Māʻalaea Bay Whale Watching
Māʻalaea Harbor
Every winter, more than ten thousand humpback whales migrate south from Alaska to breed, and Māʻalaea Harbor is Maui's main departure point for whale-watching boats.
The shallow waters around Maui lie within the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. From December to April each year, humpback whales court, calve and nurse their young here, with sightings most frequent from January to March. On boat trips you often see whales breaching, slapping their fins and mothers swimming alongside their calves. Māʻalaea Harbor sits on the south coast of Central Maui and is home to several whale-watching and snorkeling tour companies. Trips last about 2 hours, and many boats carry hydrophones so you can listen to whale songs. Regulations require vessels to keep at least about 90 meters from whales. In winter, spouts can also often be seen from coastal trails such as those at Kapalua and Wailea.
Opening hours
Whale-watching boats approx. 07:00–16:00, multiple departures
Nearby sights
- Maui Ocean Center
- ʻĪao Valley State Monument
- Wailea Beach & Beach Path
- Molokini Crater
- Waiheʻe Ridge Trail
- Big Beach (Mākena State Park)
- Pāʻia
- MauiWine at ʻUlupalakua Ranch