What an incredible experience. My wife and I had such a great experience (and saw many whales) with Makai Adventures when we came last year that we knew that we wanted to use their services again this year. We were not disappointed. Kevin and Jenna did a great job getting us prepared for whale watching, but what happened during the next 2 hours was better than anything I expected. When we left harbor, we traveled South for a few miles and soon found ourselves in the middle of pod of spinner dolphin. After spending a few minutes being entertained by their antics, it was off to find the whales. We drove north back by the harbor when Kevin stopped the boat close to two kayakers. Then Jenna told us that a female whale was being chased by 4 male whales and that they were fighting over her. That was when the water exploded about 100 yards from us and the whales all came to the surface. We saw the male whales heads, backs and tales as they “whaled” on each other for the attention of the female. We stayed a respectful distance away as we took incredible pictures and video of the spectacle. We followed this group of whales for about an hour. By the time we left, there were about 12 other whale watching boats that had come to see the show (but we were the first). We had such an Incredible experience that I will recommend Makai Adventures...
Read moreWe took the earliest morning whale watching tour out with Kevin and Gina. To start, the crew was fantastic. They shared some knowledge about the humpback whales, told very lame dad jokes, and seemed to enjoy the whales as much as the passengers even though they do this full time. The tour left at 645 from Lahina which is a great location if you're staying in west Maui (like all the Kaanapali beach hotels). Free parking is very easy near all the boats in Lahina if you come in the early morning, you'll probably have to pay for parking if you come later. The boat is small and fast, but not crowded even though it was fully booked. The boat could fly on the water and catch up fast to whales in the distance. The ride was not choppy, no one felt seasick. The water was a unique pastel blue/green and calm for us, it was a great way to experience sunrise. We saw endless amounts of whales, they are just everywhere this time of year. Saw plenty of mothers with babies. The babies are highly active and put on a show while mom just kinda chills. Lots of groups of males were around, looking for a mate. Lots of babies were breaching, but mostly just fins from the adults. There was one adult breach which was very close and so cool. Loved it, great tour, one of the trip highlights. Would recommend...
Read moreHighly recommend Makai Adventures for whale watching 🐳
From the moment I first called Makai Adventures I knew I was in good hands.
Eva assisted me with booking my whale watching reservation and was an absolute delight- friendly, patient and informative.
Noah and Andrea (boat crew) were very personable and provided us with an abundance of whale facts throughout our 2 hour excursion.
The boat is comfortable as it holds 25 passengers and they book 20 at full capacity. There are seats in the front with cushion seats and backs (this area seemed to get more sun exposure) and there are some covered seats in the back for those that wish to stay out of the sun.
✨Pro Tips ✨
Arrive early to allow time to find parking, use the restroom and navigate your way to the boat ramp for check-in.
Bring sunnies, hat, sunscreen, water, camera, cash (for tip) and good vibes!
Wear easy to slip on and off shoes.
There are NO restrooms on the boat. If you park at the cannery, there is a restroom in Safeway and there is also a restroom at the beach park near Mala boat ramp.
They are temporarily located at Mala Boat Ramp post Lahaina fire. There is no signage, simply look for a person wearing a white Makai shirt to check-in...
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