K
Whales!
What a great trip. Though not guaranteed, we saw lots of whales, with one breaching right behind us! Comfortable boat and not too many people onboard.
Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch
+20 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3–4 hours
- Price from
- $129 / person
- Location
- Big Island of Hawaii, United States
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 582 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 42
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Hawaiian Adventures
- Meeting point
- We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to your tour. All guests need to meet at our company sign on the south-central side of the marina, 20 minutes prior to departure.
Description
Unique to the Big Island of Hawaii, over a dozen species of whales can be found on the Kona Coast year-round! Join us as we explore the offshore in search of pilot whales, false killer whales, whale sharks, spinner dolphins, sperm whales, and more! Our Hawaiian Adventures crew is passionate about whales, and we pride ourselves on being the whale experts of the Big Island. The ocean provides new opportunities on every tour, so trust the guides who do this every day! Our crew works hard to show you the most wildlife on every trip, and we aim to leave you with a new appreciation for Kona’s whales, wildlife, and vibrant ecosystem. Come winter, spring, summer, or fall, our goal is to show you it all! Departure Times March 24 - December 15: 8:30 AM December 16 - March 23: 7 AM, 11 AM, & 3:30 PM
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 8:30 AM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 15
- Adult (ages 10+)
- $129
In demand: 15 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Kailua-Kona
Kona is the ultimate whale and wildlife destination. Kona’s calm waters, deep coastlines, and variety of marine life make the region a world-class wildlife location. Our tours leave out of Honokohau Harbor, which has access to both near-shore and pelagic zones. Exploring the near-shore zone, you have the opportunity to see humpbacks during the winter months, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, and flying fish. With a US Coast Guard offshore certification, Hawaiian Adventures Kona can also reach the pelagic zone- something very few tours do. The pelagic zone expands the search into waters thousands of feet deep to look for pilot whales, beaked whales, sperm whales, spotted dolphins, whale sharks, and more! Our Guarantee: If you do not see a whale or dolphin with us you will receive a unique promotion code to book another tour for 50% off.
What's included
Included
Professional Crew
Whale Watching Tour
Cold Drinks – Soft drinks and bottled water
Not included
Hotel pick-up and drop off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
582 reviews
How it compares in Big Island of Hawaii
- No. 46 by number of reviews among 526 tours in Big Island of Hawaii
- Starting price $129 is close to the typical $125 for tours of similar length in Big Island of Hawaii
Excurgo comparison of 526 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not appropriate for children under the age of 10
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 Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch take?
Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch lasts about 3–4 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch cost?
Prices start at $129 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 Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM.
Does Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch sell out?
It can: 15 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch 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 We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to your tour. All guests need to meet at our company sign on the south-central side of the marina, 20 minutes prior to departure. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch 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 42 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Not appropriate for children under the age of 10
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 582 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Hawaiian Adventures.
Reviews(582)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
B
Wow
Dolphin/whale watching was a sight to see! We were so fortunate to be able to see as much as we did: Spinner dolphins bottle nose dolphins A deceased sperm whale with tiger sharks eating the carcus(very rare sighting) pelagic whales short fin pilot whales Not to mention the crew was very knowledgeable and friendly. But I do have the say Falkor(the dog) was by far my favorite of the tour guides 😉
R
worth it!
Great family experience! We had to change our date due to delayed travel, and they were great to work with and made it happen very easily. The extra experience with live animals(sea horse, crab etc) on the boat was really fun for the kids.It was obvious they valued the wildife and treated them with respect. The crew was friendly and interacted with everyone-even remembered the kids names. I would highly recommend this experience!!
C
Awesome time!
You will see sea life! We saw spinner dolphins, pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins, and numerous seabirds!
C
Great excursion on the water
A great excursion on the water with our naturalist guides Andrew and Olivia and their dog Falkor! We saw spectacular marine wildlife - dozens of dolphins and whales as promised. Great views of the coastline with unlimited cold beverages. The movement of the waves as we were coasting along the water lulled everyone to sleep so it was a restful time as we admired the local ecosystem under the baking Hawaiian sun! There are restrooms in the harbor parking lot and on the boat so no worries there. Load up on the sunscreen (though the boat has lots of shade) and very comfy to go shoe-less on the boat - a wonderful time.
F
Didn't see whales
This was a good experience disappointed that we only saw dolphins when it said it was guaranteed whale and dolphin but overall it was a nice experience
J
Whales, dolphins, and tuna, oh my!
This was an amazing boating experience from beginning to end! Andrew and Olivia were both very knowledgeable and made the experience very informative and inviting. As soon as we left the harbor we saw a pod of spinner dolphins! Not too long after we saw at least 20 pilot Whales! A bonus was jumping tuna. Such a wonderful day with amazing guides.
Operator response
Wow, sounds like a phenomenal day! The exciting part about our tours is that every day is different, and we never know what the ocean will have in store for us. Olivia and Andrew always try to pack in as much wildlife and education as possible, and it sounds like this trip was no exception. Mahalo for joining us and for your kind words. We hope to see you again soon!
J
Amazing experience
This company is small and family owner. Olivia and Anthony were fantastic guides. They pointed out birds, dolphins, and even whales! We had the best time!!
Operator response
Thank you for your kind words! It really does mean the world to our crew. We always say that whale season is year round in Kona because we're able to spend time with pelagic species that do not migrate. It's such a fun experience to be able to whale watch in Hawaii in the summer time. We're so glad you enjoyed your day with us and we hope to see you again soon!
N
great crew great vibes! great sightings
The crew of the hawaiian adventures boat was great! We saw a rare species of whale and dolphin! We saw a spotted dolphin, black fin whale, fraser dolphin, and a melon beaded whale
Operator response
Thanks for joining us on our pelagic dolphin/whale watch tour! We have so many year-round whales and other marine life that we can see on our tours. We spent the day with short-finned pilot whales, melon-headed whales, pantropical spotted dolphins, and rare Frasers dolphins! What a fantastic summer day on the Kona Coast. Mahalo!
L
Our experience was cut...
Our experience was cut short due to an issue with the vessel but the crew was exceptionally professional about the whole situation. We had a refund before we were even back on shore. I wish we would have had another day on the Big Island to try again as this is a first class outfit with a great crew and a beautiful vessel. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for this type of excursion. I know we will definitely book with them when we return.
Operator response
Our team greatly appreciates your understanding! We take the safety of our guests seriously and our crew is working diligently to repair the issue. We look forward to welcoming you back when you visit the island again!
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona: Guaranteed Dolphin/Whale Watch | 3–4 hours | 4.9 (582) | $129 | |
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 Waikiki 2 Hour Whale Watching with Guaranteed Sightings on Oahu | 2 hours | 4.6 (1,335) | $53 | View |
 Kona: Humpback Whale Watch Tour | 2h 30min | 5.0 (78) | $119 | View |
 Maui Whale Watching: WHALES GUARANTEED with Makai Adventures | 2 hours | 4.9 (1,184) | $109 | View |
 West Maui Sunset Whale Watch | 2 hours | 4.9 (150) | $80 | View |
from$129
4.9(582) Free cancellation