat. Bounces around a little, so was hard to get good photos. Other than that, and great experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Mahalo Randy! The ocean does often make photography difficult, which is why good pictures are so coveted! We are glad you were able to have a good time regardless!
Bruce_J, Jan 2026
A beautiful afternoon was had by all . Multiple whale sitings with excellant and knowledgeable commentary by the captain (Emma ) . Weather was perfect . Emma was able to keep the boat at just the right distance for the perfect experience. Will repeat on my next visit.
Kudos to the team .
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Mahalo Bruce! So glad to hear that the weather and experience were perfect. Captain Emma works hard to try to get good views for the whole boat! Maybe when we see you on the next visit we will earn that last star ;)
Justin_G, Jan 2026
Absolutely incredible experience. James and Natalie provided an adventure we won't forget. Saw more whales and got closer than we could've expected. Such a great crew
Response from Host, Feb 2026
James and Natalie are quite the team! They have infectious excitement and we are so stoked you got to experience close whales! Thank you so much for the review!
Michelle_K, Jan 2026
Had a fantastic time with this organisation. We were fortunate enough to see the whales very close up and spent over 30 minutes watching them swim around the boat. Our captain James and guide Natalie were very knowledgeable and friendly.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Michelle! Natalie and James are the best, and we are so happy you had your whale watch turn into a "people watch"!!
Nancy_Z, Jan 2026
The captain and crew were highly professional, very entertaining to be with and knowledgeable. We saw 2 mom and baby whales and 3 boyfriends. LOL that's what the crew members called the male whales!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Mahalo Nancy! It sure is a whale party out there, and sometimes the mom's have to deal with a lot of whale drama! So glad you had a great experience!
Gabi_B, Jan 2026
Captain Emma and First Mate Lainey were AMAZING hosts. They were enthusiastic and knowledgeable and we couldn’t have felt more safe. The whales were out in full force and they came so close. It was truly a magical experience and we are grateful to the crew for their expertise!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Captain Emma and Lainie are the hostesses with the mostesses whale knowledge, as they say! The whales really do remind us of the magic that Mother Nature holds!
Suzy_D, Jan 2026
Wonderful experience. The Captains were well informed and fun.
The vest whale watching I’ve ever experienced
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Suzy! We always aim to be the best!
Jody_W, Jan 2026
Incredible. Lost count of how many whales we saw up close. Great crew as well. Boat is mid size compared to others but plenty of room even when it's full. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Jody! The best way to be overwhelmed is when you're overwhelmed with whales! We are so glad you were comfortable on the boat as well!
Abby_R, Jan 2026
Loved our tour! The tour guides were kind and full of knowledge. They were kind to our four year old and answered all our questions!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We love including the little ones! Thank you for choosing us!
Debbie_K, Jan 2026
Captains were friendly and informative. Great experience!
Saw many whales!
Only drawback was parking so far away because marina lot was not open to patrons.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha Debbie! Thank you so much for the kind words! We totally understand that the parking situation can be difficult at times, so thank you for working through it and we hope the whales made it worth the hassle!
Arthi_R, Dec 2025
Fun experience! Boat ride is bumpy on the choppy waters. Guides were knowledgeable and we saw over 8-9 whales at different spots !!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
I'm so glad you got to see so many whales!! Yes, offshore the water can get choppy, and sometimes you have to go there to get the good whales.
Thank you so much for your review and for supporting us!
Katy_B, Dec 2025
Absolutely loved this!!! Our group of grandparents, parents and kids (ages 65-6) all had a great time! Easy to find the group and such a fun time on the boat. James and Mindy were whale experts and lead us quickly to a group of 8-9 whales. We swatched them splash and play for so long and watched a few of them swim right under us! Such a cool experience!!! Would recommend this to anyone!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the kind review!! James and Mindy are wonderful whale experts!! Their whale footage has been featured on Discovery Channel, because they are so good at finding good whales! Thank you so much for coming out with us and supporting us!!
Karen_N, Dec 2025
What an amazing experience! Emma and Laini were fabulous. Both were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The boat itself is pristine and felt more luxurious than we expected!! As for whales, totally unforgettable encounters! So glad we chose Maui Ocean Adventures!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We are so glad you chose Maui Ocean Adventures!!!
Thank you for coming out with us and thank you for supporting us!! I'll tell Emma and Lainie you thought they were fabulous!!!
Sarah_T, Dec 2025
James and Mindy were phenomenal tour guides on the whale watch! It was so much fun. The water was choppy and we got soaked and I laughed harder than I have in so long! It was great😂💚🩵
Response from Host, Dec 2025
You embody the Macy boat mantra! Just have fun even when the weather isn't perfect!! Rain or shine, choppy or calm, our dog Macy was always so stoked to be out there! Thank you for trusting us to show you a great time. The weather off Lahaina is 95% perfect all the time, but yes, we do get some days where it's not perfect..I'm glad you brought the fun and thank you for riding the Macy boat!!
Anevay_D, Dec 2025
First time whale watching but OMG!!! What an experience! The Shannon the captain and her first mate were so friendly and knowledgeable. 10/10 would definitely recommend
Response from Host, Dec 2025
"The Shannon" is what we are going to call her now, because she is becoming an infamous whale spotting hero on these Maui waters! Thank you so much for supporting us, and creating a new nickname for our wonderful captain!! We hope to see you out again with us!!
Louise_W, Dec 2025
OMG what an experience, from start to finish, it was an amazing experience. The girls were so welcoming, informative and made the experience just overwhelming. We headed straight out and they spotted wales straight away, where we were given the most spectacular show. Thank you thank you thank you, we haven’t stopped smiling.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for whale watching with us!! We absolutely want to be the most welcoming and friendly tour boat on this island!! We are so glad you had a great time and had a spectacular show!!
Douglas_B, Dec 2025
captain James and naturalist. Mindy were excellent tour guides. They were able to help us find whales and explain everything we were seeing. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful experience.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
I am so happy to hear about your experience! James and Mindy are awesome, and I'm glad you got them as your Captain and Crew!!
Christopher_S, Dec 2025
Very good tour. The captain and first mate were great, very informative on whale topics and encouraged questions and involvement from guests. Check in was easy and a convenient location to where we were staying near Lahaina. It was incredible seeing whales and at the start of whale season in HI.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We are so happy you got to join us for our very first trip of the season and that the whales welcomed you with open fins!! We love it when our guests get involved and get to truly feel like they are part of this amazing experience we try to provide!!!!
Cherie_P, Dec 2025
The boat was comfortable, with shade available. We had an amazing experience and saw several whales, 3 whales breached, others flapped their tails. Enjoyed the experience of listening to the whale sounds too! The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Amazing!!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
I am so happy you got to see the whale with the flappy tails!! And thank you for complimenting our comfortable boat and our wonderful Captain and Crew!!
From $79.99
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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2 Hour Afternoon Lahaina Whale Watch
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