Whale-Watching in Kauai

Every winter North Pacific humpback whales swim some 3,000 mi over 30 days, give or take a few, from Alaska to Hawaii. Whales arrive as early as November and sometimes stay through April, though they seem to be most populous in February and March. They come to Hawaii to breed, calve, and nurse their young.

Tours

Of course, nothing beats seeing a whale up close. During the season, any boat on the water is looking for whales; they're hard to avoid, whether the tour is labeled "whale-watching" or not. Several boat operators will add two-hour, afternoon whale-watching tours during the season that run on the South Shore not Napali). Operators include Blue Dolphin , Catamaran Kahanu , HoloHolo, and Napali Explorer. One of the more unique ways to, hopefully, see some whales is atop a kayak. For a possible encounter, try Outfitters Kauai 's South Shore kayak trip. There are a few lookout spots around the island with good land-based viewing: Kilauea Lighthouse on the North Shore, the Kapaa Scenic Overlook just north of Kapaa town on the East Side, and the cliffs to the east of Keoniloa (Shipwreck) Beach on the South Shore.