All Reviews for Whale Watch Tours in Maui

I returned home yesterday.
I participated in the OP starting at 7 AM.
I was able to see more than I expected.
The beautiful appearance from the back to the tail while diving and even the jumps.
I walked a bit to the parking lot, but I used the free parking and went shopping right after the OP.
What was disappointing was that only a few in my family understood English, so not everyone could grasp the explanations.

Also, during boarding, they took group photos, which are sold for $20 along with a CD containing pictures of the whales.
Get ready!

昨日帰国しました。
朝7時からのOPに参加しました。
思ったより見れましたよ。
潜るときの背から尾までのきれいな姿やジャンプまで。
駐車場は少し歩きましたが無料駐車場を利用し、OP後にそのまま買い物しました。
残念だったのは家族の内、英語を理解できるのが一部しかいなかったため全員が説明を理解できなかったことかな。

あと、乗船時にグループごとに写真撮影してくれて、クジラの写真が入ったCDと一緒に20ドルで販売されます。
心の準備を！

In December, the tour just started a couple of days ago. It was about a two-hour cruise, and we saw whales about three times in the distance. Although we didn't see many whales, the guide and the crew were kind, and above all, the sea was very beautiful, making for a pleasant cruise. It might be good to note that there are still fewer whales in December compared to January or February.

12月で、一昨日から今年のツアーが始まったばかりというタイミングでした。
二時間くらいのクルーズで、クジラは遠くに3回くらい現れました。
あまりクジラは見れませんでしたが、ガイドさんや船員の皆さんは親切で、何より海がとても綺麗で、気持ちいいクルーズでした。
1月や2月～に比べると、12月はまだクジラが少ないと注意書きがあっても良いかもしれません。

It was early in the morning, but the boat was quite full. Surprisingly, there were whales nearby. We were able to see some very large ones and a couple of whales up close, and my wife, who saw them for the first time, was delighted.

朝早かったのですが、船はかなり一杯でした。意外と近くにクジラがいます。かなり大きいものや、カップルのくじらなど近くで見ることができ、初めて見た家内も喜んでいました。

We saw whales doing different things. We saw the tails and back of the whales as they swam and they were completely oblivious to us. I was hoping to see whales up close. But the state law does not allow the boat to get close. So they were not really that impressive from that far away.

We went with 4 kids, 2 grandmas and an aunt- hoping to see whales. What we had was a humorous and informative host, as well, amazing videos and pictures of a full 90 min whale adventure. The captain took us to a few spots, but we were lucky enough to see everything from tail splashing, diving under our boat, fin waving and blow hole splashing. We all had a great time!

On March 29, 2013, I went with my family of three (10-year-old boy). We were able to see quite a few spouts here and there and encountered more whales than we expected. Thanks to the captain searching for various spots, we were able to see them frequently, which was moving. Of course, we were also able to take pictures of tails and jumps. I brought my EOS Kiss X6i with a 135mm lens, but for more impactful photos, a 300mm lens might be better.

It was quite windy on the water, making it very cold, so a jacket is essential. The boat also swayed a lot, so preparation and readiness are necessary. However, my wife, who usually gets seasick, was able to enjoy the tour without any issues. We drove directly to the meeting point (Lahaina Dock) with a rental car. There is free street parking for up to three hours, but considering our plans to explore Lahaina afterward, we parked in a public lot ($16 for 2-6 hours). Since it was an early morning plan, both options were available, but it might be difficult to find parking nearby if you go later in the day.

2013/3/29に家族３人（10歳/男）で行ってきました。
結構あちらこちらで潮吹きが見られ、思ったより沢山のクジラに遭遇することができました。
キャプテンが色々とスポットを探してくれたせいか、ポンポン見れる感じで、感動しました。
もちろん、シッポやジャンプの写真もとることができました。
EOS-KissX6i+135mmのセットを持っていきましたが、迫力ある写真を撮ろうとすると300mmくらいあったほうが良いかもしれません。
海上は風があって、かなり寒いので、上着が必須なのと、かなり船が揺れるため、準備と覚悟が必要です。ただし、船に弱い妻も、船酔いすることなくツアーを楽しむことができました。
我が家はレンタカーで直接集合場所（ラハイナドック）に行きました。
３時間まで無料の路上Pもありますが、その後のラハイナ散策も考慮して公共Pに車を駐車しました。（2-6Hで$16）早朝プランだったので、どちらも空いていましたが、遅い時間だと近場に駐車スペースを見つけるのに苦労するかもしれません。

I participated in a very affordable early morning plan. Shortly after departure, we spotted whales, and the excitement on the boat was incredible! As we continued, whales appeared here and there, and I didn't know where to look! I learned for the first time that whales travel in groups; I thought they only traveled as mothers and their calves. It was quite windy and cold on the boat, so a jacket is necessary. Still, taking pictures of the whales is quite challenging.

大変お得な早朝プランで参加しました。
出発して間もなくクジラの姿が見えてきて船上は大興奮！！
さらに走っていくと、あちらでもこちらでもクジラが現れ一体どこを見たらよいのか！！？？状態でした。
クジラってグループで行動しているんですね、親子だけかと思っていたのですが今回初めて知ることができました。
船上はけっこう風が強くて寒いですので上着は必要。
それにしても、クジラの写真を撮るのは難しいです（：：）

Since it's close to the hotel, we chose to depart from Ka'anapali Beach. I was wondering where to board since there wasn't a pier, but you actually get on the boat from the beach. It feels a bit like a fun attraction, which is enjoyable. I sat in a hammock seat, so it felt different from usual, and there were some people lounging around.

You might be able to see whales up close depending on luck, so it can vary each time, but I recommend it for those visiting during this season!

Also, please be cautious as there are places where you might get wet.

ホテルに近いことからカアナパリビーチ発にしました。
桟橋とかなくて、どこから乗るのかなぁって思ってたら
ビーチから船に乗るんです。ちょっとしたアトラクション気分で乗るので
楽しいっ。ハンモック席に座ったのでいつもと違う感じがして
寝そべっている方もいました。

またクジラは運次第で近くで見れるのでその時によって異なるか
と思われますが、この時期に行かれる方オススメです！

また場所によっては濡れることもあるので注意してください。

I went whale watching from Lahaina on Maui with a Japanese guide named Gaito. At first, I thought we might only see them from a distance, but to my surprise, a mother and baby whale came very close, jumping and waving, and we even got to see the whale's tail up close. Saori from Gaito was very kind, which was great. We also received juice and snack vouchers. It was a very enjoyable two hours that flew by.

マウイ島のラハイナから日本語のガイトさんがのる便で鯨をみに行きました。最初は遠くからしか見えないのかな～と思いましたが、なんと、おやこ鯨が大接近、ジャンプに、手をふったり、鯨のシッポも間近でみれました。ガイトのさおりさんもとても親切でよかったです。ジュースとスナック券ももらいました、とても楽しいあっというまの２時間です。

Since it's my first time visiting Maui in winter, I definitely wanted to go whale watching, but I wasn't confident in my English, so I joined this tour where a Japanese staff member would be on board.

When I arrived at Lahaina Harbor, I was surprised by the crowd of people. It was a bit difficult to find the tour desk, but after checking in and sitting on a bench, Satomi, the staff member, approached us. Since we were the only Japanese people there, she stayed with us the whole time, sharing lots of information about whales, which felt like a great deal.

Of course, we saw plenty of whales; they were splashing their tails everywhere, and three of them swam right alongside the boat, which made for a very satisfying whale watching experience. The pizza place that Satomi recommended was also delicious.

Thank you very much!

初めて冬のマウイに行くので、ホエールウォッチングは絶対行きたいけれど英語に自信がないので、日本人スタッフが一緒に乗船してくれるこのツアーに参加しました。
ラハイナ港に着くと人人人で人の多さにびっくりです。
ツアーデスクを探すのに、少し見つけにくかったのですが、受付が終わってベンチに座っていると、すぐにスタッフのさとみさんが声をかけてくださり、ちょうど私たちだけが日本人ということで、ずっと付いてくださって、鯨の話をいろいろ聞けてお得感満載でした。
もちろん鯨もたくさん見れて、あちこちで鯨が尾びれをバシャバシャしてましたし、3頭が仲良く船のすぐ近くまで並走してくれたり大満足のホエールウォッチングでした。
さとみさんお勧めのピザ屋さんも美味しかったです。
ありがとうございました。

The Whale Watching was fun. The only problem was that we could not hear what was being said over the speakers. Too noisey.

I participated in a whale watching tour in late January with my sixth-grade son. We traveled all the way to Maui to show him whales, which are hard to see in Japan, in person.

The boat was large enough to accommodate over 100 people, but there were only a few passengers that day, with four Japanese and a few foreigners on the first floor, allowing for a comfortable seating arrangement. A Japanese guide was also on board, providing detailed explanations.

Before boarding, I was filled with anxiety about whether we would actually see any whales, but shortly after setting sail, we spotted whale spouts in various directions. The captain steered the boat toward them, and we quickly arrived near the whales.

After that, we could see whales all around us without even having to search, and I was able to capture their trademark cute tails on camera. It seems that around February to early March, about 4,000 whales come close to Maui.

Of course, my son was also thrilled with the impressive whales. The two-hour boat ride passed by much quicker than I expected, and I didn’t even have time to feel seasick.

During the cruise, we received a ticket that could be exchanged for either two drinks or a drink and a dessert or snack. I think the cost performance is excellent.

I highly recommend whale watching in Maui during the winter!

一月下旬にホエールウォッチングに参加させていただきました。小6の息子との二人旅。日本では　なかなか見ることのできないクジラを生で見せてあげたくて　マウイ島まで渡りました。
100人以上乗れる大きな船でしたが、その日は乗客も少なめで一階には日本人が4人と外国人が数人で椅子もゆったり。船には　日本人のガイドの方も一緒に乗っていただいたので
詳しい説明も聞けました。
乗るまでは、本当にクジラが見えるかどうか不安がいっぱいでしたが、出航して間もなくクジラの潮が沖のあちこちに見えました。　船長さんが　その方向に舟を走らせます。
あっという間に　クジラの近くに到着。
そのあとは、探さなくても　四方八方にクジラが見えてトレードマークのかわいい尻尾も　ちゃんとカメラに収めることができました。
大体二月から三月の頭くらいは　約4000頭のクジラがマウイ島の近くにやってくるそうです。
もちろん息子も　迫力満点のクジラに大満足。
二時間の船は　思ったよりあっという間に過ぎてしまい、船酔いする間もありませんでした。
クルージング中に　ドリンク二杯か　ドリンクとスイーツ、スナックのいづれかと交換できるチケットももらえます。
コストパフォーマンスは　最高だと思います。
冬のマウイ島でのホエールウォッチング、お勧めです。

When it comes to traveling to Maui, whale watching is a must. I had heard that you could see them from the shore, but I thought it would be better to see them up close from a boat, so I made a reservation.

After about an hour of heading out to sea, we stopped the engine and waited for the whales. Before long, two whales appeared near the boat. I was thrilled to see their beautiful tails up close, just like in the catalogs. My wife and kids were busy taking photos.

Over the course of about 30 minutes, the whales appeared around the boat multiple times, allowing us to observe them closely.

The guide was very knowledgeable about the whales, pointing out when the same whale returned by recognizing its tail and sharing information about the ecosystem. They were also kind to the kids, making it a very enjoyable experience.

マウイ島への旅行といえばホエールウォッチング。
海岸からも見られると聞いていましたが、船の方が近くから見えると思い、予約しました。

1時間ほど沖へ進んだところでエンジンを停止してくじらを待ちます。
しばらくすると船の近くに2頭が現れます。
カタログでみるようなきれいな尾びれが間近で見られで大感激。妻も子供もひたすら写真を撮ってました。

30分ほどの間に船の周りに何度も現れてくれ、じっくり見ることができました。

ガイドさんはクジラにとても詳しく、尾びれを見てまた同じクジラがきたよとか、また、生態系の話しを教えてくれました。
子供にも親切にしてくれ、とても楽しかったです。

Since I have a small child, I decided to take this cruise ship where we could see whales on a large boat. I was thrilled to see dozens of whales. I requested a Japanese interpreter, and while the interpreter joined us on board, the amount of information provided was far less than the announcements in English. I had to ask the interpreter questions to get answers. I wished they could translate the English announcements directly. Other than that, I was very satisfied.

小さい子がいるので、大きな船で鯨に会えるというこちらのクルーズ船に乗船することにしました。何十匹もの鯨に会えて、感激です。日本人の通訳さんのリクエストをしたところ、通訳さんが乗船してくれたのですが、情報量としては、英語でのアナウンスに遠く及びません。自分から通訳さんに質問して、答えてもらうようにしないといけません。英語のアナウンスをそのまま通訳してもらえればいいのにな、と思いました。それ以外は大満足です。

The activity was great. We seen many sets of moms and babies. One of the babies was putting on a show for about 30 minutes. We were all very entertained. Would highly recommend this activity.

Tour was great - staff was very knowledgeable and super friendly - interacted well with all age groups on the tour. Had a fantastic time - saw lots of whales. Boat felt very safe. Would definitely repeat this tour with this company.

Before departing for my trip, I decided to participate based on the information that there are so many whales around Maui at this time of year that it's called "whale soup." Since I was staying at a hotel in Ka'anapali, it was very convenient that the whale watching tour was the only one departing from Ka'anapali, while most others were from Lahaina. I was able to see many whale backs and tails, but it was a bit disappointing that I only saw their heads and full jumps once. However, it was a fun two hours as I shared the joy of spotting whales with the staff and other guests. Motion sickness medication is a must.

旅行出発前に、今の時期マウイ島周辺の海は、クジラスープと呼ばれるほどたくさんのクジラがいるらしい・・・という情報から参加を決めました。カアナパリのホテルに滞在していた為、ラハイナ発のホエールウォッチングが多い中、唯一カアナパリ発だったのでとても便利でした。たくさんのクジラ達の背中や尾は見えましたが、頭やジャンプをして全体の姿を現してくれたのは1回だけだったので少し残念でした。でもスタッフの方や他のお客さんと共に、クジラを見つけた時に歓声をあげて喜びを共有できて楽しい2時間でした。酔い止めは必須です。

The meeting place was a bit hard to find, but once we did, it was worth it. It took a while to spot a whale, but once we found one, we were able to stay close to it for about 10 to 20 minutes. As we got more comfortable, the whale even approached the boat, allowing us to see it up close.

集合場所が少しわかりにくかったが、・・・。
なかなかクジラが見つからなかったが、１度見つけると、
１０~２０分程度そのクジラに寄り添って・・・。慣れてくると、船の方に向かって近づいたり・・・。すぐ近くで見れました。

I didn't expect to see so many whales. I was worried about seasickness, so I opted for a whale watching tour on a relatively large boat. I imagined that on a big boat tour, I would see the whales from a distance, so I was amazed to see them up close! I was filled with surprise and emotion. Although the announcements were in English, there was a Japanese staff member who was very considerate and attentive. I highly recommend this tour.

こんなにたくさんのクジラにあえると思っていませんでした。
船酔いを心配して比較的大きな船のホエールウォッチングを希望し、このツアーにしました。大きな船のツアーでは遠くからクジラを見る想像をしてましたので、こんなに近くで見れるとは！驚きと感動でいっぱいです。
英語のアナウンスですが、日本人のスタッフの方がいらして何かと気を遣ってくださりました。
是非お勧めのツアーです。

Me and my wife are here for our first time and loved seeing the whales so close and the friendly staff that helped point things out before they happened.

On a clear day, I departed from Lahaina Harbor and participated in a whale watching tour. Due to regulations, we couldn't get within 100 feet of the whales, so we didn't encounter any big dives like you see in photos, but we were able to see quite a few. While you can see the whales from land as well, I think this tour is very reasonably priced for what you get:
- Guided by a Japanese-speaking guide
- Includes drinks and snacks
- Over 2-hour cruise

快晴の天候の中、ラハイナハーバーから出発し、ホエール・ウォッチングツアーに参加しました。
規則で鯨には100フィート以内には近づけないため、なかなか写真で見るようなビッグダイブに遭遇することはできませんでしたが、かなりの数を見ることができました。
鯨自体は陸地からも遠目で見ることはできますが、この値段で、
・日本人ガイド付き
・飲み物、スナック付き
・2時間超のクルーズ
はとってもリーズナブルなツアーだと思います。

According to the Maui Tourism Board's website, the tour was estimated to take about 4 hours, which made my wife and daughter hesitant due to concerns about seasickness. However, since the tour guides mentioned it would only take 2 hours, we decided to join the Lahaina cruise. In the end, I think 2 hours was just right. Thanks to the season at the end of March, we spotted whales about 15 minutes after departure and were able to see around 20 whales in total, including a mother and calf that we observed closely for about 30 minutes. (Most were just visible in the distance, but I believe the situation wouldn't change much even if the duration were longer.)

I actually intended to bring binoculars but forgot them. Interestingly, neither the crew nor any participants had them either. I thought that since visibility would be limited while searching, there might not be many opportunities to use them.

The boat we were on was a stable catamaran, and while it felt stable when moving, when the engine was turned off to observe the whales, the small width of the boat made it susceptible to rolling waves, which could cause side-to-side motion. If you're prone to seasickness, it might be wise to take some medication beforehand (my wife said she was glad she did).

Additionally, parking in Lahaina can be challenging, so if you're participating by rental car, I recommend arriving early in the morning or a bit ahead of time (there were plenty of parking spots if you moved a little away from the bay).

In summary, I’m glad we participated! It was fun! I hope this helps.

マウイ観光局のＨＰをみると４Ｈ程度となっていたため、船酔いを気にする妻と娘はしぶっていたが、観光ガイドなどでは２Ｈのツアーとなっていたこともあり、ラハイナクルーズに参加することにした。結果、２Ｈで十分だったと思う。3月末のシーズンのおかげか、出航して15分程度でクジラを確認することが出来、ひと組の親子クジラをじっくり見た30分程度含めて都合20匹くらいは確認出来た。（ほとんどが遠くの海上にいるのが確認できる程度だが、時間が長くても、たいして状況は変わらないと思う）
実は、双眼鏡を持っていこうと思いながら忘れてしまったのだが、クルーを始め、参加者も誰も持っていなかった。探す際に視界が狭くなるのは邪魔なので、あまり活躍するタイミングはないかもしれないと思った。
また、乗った船は、揺れに強い双胴船だったが、確かに、
自走しているときは安定感強いが、クジラを観察するために、エンジンを切っている際には、横幅小さい船だと上下になる波の揺れが、左右の揺れになるので、左右の揺れに弱い人は酔い止めの薬を飲んでおいたほうがよいかもしれない。（妻は飲んで良かったと言っていた）
あと、ラハイナは駐車スペースに難があるので、レンタカーで参加される方は早朝or早めの到着（湾からちょっと離れれば止める場所はいくらでもあった）を心がけるとよいと思います。
最後に、ひとことで言うと、参加して良かった！楽しかった！です。
ご参考まで。

Great trip and great staff. The crew was very knowledgeable and answered all of my whale questions and they were so quick to point out the whales as well. Early Bird Special is a great deal too!

So exciting, very knowledgeable crew, and tons of whales. We had a super great time! Thanks again!

I could do this everyday. We saw dozens of whales.

The whale-watching tour was nice to do. I believe that being on a smaller boat was well worth the price - more interaction, and closer to the action. We did see whale activity, but what we saw was somewhat disappointing (blows and sightings - not much extreme movement). The crew was informative and helpful. I believe it's a 50/50 shot at what, or if, you'll see! Good experience, but most-likely wouldn't do it again.

We have been on whale tours before, we come to Hawaii every year, and this is by far the best one we have ever been on. Some of the other tours are boring and slow - this Tour is fast and fun! The boat itself is an adventure and we were able to race out to the whales in a record amount of time. We will definitely be coming back to take this tour and next time we will bring the whole gang from Texas to go too!!

Saw plenty of whales with the closest ones coming within 70ft of the boat. The boat was comfortable and viewing was not a problem. The Captain's banter helped make it a very enjoyable trip.

My kids could not stop screaming when they saw the impressive breaching. My 5-year-old twins fell in love with the whales. I'm so glad that we took this excursion. Thanks for the good time. Great value!

Although our trip was near the end of the whale watching season, it actually worked out well for us, as we saw two males fighting over a female in desperation, before they began the trek back up north