All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We were very pleased with this cruise. The boat was quite nice and not crowded at all. The service by the crew was attentive and and well organized. The provided transportation was efficient and a welcome perk. We highly recommend the cruise.

The tour was canceled due to bad weather on the day of the event, but I was able to reschedule for the next day.

And that was the best decision! The next day, whales were popping up everywhere, and at one point, a pod of whales was right beneath the boat, surfacing around us multiple times. It was amazing!

I'm glad I didn't give up and participated.

ツアー当日悪天候で中止になり、翌日にチェンジしてもらいました。

でもそれが大正解❗️
翌日はいたるところにクジラがバンバン出てきて最後には船の真下にクジラの群れがいて船の周りに何回も出てきて最高でした❗️

諦めずに参加して良かったです。

You can't go to Maui during whale season and not go on a whale watching cruise. Would do this again the next time we go to Maui.

The whale experience was good and the boat met the needs of all. The whales weren't real "active" but that is nature!
The only issue I had was printing off the ticket voucher. We were in a condo with no print access so I had to ask a neighbour to print it after emailing it to them. Not sure how you fix this but it was a minor inconvenience.

I was worried about the time changes, but it turned out that as long as you can speak a little English, it's not a problem. I was able to see the whales up close, which was more than I expected, and it was truly moving. There were no Japanese people around, and there was no Japanese guide at all, but if you're just there to see, it's not an issue. I want to go again.

時間変更やらで、心配のはじまりでしたが、英語を片言でも話せれば問題ない感じ。予想以上にくじらは近くで見れたし感動です。日本人はいないし日本語のガイドは全くないが見るだけなら問題ない。また行きたいです

The whale watching plan at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel was a cozy experience, not on a large boat leaving from Lahaina Harbor, but rather on a smaller vessel that accommodates about 30 people. The tour guide, captain, and staff were full of hospitality, and they would bring you soft drinks and snacks for free upon request, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in whale watching.

While I saw several whales passing by, I was disappointed that there weren't any standout moments. However, in the latter part of the tour, I was thrilled to witness five consecutive breaches, which was incredibly moving.

You board the boat from Kaanapali Beach, so I recommend wearing clothes that are okay to get wet or something that covers your knees. You can park your car in the hotel’s multi-story parking lot. After the tour, if you get your parking ticket stamped at the beach kiosk, it's free, but you must submit the stamped parking ticket at the hotel entrance bell desk for the free processing when you leave. There are no attendants at the parking lot exit, so if you get stuck there, you might face honking from the cars behind you. Please be careful.

After our tour, we went shopping at the nearby Whalers Village before processing our parking ticket, which saved us some parking fees.

カアナパリビーチホテルのホエールウォッチングプランで、ラハイナ港から出る大きな船ではなく、３０名くらいしか乗船できないアットホームなプランでした。
ツアーガイドも船長もスタッフもホスピタリティ満載で、ソフトドリンクや軽食も頼めばフリーで持ってきてくれますので、鯨観察に没頭できます。
通りすがりの鯨は何頭も見たのですが、これといったシーンがなく残念に思っていた後半に、なんと５連続で鯨のブリーチングを見ることができ、大感動でした。

船には、カアナパリビーチから乗り込みますから、ひざ上位の服か、水にぬれてもＯＫという服装で参加したほうが良いと思います。
車は、ホテルの立体駐車場に停めます。ツアー参加後にビーチキオスクで駐車印を押してもらえばタダですが、車を出すときに、ホテル入口のベルデスクで駐車印を押したパーキングチケットを提出して無料処理をしてもらわないと出られなくなります。
駐車場出口の所には係員がいませんから、そこで立ち往生すると後続の車からブーイングです。ご注意ください。
我が家は、ツアー参加後に近くのホエラーズビレッジで買い物をしてから駐車券処理をしたので、駐車料金も浮きました。

I participated in the early bird plan with a discount, thinking it would be great if I could see whales. Just as I expected, I was able to see whales right in front of me, and fortunately, there was a whale playing in the area for about an hour, so I got to see tail splashes multiple times. I was a bit worried about parking in Lahaina, but thanks to the early morning plan, I could park freely in a nearby public parking lot. After whale watching, I was able to stroll through the streets of Lahaina, so I feel like I made good use of my day.

早起きプランで割引もあり、これで鯨が見られるのなら最高と思い参加しました。
期待通りに鯨を目の前で見ることができ、幸運なのか１時間位そのあたりで遊んでいる鯨だったので、テイルスプラッシュも何度も見ることができました。
ラハイナは駐車場だけが少し心配だったのですが、早朝プランのおかげで近くのパブリックパーキングにも停め放題で、鯨ウォッチングの後、ラハイナの街並みを散歩することもできたので、一日を有効に使えた気がします。

I booked a discount plan for an early morning departure. The hotel was close to the departure location, so I was able to walk there. I was able to see whales several times, of course!! The interior of the boat was spacious and very comfortable, it was the best. I definitely recommend whale watching when visiting Lahaina on Maui!! by Hicchan

早朝出発の割引プランを申し込みました。
出発場所からﾎﾃﾙが近かったので歩いて行けました。
くじらももちろん何度か見れました！！
船内も広くとても快適で最高でした。
マウイ島　ラハイナに訪れた際はぜひホエールウォッチングお勧めです！！ｂｙひっちゃん

I participated in the tour starting at 7:30. I read in someone's experience that we would receive drink tickets, but we did not get any. We were able to have coffee on the boat for $1. While it wasn't a constant stream, we were able to see quite a few whales and dolphins, which was great. I ended up sitting at the back on the second floor, but it would have been better to sit in the front for a clearer view, so that was a mistake.

7:30からのツアーに参加しました。
どなたかの体験談にドリンクチケットが貰えるとあったのですが自分たちはありませんでした。船上でコーヒーを$1で飲めました。
次から次とというわけではなかったですが、かなりコンスタントにクジラやイルカがみれて良かったです。
座席は2Fの後ろに陣取ってしまったのですが、前方の座席に座った方が見やすく失敗でした。

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 a great adventure made fun with Crews humorous dialog!

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.

Very enjoyable day at Maui Ocean center. Always good to see marine life.

There be amazing sights beneath the waves. What a wonderful experience for someone with bad claustrophobia (spelling it is the toughest part). You heard right you land lubbers, this terrific tour is truly for everyone. The crews are pleasant and very accommodating. Every part of the trip is safety first, and the underwater views are, well take a look. Enough said!

We had a great time on this adventure. It is suitable for all ages. It was great seeing what was on the ocean floor. The staff were very friendly. The snack provided was great. I would recommend this to everyone

Saw some very interesting sea life; the "ocean piranhas" were crazy. Wished we could have seen the sea turtles up close.
Staff was very friendly and informative.

I went on this ride several years ago and it was even better than I remembered. We got to see a sunken ship. We saw several different kinds of fish as well as a few sharks. We had a really good time. You can tell that the people who do this for a living really love their jobs! If you are going to Maui and do nothing else this is the one thing you ABSOLUTELY must take part in!

I expected it to be bigger & have more to it but the experience was still really nice & you get to see some really interesting species along with a hammerhead shark, turtles & the tunnel where they fish, stingrays & sharks swim all around you.

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。