Humpback whales visit the coastline of the Big Island during the winter months.  Usually the first sighting is in early December and by late March most have already headed back north.  You can “whale watch” along the shore anytime or take a whale watching tour.

Sometimes you may just see a spray of water blast up into the air as the whales take a breath.  Other times whales lift their tails or flukes out of the water or slap their flippers on the surface.  Whales also just pop their heads out of the water – called an “eye spy.”  On occasion, if you are really lucky, a whale will “breach”, actually jump clear out of the water and land on its side! What a sight!  You may see a mother with her new calf or you could catch sight of a whole pod of whales enjoying the warm waters off the Big Island.

Lots of whale watching excursions are available during the winter months – check directly with the tour operators for details.

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