Tours/Big Island of Hawaii/Whale Watching Tour - Big Island, Hawaii
Viator · group up to 30 pax

Whale Watching Tour - Big Island, Hawaii

4.9(183)Big Island of Hawaii1 hour
VIATOR4.8(121)TRIPADVISOR4.9(62)

Description

It is finally that time of year where the beautiful humpback whales make their return to the Hawaiian islands after migrating from Alaska! Step aboard the Kibou and explore the incredible Kailua-Kona coast while searching for our seasonal humpback whales! Learn about the majestic creatures and the local area with our experienced and knowledgeable crew! Bring your own beverages, sit back, and enjoy the view with Iruka Hawaii Dolphin!

Tour Options

Whale Watching Tour - Big Island, Hawaii

Highlights

Bottled water
Snacks
Bathroom onboard

What's included

Included
Bottled water
Snacks
Bathroom onboard
Not included
Gratuities

Traveller Ratings

4.9
183 reviews
5
171
4
4
3
4
2
1
1
3

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Whales are wild animals, so the sighting is not guaranteed. In case of no whale, we will put you on a next available tour as a rain check for free of charge.

Reviews(183)

P
Patricia_S
May 20, 2026
Don’t miss this :)

Incredible!!!! We saw lots of whales …. Beautiful …. Knowledgeable guides and so well worth the time

Operator response

Aloha! Thanks for joining our whale-watching tour and for the great review! We are happy you got to see the whales while they were here! Mahalo and come again next year!

S
Steve_K
March 28, 2026
Calm waters, great hosts

Two spots to snorkel, plenty of fish. Top tip, take your time, enjoy the water, the fish come to see you and there is more life if only you relax and look.

Operator response

Aloha! Mahalo for joining our whale watching tour with us, we are so glad you enjoyed the calm waters, great hosts, and snorkeling with so much marine life, we truly appreciate your thoughtful tip and hope to see you again soon, mahalo!

C
Cheryl_B
March 20, 2026
Fun

Be patient and keep your eyes peeled. Also, Dramamine. The crew was lovely; we felt safe and well-informed : )

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing your experience. We’re so glad you felt safe and well-informed and appreciated the care from our crew during your whale watching tour. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

T
Ted H
March 19, 2026
Friendly & Helpful Crew. Great Value

This review is for the afternoon whale watching tour operated by Iruka. Pre-Trip communication was excellent. They informed me in plenty of time when our original trip had to be canceled due ro weather and were able to accommodate us on the following day. The crew of the Kibou were outstanding with Tamae at the bow spotting for cetaceans and distributing snacks and beverages. Diego was a font of interesting information on humpback behavior as well as dolphins (we saw both spinning and bottle-nose). We spotted several whales and dozens of dolphins. We even saw a monk seal up close. Captain Trevor plotted a speedy yet safe course. All had excellent knowledge of where to most likely spot the animals. Only negatives: onboard bathroom was out of order and fresh pineapple was not provided as listed in the itinerary. Boat had ample and comfy seating. I would highly recommend this trip and operator to friends and family.

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing such a detailed review. We’re so glad Captain Trevor, Diego, and Tamae helped make your afternoon whale watching trip memorable with great sightings and information, and we appreciate you noting both the highlights and areas we can improve, including the onboard amenities. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

J
John_S
March 19, 2026
Hawaii 26

I would highly recommend this company for any of your whale watching and manta tours, employees are great and do everything possible to make this an enjoyable experience

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing your kind words. We’re so glad our team helped make your whale watching and manta ray tours enjoyable and memorable. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

S
Sally_D
March 19, 2026
Whale watching experience

Patience. You won't see whales right away. The crew is awesome and informative. I highly recommend raising company

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing your experience. We’re so glad you appreciated the patience and effort of our crew and found the tour informative and rewarding. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

A
annaaH2830RK
March 17, 2026
Special Hawaii moment midst the biggest storm

Trevor, Diego and Tamae were super fun and great with sharing their knowledge about the dolphins and whales (as well as spotting them of course). At the end of the tour we saw monk seals, which was such a special and rare moment! The spinner dolphins were so fun to watch too showcasing their skills to us 🌊

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing your experience. We’re so glad Trevor, Diego, and Tamae made the tour fun and informative and that you were able to enjoy such special sightings, including monk seals and spinner dolphins. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

S
Stephanie_D
March 11, 2026
First whale trip⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is our first time at whale watching. Captain Trevor and Diego were an amazing crew. They were just as excited and engaged as all of us to see the whales. They made sure we didn’t just see whales, but we watched them. I had an amazing experience. 11/10

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing your experience. We’re so glad Captain Trevor and Diego made your first whale watching trip so exciting and memorable and that you were able to truly enjoy watching the whales. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

D
dawntW8940SO
March 9, 2026
Yes! Take this tour.

We had an amazing time on our whale watching trip with Trevor,Diego, and Tamae as our captain, guides, and photographer. We were fortunate to see a couple calves who were playful and spent a lot of time at the surface. One of them even breached for us as we prepared to head back. This is exactly the experience I came to Hawaii to have ❤️

Operator response

Aloha thank you for joining us and sharing your experience. We’re so glad Trevor, Diego, and Tamae made your whale watching trip so special and that you were able to witness such playful calves and even a breach on the way back. Come back soon for another unforgettable adventure mahalo.

M
Michael_B
March 9, 2026
Unlawful Busiess Practice

When we arrived for the prepaid tour, we were told that we were required to sign a release of liability. When I read the waiver, it included release of liability for negligence. I then informed the tour employee that I would not agree to release of liability for negligence and asked for a refund. The employee told us that we could not receive a refund the day of the scheduled tour. I then gave notice that this was a violation of U.C.C. (Merchant Law) and requested the business owners phone number, which I called and left a message, but have not received a call back yet.

Operator response

Aloha, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about the situation at check-in and understand your concerns regarding the waiver and how it was handled. We take these matters seriously and will be reviewing this with our team to ensure our policies and communication are clear and consistent. Please reach out to us directly at info@hawaiidolphin.com so a member of our management team can follow up with you and address your experience further. Mahalo.

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