All Reviews for Lahaina Town, Maui

I was able to travel to Maui during the winter season, so I decided to enjoy whale watching and made a reservation in advance with VELTRA. This is definitely an activity you should participate in if you travel to Maui.

First of all, there are numerous whale watching tours in Lahaina. The tour I participated in had its check-in and departure point at the main loading dock right in front of the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, where there were more than ten operating booths. Despite this, I saw several people who tried to sign up on the day and were turned away due to being "fully booked," with alternative dates suggested. I think it's better to make a reservation in advance.

It was quite a windy day, but I had no worries about seasickness (though this is just my personal opinion). Of course, it wasn't completely smooth, but it was more like the sensation of a theme park ride rather than the kind of rocking that causes seasickness, and it had quite a sense of speed.

As we departed from Lahaina Harbor and saw the streets of Lahaina, it was truly wonderful. Just this view felt worth the price (laughs). In the first half, we didn't see many whales, but in the second half, we were able to see whales up close quite frequently. The staff was friendly, enthusiastically pointing out, "Look over there!" and "Ten o'clock direction!"

Most of the passengers were not Japanese, but there were no particular issues as we didn't need to converse with each other. The shape of the boat was large enough to accommodate about 40 people, and it was two stories. Most passengers enjoyed the activity on the upper deck. There was also a bar corner (with soft drinks available, of course). There was no pressure to order drinks.

As for some advice, I recommend fully charging your camera or smartphone battery. You never know where the whales will surface. They have a behavior pattern of "suddenly surfacing with their snout, then diving headfirst into the water, and finally showing their tail before submerging," which lasts about 20 seconds. Therefore, to capture that decisive moment, you need to keep your camera ON at all times. I missed out on taking good photos because my battery wasn't sufficiently charged (T_T). Also, while cruising, it can be quite windy, so be careful not to get blown away.

　冬の時季にマウイ島に旅行することができましたので、ホエールウオッチングを楽しむことにしてVELTRAさんで事前に予約しました。
　マウイ島に旅行される場合はぜひ参加したいアクティビティです。

　まず、ラハイナでは数多くのホエールウオッチングツアーがあります。今回参加したツアーはラハイナのパイオニアインのすぐ前のmain loading dockが受付・出港場所ですが、ここだけでも１０を超える営業小屋？がありました。それにもかかわらず当日に申し込みをしようとして「満員」ということで断られ、別の日などを提示されていた方を何人か見かけました。事前予約しておいた方が良いと思います。

　当日はかなり風が強い日でした。しかし船酔いなどの心配はまったくありませんでした（ただし個人的な感想です）。もちろんまったく揺れない訳ではありませんが、船酔いのする揺れではなく、遊園地の乗り物のような感じのけっこうスピード感のあるものでした。
　ラハイナ港を出港して、ラハイナの街並みを見るととても素晴らしいものでした。これだけでも料金の元を取ったような感じでした（笑）
　前半ではあまりクジラを見ることはできませんでしたが、後半になるとかなりの頻度でクジラを近くから見ることができました。スタッフもフレンドリーで、「あっちに見えるぞ」、「１０時方向だ」などと熱心に対応してくれました。

　乗客のほとんどは日本人以外の方でしたが、お互いに会話が必要な訳でもなく特に問題はありませんでした。
　船の形状は４０人くらいが満員の大きさで、２階建てです。ほとんどの乗客は２階部分でアクティビティを楽しみます。一応、バーコーナー（もちろんソフトドリンク有り）もあります。飲み物のオーダーを強制されるようなことはありません。
　
　何点かアドバイス的なことでは、カメラやスマホのバッテリーは十分に充電しておくことをお勧めします。クジラはどこに顔を出すか分かりません。「ギューンと口先から顔を出して、そのまま海面に頭から潜っていき、最後にテールを出した後に水中に潜る」という行動パターンです。この間、２０秒ほどです。そのため決定的瞬間を撮影するためには、いつもカメラをONにしておく必要があるからです。私は充電が十分でなかったため、良い写真を撮りはぐってしまいました(T_T)
　それから会場をクルージングしていると風が強いです。飛ばされないように注意して下さい。
　

We have been to several luaus on our many trips to Maui and this one is by far the best !! Food, entertainment, view.....everything was just perfect !! Would definitely recommend this activity if you are looking for a truly authentic luau. You won't be disappointed.

It was the season, so I was able to see a lot! We even saw breaching! Although it was far away, we saw it twice right in front of us. The Japanese guide also came along and provided explanations about the highlights and why whales inhabit Maui during this time, making it a very fulfilling whale watching experience.

シーズンなのでたくさん見れました！しかもブリーチングまで！遠くでしたが正面に2回も。日本語ガイドさんも来てくださり見所とか、なぜこの時期マウイ島に生息しているのかとか、解説もしていただけたのでとても充実したホエールウォッチングでした。

I frequently saw the backs and tails of whales. Although I couldn't see them jumping like in photos, I was very satisfied with the atmosphere of slowly cruising the waters around Maui for about two hours in the early morning.

クジラの背中や尻尾は頻繁に見えた。写真のようなジャンピングは見れなかったが、早朝から２時間ほど船でマウイ島の海をゆっくりクルージングする雰囲気が大変よかったので満足。

Dinner was really great and the view was amazing. Dinner mints were a wonderful idea as we had a few in the group get a little motion sick but they cured the issue. Thank you, we will come again!

I mistakenly remembered the date I booked online as one day later, and realized my mistake the night before what I thought was my whale watching day (the reservation was actually for that afternoon). On a whim, I called the local contact the next morning to explain the situation, and they said that while a Japanese guide wouldn't be available, I was welcome to join if that was okay. I was able to board the boat successfully! Thank you very much!

Once we headed out, I was able to see many whales, which was truly moving. They looked small in photos, but with the naked eye, I could see them much larger and closer. The sound of their tails hitting the water was incredibly powerful.

It was a relatively cloudy day, but after sitting outside for just 20 minutes, I got really sunburned, so sunscreen is a must. Also, I think those who are prone to seasickness should take precautions. Surprisingly, I found it quite comfortable to let myself be carried by the waves while sitting outside.

ネットで予約した日を１日遅く間違えて覚えており、明日はホエールウォッチングだと思った日の夜に間違いに気付きました（その日のお昼予約だったのです）。ダメ元で翌日朝に現地の連絡先に電話し事情を話すと、日本語ガイドは間に合わないがそれでもよければいらしてくださいとの事。無事上船することができました！ありがとうございました！
沖へ出るとたくさんのクジラを見ることができて感動的でした。写真では小さいですが、肉眼ではもっと大きく近くにクジラを見ることができました。
尾びれで水面を叩く音は迫力満点です。
割と雲が多い日だったのですが、外の席へ20分も座っていたらすごく日焼けしたので、日焼け止めは必須です。
また、船酔いされやすい方は対策が必要だと思います。外の席で波に身を任せるようにすると意外に楽でした。

It was my first time whale watching. I thought it would be nice to at least see the shadow of a whale, but whales appeared everywhere, which was beyond my expectations. However, I felt like we were being played with, as the boat would move towards the direction where the whales appeared, but they wouldn't show themselves easily.

初めてのホエールウォッチングでした。クジラの影でも見れたら良いな、ぐらいに考えていたのですが、あちこちにクジラが現れ、想像以上でした。ただクジラが現れた方向に船が移動するとなかなか姿を見せないなど、遊ばれているようにも感じました。

Although I couldn't see much of the whales jumping due to the interaction with nature, it was enjoyable to see pods of dolphins and pilot whales up close.

自然とのふれあいなのであまりクジラのジャンプなど見れなかったけど、イルカやゴンドウなどの群れがまじかに見えて楽しかったです。

I reserved a VIP seat.
The all-you-can-drink alcohol was great.
I thoroughly enjoyed the authentic Hawaiian experience.
The girls' dancing was impressive, but all the boys were cute, and my wife (66 years old) was delighted.

VIPシートを予約しました。
アルコール、飲み放題良かったです。
本場のハワイアン、堪能しました。
女の子の踊りも上手だったけど、男の子が皆んな可愛くて、家内(66歳)が喜んでいました。

Since it was early January, it was still before the peak season, but thanks to the captain taking us to a great spot, we were able to see many whales up close, including mothers and their calves, as well as couples. It was an incredible experience and we were very satisfied!

1月上旬だったのでまだピーク前でしたが、船長さんがいい場所に連れて行ってくださったおかげで間近でクジラの母子、カップルなどなど沢山見ることができました。
大迫力＆大満足です！

We had an incredible time on this trip. The boat was clean and the staff was courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable. Our captain was great at locating whales and she was extremely skilled at maneuvering the boat so we always had the best view. Originally I had bought my ticket for 3 days earlier however, upon arriving in Maui my husband got sick and we were unable to go. I expected to have to just eat the cost of our tickets but I called the company and Sylvia was great and rescheduled us for later in the week with no penalty. I highly recommend this company and I would use them again.

Everything was great. The instructors made it fun by their sense of humor, but you could tell that they also always had safety in mind. Felt safe at all times.

I was afraid that we would be hiking up a huge mountain or something because the description states you will do a lot of walking, however they take you up the mountain in a van. The only walking that you do is front platform to platform, which isn't much. So we were glad for that.

The views from the ziplines of the ocean were amazing. Would recommend for all.

Everything was great. The food, the drinks, the entertainment. It wasn't cheezy like I was thinking it would be. The dances actually had meaning behind them. Service was great also. Sometimes you think whenever they say "All you can drink" that they will give you like 1 drink and make you beg for the rest. Not the case here, they kept the drinks coming and they were good quality drinks.
Also liked how the local people were selling their goods around the interior. This package had everything that you could want. Great Hawaiian experience.

We participated in this on our honeymoon.
The date of participation was December 25th.
We were the only Japanese people, but our Japanese guide, TAKA, showed us around.
Soon after departing, we encountered whales jumping, just like you see on TV!
TAKA not only provided us with detailed information about the whales' ecology but also offered a generous amount of service.
After that, we were able to find whales ourselves and cheer along with everyone else on board.
Both the whales and TAKA congratulated us on our marriage, making it a fun and memorable cruise.

新婚旅行で参加しました．
参加日は12月25日．
日本人は我々だけでしたが，日本人ガイドのTAKAさんがご案内くださいました．
出港するや間もなく，TVで見るようなクジラのジャンプに遭遇！
TAKAさんからはクジラの詳しい生態をご教示いただくにとどまらず，
サービスたっぷりな案内をいただき，
その後は自分たち自身がクジラを見つけて，
一緒に乗船した皆さんと歓声を上げることが出来ました．
クジラにもTAKAさんにも結婚を祝福してもらい，
楽しく思い出に残るクルーズになりました．

I was able to see the whales up close. The guide was Japanese and very attentive!! The excitement of watching the whales spout water and come up was like an attraction!

クジラをしっかり見ることができました。ガイドさんも日本人で丁寧な対応でした！！クジラが潮を吹いて、出てくるまでの盛り上がりはアトラクションのようでした！

We did this tour during the whale mating season so we expected to see a whale or two but what we saw was amazing. At first the whales kept their distance but after awhile they began approaching the boat. Soon dozens of whales were surrounding the boat and showing off their dives, breaches and spouting. They were close enough to spout whale 'snot' on us!! The skipper said their nearness was very unusual and he prolonged the tour by 1/2 hour.

I made a reservation on-site the day before. There was no Japanese guide, but I was able to participate in the tour without any issues. I wasn't able to see the big whale jumps that I had imagined, but I still had a good time.

現地で前日に予約をしました。日本語ガイドはありませんでしたが、問題なくツアーに参加する事ができました。
想像していたような、クジラの大ジャンプまで見ることはできませんでしたが、それなりに楽しむことが出来ました。

We loved the atmosphere, the staff treated us very well and spoiled us with amazing food and the show was incredible! I would definitely recommend it. For special occasions or just to experience the full hawaian atmosphere and taste of the local traditions.

My family absolutely loved this activity. Great service, fantastic food and drinks. Great performance sharing the tradition of Aloha and the history. Luau was also in a great location overlooking the beach. Very close to where we were staying.

What to expect? A warm shell Lei greeting, photo for purchase, friendly staff, great service, great performance, great Mai Tai's, and a meal that will make you want to stay in Maui. This activity is recommended for anyone of any age. Great time!

It is hard not to recommend whale watching. Had a great time with the family. Seen a few whales up close but most activity was from a distance. A few awesome whale tails. The crew was great. If you never went whale watching this should be on the bucket list.

What to expect? A great view from either side of the boat and a relaxing day with sun. Crew members explaining whale behaviors and pointing them out so you can follow and hopefully get some great photos.

This cruise is highly recommended (Maui Princess). The crew was awesome. The musician was awesome. Played great songs all night. The captain even turned the lights out to gaze at the sky full of stars.

Service, food, and drinks were outstanding. Enjoyed a beautiful Maui sunset, quite a few whales all while feeling completely relaxed and truly enjoying the moment. My family has raved about this cruise ever since.

I would recommend this for couples or families. What to expect? A great time with a crew that goes out of their way to ensure you love every minute. Everyone of all ages had a smile on their face during the cruise.

Heads up: both parking and the stand for the whale watch tour was difficult to find. Luckily we were able to get ourselves on the next tour after missing the originally scheduled one due to the variables above. Tour guide was professional, but for a whale watching tour, and given our expections for the season, it was not up to par. Maybe next time.

We encountered a pod just a few minutes after setting sail, and they even showed us some jumping. We encountered pods several more times, and we were able to see whales that came very close to us. The Japanese guide was also excellent, thank you very much.

出航後数分で群れに遭遇、ジャンピングまで披露してくれました。その後も数回群れに遭遇し、間近まで近づいてきてくれたクジラまで観れました。日本語ガイドの方も最高で、ありがとうございました。

Friendly and knowledgeable crew, really well organized expedition. We were told we were particularly lucky as we saw many whales and at least 6 breaching. Beautiful animals. We learned a lot and left the boat excited and happy.

The whale watching experience was the best. The crew was patient answering questions from our granddaughters. We learned great information about why the whales come to Hawaii and the times best to see interaction between males and females.

The crew was amazing. They went out of their way to answer any questions we had. They made the experience interactive and tried their best to make sure all sides of the boats had equal viewing time for the whales.

We were totally impressed with the professionalism of the research staff on the whale watch of Dec 8. The pilot was extremely experienced and could pick up the behavior of the whales from afar to make an educated guess as to if they might come up more often than not. The attendants were knowledgeable as well providing much information as to the life cycles of the hump back whales. Many questions were answered to our satisfaction. They put a sort of a microphone to attempt to detect whale sounds although not successful they were willing to try all the technology to help us have the best experience ever. I really think luck played a big part in our amazing morning of whale watching but that being said it's worth taking a chance and we most appreciated the staffs attention to safety and providing all the education they did. The juvenile whales came right up to our boat and we're curious and playing around the boat so long the pilot had to call a sailboat over to distract them away so we could start our engine and return to shore. It was just amazing.

The staff was courteous, on time, knowledgeable, and fun. We had a blast and were closer to whales than ever before. A fantastic value.

I didnt really know what to expect...
What we got was a large, clean, well equipped vessel. A very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great weather and phenomenal views of several different pods of humpback whales.
We could not have asked for a better experience!

The cruise started off at the harbor where we checked-in, waiting to board. Once we were seated, the boat undocked and we were on our way to watch some whales. The narration was the best part of the trip. The narrators were very informative and would tell us stories. They were always on the lookout for whales and try their best to take the boat as close them as possible but it was our mis-fortune that around that time we could only spot a few whales that too for just a couple of seconds. On the other hand, the views were surreal from the middle of the ocean. They guarantee a sighting and that's exactly what we got but I wish it was for longer.