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Tours/Big Island of Hawaii/Big Island: Whale Watching Tour

Big Island: Whale Watching Tour

4.8(649)Big Island of Hawaii2h 30min
VIATOR4.8(405)TRIPADVISOR4.8(244)
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
+3 photos
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour
Big Island: Whale Watching Tour

At a glance

Duration
2h 30min
Price from
$109 / person
Location
Big Island of Hawaii, United States
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 649 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 48
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Hang Loose Boat Tours
Meeting point
After turning into the harbor, TAKE the very first road to the RIGHT. Follow the road, pass Gentry's Kona Marine and a small gas station -Sea Store and Deli on the left, then TURN LEFT. As you drive in, you will see a small brown roof building to the right (restrooms). Meet crew under the pavilion.

Description

Let us take you for an awesome journey on our fast powered catamaran that has shade to offer while spotting whales. The boat is also equipped in head (bathroom). Cruise along the coast in search of whales during season (December until mid April). If you are visiting Hawaii during this time, don't miss out and reserve your seat to see those magnificent creatures up close. We guarantee seeing whales or come again for free!

Schedule & prices

Runs
Every day
Start times
9:00 AM and 12:30 PM
Season
Starts Dec 20
Adult (ages 13–75)
$109
Child (ages 5–12)
$94
Infant (ages 1–4)
$44

From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.

Tour Options

Whale Watch

What's included

Included
Professional guide
Bottled water
Snacks
Not included
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

4.8
649 reviews
5
567
4
42
3
19
2
11
1
10

How it compares in Big Island of Hawaii

  • No. 40 by number of reviews among 523 tours in Big Island of Hawaii
  • Starting price $109 is 13% below the typical $125 for tours of similar length in Big Island of Hawaii

Excurgo comparison of 523 Viator tours, recalculated daily.

Important Information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • Not recommended for pregnant women in advanced pregnancy

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does Big Island: Whale Watching Tour take?

Big Island: Whale Watching Tour lasts about 2h 30min.

How much does Big Island: Whale Watching Tour cost?

Prices start at $109 per person for this Big Island of Hawaii experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

What days does Big Island: Whale Watching Tour run?

According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM.

How much does Big Island: Whale Watching Tour cost for children?

Children aged 5–12 pay from $94, adults from $109.

Can I cancel Big Island: Whale Watching Tour for free?

Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is After turning into the harbor, TAKE the very first road to the RIGHT. Follow the road, pass Gentry's Kona Marine and a small gas station -Sea Store and Deli on the left, then TURN LEFT. As you drive in, you will see a small brown roof building to the right (restrooms). Meet crew under the pavilion. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is Big Island: Whale Watching Tour offered in?

The experience is available in EN.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 48 participants.

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Is Big Island: Whale Watching Tour worth it?

Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 649 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Hang Loose Boat Tours.

Reviews(649)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

R
rmom352
September 24, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Good day on the water

These guys took us to the best places for whale watching. We saw many humpbacks, spinner dolphins, fish on a beautiful Hawaiian day. The price was reasonable.

J
JenMiTy
April 2, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful company and tour!!!!

Everything was amazing. I’ll start by saying we booked when a storm that created devastation arrived. They properly canceled our trip and it lead me to contact Tom in the office to see if we could reschedule. It ended up being odd but there was a window in the storm with sunshine we decided to take advantage of. Boat was clean. Snacks were great. Crew was great. We saw a momma and her baby and followed them for quite awhile. But the unsold diamond was Tom. He recognized my area code when I called and we chatted like old friends. He told me where to buy the best coffee (from a lady in a car outside of Costco) and best restaurants. He didn’t lie! Made our whole trip as we planned around his recommendations. Just a great guy to chat with. Don’t miss out on chatting him up! Just a warning for those who get seasick. I did everything I normally do to be ok. Ear patches. Dramamine perfectly timed. Food hydrated. Ready. Unfortunately none of it helped. (Me issue not anything to do with them!!). I ended up in the back of the boat for 80% of the trip. Crew checked on me a lot! Brought me water and apologized 100 times. Not their fault. Appreciated the empathy.

T
Trisha_M
March 25, 2026 · via Viator
Didn’t see any whales

No whale sightings. We saw some spinner dolphins but that was all. Long boat ride and disappointed. Captain said it was end of season.

W
WILLIAM_B
March 23, 2026 · via Viator
We saw two whales breach...

We saw two whales breach early in the whale watch. Later, a whale swam right next to the boat. The "Captain" was entertaining and informative. Crew was friendly.

A
Anneliese_G
March 22, 2026 · via Viator
No whales

No whales were found today 3/21/26 Ocean was very rough but our skipper was very good and got us back safely.

N
nellietacobellie
March 18, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Excellent Day whale watching

Great experience! Saw several whales and the staff was very attentive to everyone’s needs. I would highly recommend. Great crew

L
LisaMCTraveler
March 17, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whales at Play

Our 2.5 hour experience whale watching may have been the highlight of our time on the big Island. The boat ride was smooth and relaxing and they took us exactly where the whales were. In no time there was a hump back calf leaping around our boat who was then joined by the mother whale. They swam right next to our boat and continued to circle the boat the entire time. It was amazing. Jacob the captain was pleasant and so knowledgeable about the whales and Kiwami was a great stewart. They even played a recording of whales communicating that Kiwami had previously captured on her go-pro, which further enhanced our experience. If you go in whale season this is not to be missed!

R
Ramanda_M
March 14, 2026 · via Viator
Our 2 hosts were nice,...

Our 2 hosts were nice, funny & very knowledgeable. The views were incredible. We had 2 whale sightings along with a school of dolphins within 2.5 hours. You have to exercise patience as the whales dive for extended periods of time. If you are easily prone to motion sickness, make sure you take some meds before hand. The boats move A LOT with the waves when not in motion. Make sure you bring a jacket as the backsplash from the boat crashing the waves is very cold.

C
Cameron_M
March 13, 2026 · via Viator
We were on the boat with...

We were on the boat with 40+ others. There were chips, water, and Sprite available. It was quite a rough ride, and we were out for 3+ hours. During that time, we caught a glimpse of two whales breaching and some dolphins swimming nearby. We've been on whale watching tours before that were much more informative and exciting. Overall, it was an average experience - not sure it was worth the money.

M
Melissa_C
March 11, 2026 · via Viator
Do it!

Captain Jacob and the team were great. The whales cooperated we were able to see several up close and a few dolphins too

$109/ person
4.8(649)
Duration2h 30min
LanguagesEN
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

No booking fees from Excurgo
Payment and confirmation are handled by Viator
Excurgo support

Excurgo earns a commission from Viator when you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.

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