Small Group, Naturalist-Led
Whale Watching in Lahaina, Maui with Extended Horizons
Weekday afternoons12 guests maxSighting guarantee
Countdown to Whale Season
The trip
Our 2-hour whale watch leaves weekday afternoons from Mala Ramp in Lahaina.
Starts mid-December
$159adult
$119 child, 12 and under
Kamaʻāina 10% off with a valid Hawaiʻi driver’s license
What’s included
- Twelve guests maximum
- A naturalist with the group for the full 2 hours, covering behavior, spotting, and current research about humpback whales
- A crew of dive instructors who are in this water year-round, working to the standards we’ve kept on this coast since 1983
- Afternoon departures on weekdays, after the morning dive boat is in
- Sighting guarantee: if you don’t see whales, come back once more for free within one year
- Optional: add your tail photos to Happywhale, and you’ll get an email if that whale is spotted again.
- Optional: field note cards on board to document your sightings as a keepsake
Why Extended Horizons
Our dive instructors are in this water year-round and work to the standards Extended Horizons has kept on the Maui coast since 1983.
Our small-group whale watch leaves Lahaina, Maui, twice each weekday afternoon. We take no more than 12 guests aboard our dive boat and our naturalists join you for the full 2 hours. They share what new research is teaching us about humpback whales here and far beyond Hawaiʻi. We follow federal rules and NOAA guidance on every trip so the whales always have the space they need.
Private Whale Watch
Charter the whole boat for your group of 12 or less.
$1,908
Where We Go
About half of all North Pacific humpbacks spend the winter in Hawaiʻi, and the waters between Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi are one of the places they gather most.
Whale Season in the ʻAuʻau Channel
Whales start arriving in December and peak in February and March.
Before You Come Aboard
Is this a raft or a boat?
A boat. We take no more than 12 guests aboard our dive boat, so you sit higher off the water than you would on a raft, with room to move around and time to talk with your naturalist. It’s a small group on a real boat, and that makes for a more personal trip.
What should I bring?
Reef-safe sunscreen, put on before you reach the harbor (reef safe is the law in Hawaiʻi, so look for non-nano zinc or titanium dioxide). Polarized sunglasses, which cut the glare. A layer, because it runs cooler on the water than on the dock. A camera or phone on a strap. Seasickness medication if you’re prone to it, taken before you board.
Is there a restroom on board?
There’s no restroom on board, but there are public restrooms right by the parking area at the Mala boat ramp.
Is mid-December too early?
Mid-December is early in the season, but not too early. The first humpbacks usually reach Maui by late November, and their numbers build through December and January before peaking in February and March. We suggest booking near the start of your stay. That leaves time to use our sighting guarantee and go again if the water is quiet.
Will I get seasick on a whale-watching tour?
If you’re prone to motion sickness, we suggest taking a non-drowsy motion sickness medication about an hour before departure.
How close will we get to whales?
By law, we keep at least 100 yards between our boat and the whales, and we let them set the pace. If a curious whale swims over to us, we put the boat in neutral and stay put until it moves on. Those moments are worth waiting for, even if it means a slightly later return.
Can I swim with the whales?
No. In Hawaiʻi it’s against federal law to come within 100 yards of a humpback whale, whether you’re swimming, paddling or on a boat. The whales are here to mate and raise their calves, and that distance lets them do it undisturbed. Our trip is boat only, and we keep that space on every trip.
What if we don’t see whales?
Sighting guarantee. If you don’t see whales, you can come back once more for free within one year of your trip date. It’s not a refund, and it’s an open seat on a trip that’s already scheduled. Call or email when you’re ready to try again and we’ll provide you with some dates to choose from.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancel or move your booking up to 48 hours before your scheduled departure and you get a full refund.
Cancellations made within the 48-hour window are non-refundable.
If we cancel for weather or ocean-related conditions, you choose a full refund or a seat on another day. We make that call with the boat’s safety and your 2 hours in mind, not the forecast on your phone.
The boat leaves on time. There are no refunds for missing your departure. Give yourself plenty of time for parking, a restroom break and making your way to the boat launch.