All Reviews for Whale Watching Tours in Oahu

I was torn about which boat to choose, but since I had already taken a dinner cruise on the Star of Honolulu, I opted for the slightly smaller Majestic. The weather was nice, and the contrast between Diamond Head and the ocean was beautifully visible.

After heading out for a while, I spotted a whale's spout and was able to see its back and tail. After that, I saw quite a few spouts, but I couldn't confirm their full appearance. The boat was rocking quite a bit, and it seemed like many people were feeling a bit worn out, so it might be a good idea for those who are prone to motion sickness to take some medication beforehand. I bought motion sickness pills at ABC and was fine. If you're worried about foreign medication, it's better to bring extra from Japan!

どの船にするか悩みましたが、スターオブホノルル号にはディナークルーズで乗ったので、少し小さめのマジェスティック号にしました。天気も良く、ダイヤモンドヘッドと海のコントラストがキレイに見えました。
沖に出てしばらくすると、クジラの潮吹きが見え、背中、尾びれと見ることが出来ました。その後は潮吹きは結構見えましたが、姿を確認するまでには至りませんでした。結構揺れが激しく、ぐったりしている方も多かった様なので、酔いやすい人は薬を飲んでいった方が良いようです。私はABCで酔い止めを買って飲んだので大丈夫でした。海外の薬が不安なら日本から多目に買っていった方がいいですよ！

I had a tour scheduled to arrive at Honolulu Airport on February 7th at 7:30. Since I couldn't check into the hotel until after 1 PM, I was wondering what to do because of jet lag, when I found this tour departing at 12:00. I was picked up from the airport around 9:00 and took the Red Line to Aloha Tower, where I boarded the ship without any issues. I'm glad I was able to make good use of my time.

二月７日、７：３０にホノルル空港に到着予定のツアーでした。ホテルには午後１時過ぎでないと入れないとの事でしたので、時差ぼけだし、どうしようかと思っていたところ、１２：００発のこのツアーを見つけました。空港からホテルに送ってもらったのが、９：００頃で、レッドラインで、アロハタワーに行き無事乗船しました。有効な時間の使い方が出来て良かったです。

I participated with a friend.
We didn't see any whales.
Therefore, they were distributing re-boarding tickets towards the end of the cruise (it's a system where you have to go get it yourself, so be careful not to forget!).

Although we didn't see any whales, I had fun just being on the boat!!
However, since it was just simple scenery unless any creatures appeared, I noticed a few children looking bored.
It might be a bit tricky for those with small children...

After disembarking, there was someone who seemed to be the captain, and I was able to take a photo with him (＾V＾).
I was grateful that he was friendly and posed for the picture.

友人と参加しました。
クジラは見られませんでした。
そのため、クルーズの終わりごろに再乗車券を配布していました（自分でもらいに行くシステムなので忘れないように注意！）。

クジラは見られませんでしたが、私は船に乗るだけで楽しかったです！！
しかし、生き物が出ない限り単純な風景が続くだけなので、退屈そうにしているお子さんがチラホラいました。
小さいお子さんがいらっしゃる方は微妙かもしれません…

下船後、船長さんらしき方がいらっしゃったので一緒に写真を撮っていただきました(＾V＾)
気さくに写ってくださってありがたかったです。

As the title suggests, whether you can see a jump depends on luck at that moment. After waiting for two hours, I finally caught a glimpse of a dorsal fin and saw it spouting water, but I couldn't help but wish to see a more spectacular sight like in the photos. Still, when I spotted it, I was simply thrilled to see it!

Also, if you are prone to motion sickness, it's definitely better to take some medication beforehand. (I usually don't get motion sickness, but I felt a bit queasy...)

I might have just been unlucky, but I think it's better to approach it with the mindset of "I might see a whale during the cruise, how lucky!" rather than "I will definitely see a whale!"

If I could wish for something, it would be great to have more events on the boat, like experiences with Hawaiian instruments, songs, the meaning of hula dancing, and how to move your hands, etc. There seems to be a lack of connection with the participants.

タイトル通りです。ジャンプが見られるかどうかはその時の運次第。
2時間待ってようやく海面から背びれがちらっと、潮を吹いているのが分かったという程度でしたので、思わず、写真のような姿が見たかったなぁと思いました。それでも、見つけた時はいたー！と単純に嬉しかったです。
また、乗り物酔いをする方は絶対に酔い止めを飲んでおいたほうがいいです。（普段乗り物酔いしない自分が少ししましたので。。。）
自分はたまたま運が悪かっただけかもしれませんが、「絶対クジラを見る！と意気込んで行く」というよりは、「クルーズ中にクジラが見えた、ラッキー」という感覚で行くくらいがちょうどいいかなと思いました。
欲を言えば、船の中でイベント毎がもっとあるとよかったです。例えばハワイの楽器体験・歌・フラダンスの意味・手の動かし方等々。参加者との連帯感にかける所がある。

Excellent Crew involvement, Breakfast was good. No Whale sighting due too choppy water and high winds.

This tour was very enjoyable. Even though we didn't get to see but one whale. The captain and crew made every effort to locate them. And we did encounter a whale but the whale didn't want to entertain us which is no fault of the crew. The boat ride itself was nice and relaxing. I would definitely do it again.

It was a tour of about two and a half hours. There were explanations about whales in Japanese, and we were able to see whales as well. Since there is a meal included, I think you can enjoy it while taking breaks.

約２時間半ほどのツアーでした。
日本語でのクジラの説明等もありながら、クジラも見ることができました。
食事もあるので、休憩しながら楽しめると思います。

I was so excited to see whales and I wasn't disappointed! Guaranteed indeed.
We saw a few pod of whales and it was always entertaining to watch them swim by and see their blows. I actually saw one that threw its tail out of the water up close when I was heading to the restroom, but very quickly that no one noticed it I think. I just got lucky, haha!
It was a nice cruise, great customer service from the crew, delicious food, and gorgeous views of the Waikiki coastline and Diamond Head! There were fun activities on board too like lei making, ukulele lessons, and hula lessons. I really enjoyed the trip! I was with a group of friends but as a mom, I would definitely recommend this for families with young children as well, it's a great activity for all ages so anyone are welcome!

I booked a plan without pick-up. The check-in location listed on the voucher is the Paradise cruise office, but in reality, there is no such office, so you need to check in at the Stat of Honolulu reservation office.
The breakfast isn't particularly delicious, but I was able to enjoy warm dishes and coffee.
About two hours after departure, we spotted a whale just 20 meters from the boat! We were lucky to see it.
Since the boat is quite large, positioning is also important.

送迎無しのプランを予約。バウチャー記載のチェックイン場所はParadise cruise officeとありますが、実際にはそんなオフィスは無く、Stat of Honolulu reservation office にてチェックインを行うので注意が必要です。
朝食は大して美味しくありませんが、暖かい料理とコーヒーを楽しめました。
出発から2時間ほどすると、船から20メートル先にクジラが！！運良く見ることができました。
船はかなり大きい為、ポジショニングも大事になると思います。

The scrambled eggs were a bit hard, I felt (^_^;)
But it was great to see the whales, and my family was happy!
The whales were amazing, and the scenery was incredibly beautiful; I was moved!

スクランブルエッグが少し硬かったかなーと言う感じでした(^_^;)
でも、クジラも観れて家族もよろこんでいたので良かったです！
クジラもですか、景色が凄くキレイで感動しました！

I took my mother who uses a wheelchair. The ship had elevators, and we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast while experiencing a graceful cruise. Of course, we were able to see whales multiple times, and I am very satisfied.

車椅子利用の母を連れていきました。船内にはエレベーターもあり、ゆったりと朝食をいただきながら優雅なクルーズを楽しめました。
もちろんクジラも複数回見ることができ、満足しています。

This is my second time going to Oahu but was traveling with friends who have never gone. One was really interested in whale watching so we saw links for the Honi Olani Catamaran Sail and decided to try this one out. We're super glad we did because this was such a great tour!

The staff are extremely friendly and they provide such a great experience. The first time we went, we didn't see any whales but that may have been because of the strong waves and number of boats sailing around which might have scared them away.
Regardless of seeing whales, the cruise was awesome. It was really nice to be able to feel the sun on the catamaran and have a nice beverage while we enjoyed the weather. The tour was nice to give us a free voucher to ride again to see if we can spot whales the second time and we did! We ended up seeing a mother whale teaching her male calf how to breach!

I would definitely cruise again with this crew when I come back to Oahu. Mahalo for the great experience guys

We got to see several whales and got some great pictures of breaches and blows. I was skeptical but was very happily surprised and would do it again next time I'm in Hawaii!

This was the first tour we took on our first trip to Hawaii in April of 2016. It was absolutely amazing. We had a good time on the Star of Honolulu except it was rather windy that day. Had a blast, regardless! There were several whale sightings but, not close enough to see them which was disappointing. The breakfast was fantastic. We spent time walking about the ship taking some wonderful photos. We would definitely book another cruise when we return again.

This was the first tour I took on my first trip to Hawaii. It was absolutely amazing.

I saw the whales' spouts and backs, but I felt a bit of a gap compared to the image I had in mind. However, considering it was a morning cruise off Waikiki, I think it was still quite enjoyable.

クジラの潮吹きや背中は見えましたが、イメージしてるクジラの姿とは少しギャップを感じました。ただ、朝のワイキキ沖クルーズと思えば十分アリかなと思います。

The overall cruise was extremely disappointing because throughout the entire cruise we saw a single whale spout either 4 or 5 times as it exhaled and a brief cloud of mist was observable for about 2 seconds. Because the spouts were so brief, I only actually saw 2 of them. However, technically, we did see a whale and were not eligible for a free re-booking.
I don't blame Star of Honolulu for the lack of whales - they are wild animals! But, I did expect more from them and am disappointed that seeing mist from a whale for a total of less than 20 seconds in a multi-hour cruise at least 100 yards away is considered a whale sighting.
Other than the lack of seeing whales - which was the entire point of going on the cruise! - the cruise itself is actually pretty good. The employees were very friendly, the food was better than expected (bring your own coffee though), and the views of Oahu from the ocean are gorgeous.
The ship is a bit dated and worn around the edges, but it was clean and offered a lot of indoor and outdoor viewing options. Because there are 4 decks, I never felt like it was crowded even though there were a lot of people on board.

I was nervous about whether we would actually get to see it, but we were able to see it clearly, and the kids were thrilled! Even if we hadn't seen it, I felt that cruising would have been enough, so I'm really glad we participated.

実際に見れるかドキドキでしたが、しっかりと見ることができて子供も大喜びでした！
見れなくてもクルージングできればいっかという感じでしたので本当に参加して良かったです。

Our family did many things during our week on Oahu, but this was the highlight of our trip. We were on island for a very special and personal situation. All involved in booking the trip were very helpful and thorough. Great confirmation and follow up communication. Capt'n Mark and Sammy were fantastic hosts aboard the Ho'O Nanea. We sailed out on time and saw multiple whales, a Galapagos shark and had a very special visit from an Albatross. The sunset was spectacular and provided for a lot of great photos. Being out on the boat and seeing the island from this perspective along with the beautiful sunset is something to experience. I would recommend this trip to anyone. By the way, did I mention the sunset was spectacular!

I participated with my friend's family, and as we got closer to the area, we were able to see the spouts several times. However, since we were only able to see the spouts from quite a distance, the kids started saying it was "boring."

Just when I thought we probably wouldn't see any jumps like those in the photos, the whales put on a fantastic show.

We were able to see all the whale behaviors listed on the ship, and we were very satisfied. Both the kids and the parents were thrilled to finish the tour. I know that since they are living creatures, it might not be like this every time.

友人家族と参加しましたが、ポイント付近に近づくとすぐに潮吹きが何度もみれました。
しかし、かなり離れたところからたまに上がる潮吹きを見ていただけなので、子供たちが「つまらない」と言い始めてしまいました。

あぁ、写真で見られるようなジャンプとかはなかなか見られないんだなと思っていたら、クジラの大サービスが始まりました。

船内に書いてあるクジラの行動パターンはすべてみられる事が出来て大満足です。
子供たちも親も大興奮でツアーを終えることが出来ました。
相手は生き物なので毎回こうはいかないと思いますが。

I didn't see any whales, sea turtles, or dolphins at all. I would appreciate some further explanation regarding the inability to see whales. I believe there was only audio recording, and there were no special announcements. They were distributing tickets for reboarding the next day to those who wanted them, but I couldn't use them due to other plans. Although there is a policy that refunds are not available, I think it would be nice to have some consideration, such as a souvenir, in case we didn't see anything.

クジラもウミガメイルカももいっさい何も見れませんでした。
クジラが見れないことについて何かもう少し解説などあればと思います。
録音の音声だけで、特別なアナウンスはなかったと思います。
翌日再乗船できるチケットを希望者に配布していましたが、他の予定もあるので利用できませんでした。
返金はできないという規定ですが、見れなかった場合には記念品などの配慮があってもよいのではと思いました。

We didn't pay for the meal, instead we ate ahead of time. We had a nice time. Saw some whales, but not very close. Still it was worth the price for a morning out on the ocean.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see any whales. However, the weather was nice and the waves were calm, so the breeze felt pleasant. I was satisfied with the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from offshore.

残念ながらクジラには会えなかったです。
でも良いお天気で波も穏やかだったので風が気持ちよく
沖合から眺めたワイキキやダイヤモンドヘッドで満足しました。

We spotted a whale a little offshore!! The captain quickly turned the boat, and we were able to see it multiple times. I was particularly moved by the sight of two whales swimming together, following the boat's stern.

少し沖に出た所でくじら発見!!　船長さんが機転をきかして船は旋回し、何度も何度も見ることができました。特に船の船尾を二頭揃って追尾して泳ぐ姿には感動した。

After about a 30-minute voyage from the port to offshore Waikiki, the whale watching began. For the first 30 minutes, there were no whales in sight at all. After that, we spotted tails and spouts about five times, with intervals of 5 to 15 minutes. Although we didn't see any spectacular jumps, we were able to see the whales.

The view of the hotels in Waikiki and Diamond Head from offshore is truly breathtaking. The curry rice for lunch was very Japanese, and while the variety was limited, the other dishes were delicious as well. The waves offshore Waikiki weren't high, but since we slowed down to drift between the waves while searching for whales, some people did experience seasickness.

港からワイキキ沖まで30分ほど航海して、クジラウォッチングが始まります。最初の30分ほどはまったくクジラが見当たりませんでした。その後、5分から15分間隔で、尾ひれや潮吹きが5回ほど見られました。豪快にジャンプをするところはありませんでしたが、なんとかクジラを見ることができました。
沖合いから見るワイキキのホテルやダイアモンドヘッドは本当に絶景です。ランチのカレーライスも日本的で、品数は少ないですが他の料理も美味しいです。ワイキキ沖は波は高くありませんが、クジラを見つけるのに速度を落として波間を漂うので、船酔いする人もいました。

I was disappointed that I couldn't see any whales. It seems that the other people on the same tour also only caught a glimpse, but couldn't see them clearly. The view of the beach and Diamond Head from the sea is beautiful, so I think it's a good tour for first-time visitors to Hawaii. However, for those who have been there multiple times, it might feel a bit lacking.

ホエール見れなくて残念でした。
同じツアーの方も、見えたかも？ぐらいでハッキリとは見えなかったようです。
ビーチやダイヤモンドヘッドを海から見る景色は良いので、ハワイに初めて行く人にはいいツアーだと思います。
何度も行っている人には物足りないと思いました。

I came to Hawaii in January when whales are often seen, so I decided to sign up for a tour. It ended in the morning, which made it easy to plan my day.

There were not many Japanese people.

Since the pickup was around 7 AM, I had lunch in my room. It seemed like there was time to have breakfast before the boat reached the whale watching point, so a plan that included breakfast might have been nice.

Although I couldn't see them up close, I was able to see dolphins and whales multiple times. I wondered if there are days when you can't see them.

Just seeing Diamond Head from the boat is worth it.

クジラが良くいる1月にハワイに来たので、せっかくなので申し込みました。
午前中に終わるので予定か立てやすかったです。

日本人は少なかったです。

ピックアップが7時頃でしたので、昼食は部屋で取りました。
船がクジラポイント近くに来るまでに朝食が食べれるようでしたので
朝食付きプランでもよかったかも。

近くでは見ることができませんでしたが

何度も、イルカ・クジラを見ることができて
見れない日があるのかな　とも思いました。

船からダイヤモンドヘッドを見るだけでも価値があります。

I was surprised to see whales near Waikiki. The food was delicious, and we had a great time making leis as a family.

ワイキキ近くでクジラが見えるとはびっくりしました。料理もおいしかったですし、レイ作りも家族で楽しく作れました

To be honest, I didn't think it would be possible to see whales this reliably. I wasn't able to see them jumping out of the water, but I was satisfied to see rainbows when they spouted water.

実際のところ見れないことはないとは思いますが、ここまで確実にホエールウォッチングができるとは思っていませんでした。海面上でジャンプするのを見ることができませんでしたが、潮を吹くときに虹が出たりするのも見れたりして満足です。

Let me start by saying that everyone was so friendly. My husband was here on a business trip so I came to do this tour on my own. The free transportation they provided went very smoothly. Pick up from my hotel and drop off at the end. One of the reasons I picked this tour group was the guarantee to see whales. Upon arriving, they welcome you and let you know where the lunch buffet is and that you can sit on any floor. The weather was beautiful and the sailing was very smooth. Unfortunately, there were no whales or aquatic life to be seen. At the end of the tour I was given a voucher to come back another day. I came back the next. Unfortunately again, I had the same experience. I found out later from locals that it's hard to see them in major boat trafficking areas. So while I didn't get to see any whales or aquatic life, the trip itself was nice. I was able to converse with other travelers and have some nice water time.