Humpbacks winter off this coast from December to March, peaking in January and February, while pilot whales and spinner dolphins stay all year. Whale trips run 2.5 to 3 hours for $99.99 to $139.99 per adult.
Dark months are the peak for that species, light months are the rest of its season. October is marked.
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whale | January: peak | February: peak | March: in season | April: not usually seen | May: not usually seen | June: not usually seen | July: not usually seen | August: not usually seen | September: not usually seen | October: not usually seen | November: not usually seen | December: in season |
| Pilot whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: in season |
Peak In season
From dolphindiscoveries.com. Whales turn up outside these months too.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Boat | If no whales | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphin and Whale Watching Kailua-KonaIncludes Island juices and bottled water, Binoculars on board, Underwater hydrophone |
$99.99 per person |
2.5 hours; two departures daily |
6 to 20 |
5 (ages 5 to 70) | Open-air boat, 6 to 20 guests | Not stated | Check dates | ||
Super-Raft Whale Watching AdventureIncludes Marine naturalist narration, Water, soft drinks and snacks, Sunscreen, Shade and onboard restroom |
$125 per adult |
2.5 hours; departs 1:30 pm daily |
6+ (no children 5 and under) | 41 ft super-raft | Sightings guaranteed or come again for free | Check dates | |||
3 Hour Whale Watch Cruise |
$135 per adult |
3 hours |
Advertised as guaranteed tours; terms not stated | Check dates | |||||
Big Island Whale Watching TourIncludes Marine naturalist narration, Snacks, Sodas, juices, tea and coffee, Underwater hydrophone when possible |
$139.99 per adult |
2.5 hours; departs 1 pm daily |
All ages (infant fare 5 and under) | Catamaran; operator's homepage describes its catamaran as 65 ft | Sightings guaranteed or come again for free | Check dates | |||
Super-Raft Whale Watching Adventure (private charter)Includes Marine naturalist narration, Water, soft drinks and snacks |
$2,300 per group |
2.5 hours |
6+ | 41 ft super-raft | Not stated | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Kailua Pier in Kailua-Kona is the boarding point for Body Glove's 41 ft Super-Raft, which leaves at 1:30 pm daily in season. Body Glove's catamaran whale watch, on the Kanoa II, sails at 1 pm, but its page does not say where guests board. The company's office is at 75-5629 Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona.
Dolphin Discoveries guests check in at its store in the Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Alii Dr, Suite F-146. From there they drive to Keauhou Bay and board at 78-7130 Kaleiopapa St. The operator asks guests not to arrive more than 10 minutes early. Captain Dan McSweeney's pages do not name a harbor. His trips head for the whale grounds north of Kona's airport when weather and sea allow, and his FAQ contrasts this with operators that stay within a few miles of Kailua-Kona. The airport is about 7 miles (11 km) from town.
Humpbacks spend their summers mainly in Alaska and return to Hawaii each winter to breed, calve and nurse. NOAA puts the current Hawaii gathering at more than 12,000 whales. Hawaii's tourism board says they can be seen off the island from December to May. Kona trips work a shorter window: Body Glove's catamaran runs December to March and its Super-Raft into April. Dolphin Discoveries gives December to March, with January and February the peak, and Captain Dan McSweeney sails from late December through March.
Other whales live here all year. Dolphin Discoveries lists pilot whales, melon-headed whales and beaked whales off this coast year-round, along with spinner, bottlenose and spotted dolphins. Captain Dan McSweeney's FAQ says many kinds of whales are present in every season, and the tourism board also notes that other whale species use these waters outside humpback season.
Captain Dan McSweeney's trips leave at 6:30 and 10:30 am, and his FAQ says mornings bring cooler air, calmer water, better light for photos and less traffic. Whales are present at either time of day, he adds, so the choice comes down to your schedule. Body Glove's two whale trips leave in the afternoon, at 1 pm on the catamaran and 1:30 pm on the Super-Raft. Captain Dan's trips to the grounds north of the airport run only when weather and water allow.
Dolphin Discoveries uses an open-air boat for 6 to 20 guests, and passengers must be at least 5 years old. Body Glove's Super-Raft has shade and a restroom, but it is not for pregnant guests or anyone with regular neck or back pain, and it takes no children under 6. For clothing, Captain Dan suggests light casual wear, soft-soled shoes and perhaps a light windbreaker, plus sunscreen, a visor or cap and sunglasses.
Body Glove sells two whale trips, both with its promise of sightings or another trip free. The 2.5-hour catamaran cruise on the Kanoa II costs $139.99 per adult, $119.99 for ages 6 to 17 and $49.99 for children 5 and under. It includes naturalist narration, snacks and soft drinks, plus a hydrophone when possible. The 41 ft Super-Raft costs $125 per adult and $105 for ages 6 to 17, or $2,300 as a private charter.
Dolphin Discoveries is the small-boat choice at $99.99 for 2.5 hours with 6 to 20 guests, juices, binoculars and a hydrophone, and its captains narrate alongside a naturalist crew. Its free return trip applies if no dolphins are seen, not whales. Captain Dan McSweeney, who has studied whales and dolphins for more than 35 years, runs 3-hour cruises at $135 per adult and $125 per child (up to age 11 and 90 lbs). Fares support the Wild Whale Research Foundation, and the trips are sold as guaranteed without published terms.
from $99.99 per person
Dolphin and Whale Watching Kailua-Kona
Free return trip if no dolphins are seen, space permitting; no whale guarantee stated
from $125 per adult
Super-Raft Whale Watching Adventure and 2 more options
Catamaran whale watch runs December to March; Super-Raft runs December to April
from $135 per adult
3 Hour Whale Watch Cruise
Run by whale researcher Captain Dan McSweeney for almost four decades
Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 21, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.
