Maui: 2 Hour Prime Time Whale Watching

Emma and Shannon were fantastic! They were so knowledgeable and fun! We enjoyed watching a dozen whales interacting! Amazing!

AMAZING!🤩 Emma and Cass were amazing and very knowledgeable!!! We learned alot about whales! We will be back and would due it all over again 1000000 times! Thank you for an amazing day! I have a new passion 😜

I cannot say enough good things about this experience. It was absolutely amazing!! The crew was very knowledgeable and so much fun! We saw so many whales and had so much fun! If I could give 10 stars I absolutely would. If you don’t include this is your holiday travel you are definitely missing out.

James and Mindy gave us the trip of a lifetime. We were excited about seeing a tail here, an arched back there, but then we had a “whale jail” experience, the boat couldn’t move because the whale came so close!! It lasted for at least 30 minutes giving us a great show. Peeking its head out, spinning, showing us her fins, diving under the boat, giving us a spray. You could almost touch her. We certainly hadn’t expected this! Mindy shared many interesting whale facts and even found out the specific into on the whale that spent some time with us. She and James captured some amazing underwater video footage that they shared with us. GREAT tour!

This was one of the most amazing experiences! We watched a whale for over an hour swimming and spinning and showing off. Our captain, James, and our guide, Mindy, were outstanding. The perfect amount of information was shared, the ride was relaxing, and their playlist was perfect. I highly recommend this experience! I will never forget it!

100% wonderful. A knowledgeable guide, a nice size boat and a lot of whales spotted. We will book this trip again and highly recommend this company.

Nice boat ride. Approximately 15 people. Its a hard shell boat. Not inflatable. Saw about 8-10 mom and baby whales. Crew was very nice and tentative. One was an Eagles fan so 2 point deduction for that. Was hard to hear commentary all the time. Suggest loud speaker system.

A must do when in Maui! Captain Emma and mate Shannon were a library of information on the magnificent humpbacks. Staying with a mom and her very young calf was the highlight of the trip!

Extraordinary whale watching experience. Capt Shannon and first mate Allison were knowledgeable, funny, and downright delightful. We witnessed an unusual amount of whales. The boat is awesome. Only room.for 18 so you aren't jammed on board.

Captains Shannon and Lainie were passionate and professional. Had a great tour filled with interesting facts and lots of whale sightings. Would highly recommend!

Maui Ocean Adventures is a great local company. I booked with them after seeing other excellent TripAdvisor reviews including one that stated they did the excursion twice because this group is so good! I couldn’t agree more. Crystal was wonderful on the front end of reservations and getting us ready to board our PINK boat. CAPT Emma and CAPT Shannon were our whale watching pros and they so committed and enthusiastic about what they do, it was infectious. The sea was calm and it started to rain halfway through the trip but it didn’t matter. Emma and Shannon are both so informative and engaging. Such a fun trip despite us all soaking wet by the end. Cannot recommend highly enough. Will likely go back later this week when the rest of my family members arrive. Great job to all!

Great experience!! 3 observations to make it better. (1) parking is tight, (2) no signs on where to meet other than at the ramp, (3) it would be helpful to have a PA system as it was difficult to hear what the guides were saying.

What an incredible first time whale watching experience. We had a baby whale showing up for us within minutes of being out on the water. Such a magical experience being able to witness that. I’m so glad I chose this company as they were so knowledgable and taught information as we were on the water as well. The tour was fun and who doesn’t love a pink boat! I also loved the size of the group as it wasn’t large and we all had a chance to see the whales perfectly. I also appreciated the story behind their company as my sister has a similar story behind her company due to the pandemic. I have already been recommending this company to people I am meeting still on the island and I cannot wait to come back and take another tour with this company. Mahalo!

Come prepared for an unique experience where your guide will go out of their way to ensure you return back with a memory. Ours was seeing a mom and baby breaching.

While the Kona winds were kicking up, especially in Maalaea it was a delight to go out of Mala Wharf with Maui Ocean Adventures. We were able to see and photograph a mother and her calf. Maui Ocean Adventures takes a maximum of 20 guests on their boat. There is a covered area for those who don't want too much sun. Plenty of room to get great shots of the majestic Humpback Whales. Highly recommend this tour and will be joining them again in Feb. 2027. Mahalo for a great 2 hours on the ocean!

Fabulous experience. Captains Crissy and Emma were so knowledgeable about the whales. Pointing out different things about them and their behaviour. It was perfect !!

We did the 8:50 tour (bring your sunscreen) and we saw 3 sets of mothers and their calves, and then in the distance we got see about 6-7 breaches. Well worth what you pay, we also were able to listen to the whales using the guides hydrophone. A very enjoyable and educational tour. If you go to Maui go through this company!!

The price I paid was well worth this trip! Some bada** girl bosses doing their thing on this boat! Very fun experience!

Terrific co-captains. Our first experience whale watching was just great due to the friendly and very knowledgeable Emma & Shannon! Plus they have x-ray vision and could spot whales in the area before surfacing. Highly recommend this tour.

Great boat great knowledge about the whales. Saw many whales would have liked to stay longer fun day

We had a great time seeing the whales and getting lots of information ♡♡ Highly recommended..if you're considering going...DO IT!!!

The best memory of the trip !!!

Captain Emma did a great job making the day special for everyone on the boat. There were 20 people on the boat and by the time we finished the trip, she and her first mate, Lexi had everyone one feeling like we were family and experienced something wonderful together. The crew had the ability to find several mother and calf whales that really put on shows for us. Not to be left out the bull whales, often showed up to share their songs and Lexi even dropped in her hydrophone to ensure we could really appreciate one bull’s song. Can’t give then any higher praise than saying I will recommend them to everyone and anyone coming to Maui.

Friendly driver and staff! Extremely knowledgeable. Made the whole trip an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend this to her on your next visit to Maui..

Absolutely wonderful! So many whales of all sizes. Very knowledgeable crew! Felt safe and informed. Will definitely go again.

We thoroughly enjoyed our two hours with Emma and Chrissy. They were both friendly, love doing this, and were very knowledgeable about the whales. We had many great views of the whales swimming alongside us, breaching, and one Mom and baby went right under our boat. Amazing. Would highly recommend Maui Ocean Adventures and their pink boat.

The captain and first mate was very knowledgeable and fun. Very enjoyable trip. We saw a lot of whales

The most amazing experience. The crew knows and loves what they do. Engaged with the group in the boat. Helpful, accommodating and fun. The boat ride was great. Would encourage everyone to go with Maui Ocean Adventures.

There are many good Whale watch operators in Maui. Maui Ocean Adventures tops the list. The captains are amazing. Knowledgeable, professional, caring, both to the passengers and especially the ocean. Since the boat is small, the groups are small. Everyone gets a front row seat anywhere on the boat. A no frills experience, worth the price.

This was our first time using Maui Ocean Adventures and we were not disappointed. I really liked the up close and personal feeling that we experienced in a smaller boat. It felt like our Captain Emma really made every attempt to get us as close as possible to each sighting of whale activity. The entire staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Living here on Maui, we have the option of using many different companies for whale watching, we will definitely book with Maui Ocean Adventures again as well as recommend to people to do the same. Mahalo for a great experience.

Freaking awesome, ladies were knowledgeable and great. Never worried about safety, saw alot of whales. Support this group, they have one small group boat where you get a great view.

We have been to Maui for the last 20 years, usually in Jan-March - prime whale watching season. This trip today with MOA and captain Shannon and first mate/naturalist Allison made our trip stellar. We saw EVERYTHING today. Whale breaches, tail slaps, spy hops, peduncle waves, mom and baby, competition group, whales under the still (motor off) boat. Captain Shannon was extremely conscious of whale safety (distance from whales), passenger safety and having fun. She was also courteous of another boat that “was there first”. Honestly I know part of this is luck but skill is a big factor. This company was starting as the Lahaina fires occurred and they lost boats in the process but also saved people. Look for the pink boat. It is named after the owners beloved Macy, a whale-loving golden retriever. They are the best. (And no they gave us nothing for writing this. They are good). Signed Katherine and one of the Bobs

Great tour with a small group, allowing everyone on the boat to have unobstructed view of the whales :) They are very knowledgeable and make sure to take the time to answer everyone's questions! Only wish that we could stay on the water a little longer!

We had a wonderful experience on Maui Ocean Adventures 2 Hour Prime Time Whale Watching tour. The all female crew was phenomenal—knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining. We saw multiple whales within close distance—including a mama and her calf. The small group nature of the experience also made it special. It was easy to hear the incredible information the crew provided, ask questions and have a fantastic vantage point from anywhere you are seated on the boat. I would highly recommend this excursion. Mahalo Maui Ocean Adventures for a wonderful whale watching experience!

Fantastic whale watching trip! James and Lainey were excellent guides! We were able to see a lot of whales off the Lahaina shore, and even saw a couple baby whales playing alongside their moms. I am very glad I chose this company for our girls trip! Comfortable boat and not too many people (everyone had clear view of all the whale shenanigans). Next time I get to Maui, I am booking with Maui Ocean Adventures again!

Highly recommend coming during mating/calving season. The crew was funny, knowledgeable, and very friendly. Small boat size made the trip even more enjoyable

Our whale watching excursion was cancelled yesterday d/t unfavorable weather conditions so Maui Ocean Adventures helped us reschedule for a sunrise whale watching tour today. They were great to work with and understood our time constraints d/t flying out tomorrow. God works in mysterious ways…what a spectacular morning it was 🐳

This was a great experience! This is a small company that focuses on the experience as well as comfort. On the boat, everyone had a seat and there was 360 of visibility at all times. Seats were padded and there was a canopy for shade. Captain Emma was experienced and knowledgeable which made the quiet times as interesting as when we were following / chasing whales.

We had the best experience with Maui Ocean Adventures!! I recently had major knee surgery and the captain and her crew were so accommodating and compassionate!! I could not have felt more comfortable!! We saw so many whales and learned information abt their behaviors on the tour. It was evident these ladies have a passion for what they do! I HIGHLY recommend this tour and will definitely book a tour with them when we visit again.

Absolutely EPIC whale watching tour. The captain and crew were fantastic, knowledgeable and handled the boat like the boss they are! Would recommend this tour and Maui Ocean Adventures to all who visit Maui.

Trip was Dec 29 2025… so solidly in whale season and we were not disappointed! Pricing was competitive for small boat excursion. The atmosphere was friendly and fun and felt safe. This was my first time on small boat whale experience with fewer people and I highly recommend. “Macy” The pink boat leaves from Mala Ramp near Cannery Mall. The boat crew and land crew were great and we met the company cat and one dog (not Macy who the boat is named after) upon return. We were lucky and got “mugged” by a juvenile whale that hung around beside and under the boat for about 20 minutes —tale slapping, pec fin slapping and waving and just hanging out!! Look for the Pink boat!!

The crew were friendly, informed and relaxed. The water conditions were flat and the whale activity was exceptional. We went on the 8:50 cruise. We probably saw over 30 breaches! The boat was fast, clean and comfortable. Suggest going in the morning for best water conditions as it can get choppy in the afternoon.

I learned about this boat tour company last year from a friend, and I very much enjoyed the experience. I took two more whale watch tours (back to back) yesterday, and had two more great experiences. The staff is very knowledgable and very friendly. I learned a lot about whales and even managed to get a few reasonable photos. It is amazing how fast a two hour tour goes by! And every tour is different.

Absolutely wonderful! We loved the boat and crew! Will do again!! Check in was easy and saw multiple whales!!

Seemed to be a new boat, no fumes, sun or no sun options on deck, lawful viewing of whales, saw a breach and lots of fin flapping! Very pleasant staff, restarting in Lahaina after the fires a couple of years ago

Had the absolute BEST time with Maui ocean adventures! The crew were so kind, laid back, and informative and supplied the best experience. The boat was in excellent condition and any seat on the boat was an amazing view. We saw so many whales, breaches, fin slaps, and whale battles. They even brought along the goodest pup, Lillikoi, to be our whale mascot. Best day ever! They are a must book!

The all female crew on this excursion was amazing. Lexi and captain were extremely knowledgeable in oceanography and all things whale related. We were able to see many whales on this two hour excursion, but our favorite was the mom and one week old baby. Lexi and captain were able to explain the whales behavior and habits. My family and I learned a lot on this excursion. Unfortunately, my son is very sensitive to sea sickness and felt ill towards the end of the trip. Lexi was very accommodating and he was well taken care of.

We had an absolutely amazing experience with Maui Ocean Adventures. While part of this was due to the fact that the whales swam right up to and under our boat, I would give them 5 stars even if this didn't happen. Captain James and Mindy were incredibly knowledgable, friendly, and helpful and ran an excellent tour for our family. The group size was perfect - not too big and there was plenty of space for us to sit and see and two hours was the perfect length. Overall, just a great vibe and would absolutely recommend to anyone coming to Maui! I hope we get to go again!

We would highly rate Maui Ocean Adventures. Really keen hard working crew that delivered in spades our whale watching objective. We saw many groups including one newborn that was quite frisky. One couldn't ask for a better experience.