The Newest Whale-Watching Excursions on Maui

At once gigantic and gentle, thousands of humpback whales have made their way back to Hawaii to mate and give birth, as they do each winter. 

Currently, the destination’s largest annual visitors are particularly easy to see from Maui, where whale-watching adventures call to clients who dream big.

Now through the end of March, travelers heading to Maui can expect mammoth thrills when they add the following new whale activities to their itineraries.

Cousteau Whale Watch at Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
For a top-flight whale-watching cruise, guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua need look no further than the resort’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, developed by famed French ocean explorer and educator Jean-Michel Cousteau and his team. 

During the three-hour trip, passengers are treated to breathtaking views of whales from the safety and comfort of a private 12-person boat where, thanks to the vessel’s creative layout, everyone gets a front-row seat.

Onboard, Cousteau-trained naturalists share fascinating facts about the giants of the sea, from their biology to their social behaviors. Better yet, clients hear whale songs through an underwater hydrophone.

Transportation, digital photos and refreshments round out this exceptional expedition.

www.ritzcarlton.com

A Whale Watch Experience With Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
Traditionally, whale watching takes place on a boat. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters’ latest seasonal tour, the Heli-Whale Experience, puts a new spin on that definition by lifting clients 1,000 feet above the ocean’s surface. 

As passengers gaze down from on high, they gain unique perspectives on humpback habits, from leaping and spouting to mother-and-calf underwater interactions. Pilots who double as Hawaii-certified tour guides provide insightful narration throughout the flight.

Along with aerial views of the whales, the journey dishes up astonishing vistas of tropical beaches, mountains and the island’s vast central valley. Available through March 31, the 50-minute extravaganza departs from Kahului.

Blue Hawaiian offers a similar option on Hawaii Island.

www.bluehawaiian.com

Kohola in Kaanapali Package From Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Named for the Hawaiian word for whale, the Kohola in Kaanapali package makes the most of Sheraton’s superb setting on northwest Maui. It’s an ideal place for spotting humpbacks as they blow and breach just a short distance away from the shoreline. 

Among the package inclusions are a whale-watching outing for two people in an outrigger canoe and an enlightening talk by a marine naturalist from Maui Ocean Center.

The deal also regales guests with a pair of mai tais from the hotel’s new lobby bar, reef-safe sunscreen and some yummy mango bread. 

Kohola in Kaanapali is available to clients who plan to stay at least three nights at the resort through April 12.

www.marriott.com

Photo Excursions and Whale Art at Four Seasons Resort Maui
Guests of the southwest Maui resort can book an excursion with brothers John and Dan Cesere, who are underwater photographers and members of a whale research team. During a customizable day at sea, they teach participants how to take pictures of the spectacular cetaceans as well as other marine life, above and below the water.

Additional humpback-related pastimes for Four Seasons guests include whale watching on a catamaran, sailboat, Zodiac or kayak. 

Active visitors might want to join one of the hotel’s stand-up paddleboard yoga classes, where whale sightings sweeten the serenity.

On Saturday evenings, clients can stop by the resort’s open-air gallery to eyeball some whale tail pop art by Maui’s own Chelsea Kohl. 

www.fourseasons.com