Whale season in Maui is in full swing! Hawaii’s beloved humpback whales, or koholā, have recently been spotted offshore during their annual trek to the Islands. Maui whale-watching season is typically from December through April, usually peaking in February.
Here at Wings Hawaii, we’re endlessly inspired by these majestic creatures and love watching them every year. So we’re sharing our staffers’ best tips on how, where, and when to spot whales on Maui in this 2026 season, either by land or sea:
“The Ali’i Nui – best charter boat in Mā’alaea harbor! The lunch and open bar are epic, and it’s top-notch ambiance and service on their boat, all the way down to the crew cleaning everyone’s sunglasses before they disembark.” – Melody
“I like to whale-watch on the beach in Wailea or Lahaina, and I love swimming and going under the water to hear them sing.” – Angi
“If you want a close-up experience, find a company that does zodiac tours – they’re smaller boats and you’re nearer to the water and the whales!” – Tara
“My favorite whale-watch hack turns island-hopping and whale-watching into one adventure. The Expeditions ferry does three daily runs to and from the island of Lāna’i. Once you arrive, the most beautiful bay is a 10-minute walk away. Pack a picnic, and you’ve got a perfect interisland day trip AND a 45-minute whale-watch each direction.” – Melody
“From land, there’s a lookout between Mā’alaea and Olowalu called Papawai Scenic Lookout that’s great for spotting whales. But during whale season (December-April) you have a chance of seeing them from just about any shoreline. You’ll have the most luck on south and west facing shores since that’s the area that forms the shallower ’Au’au channel between Maui, Kaho’olawe, Lāna’i, and Moloka’i. This acts as a sanctuary where the whales come to give birth, raise their babies, and mate. This area is unique to Maui, and it has the highest concentration of humpbacks in Hawai’i.” – Tara
As you can see, Tara really knows her stuff. Not only is she Wings Hawaii’s staff photographer and assistant jeweler, she’s also our resident whale expert and real-life mermaid who has been photographing and swimming with whales since 2019. She’s made treks to Tahiti, Tonga, and the Cook Islands to do so, returning with beautifully artistic shots of her incredible whale encounters. (Here in Hawaii, it’s illegal to swim with them, so at home on Maui she enjoys whale watch cruises and spotting them from shore.)
We’re so excited about Tara’s newest shots from her latest whale expedition to Tonga, now available as matted art prints at Wings Hawaii. Here, she shares the story behind the shots titled A Mother’s Love and Mom and Baby:
“We had the most incredible experience with the mom and baby humpback that are in my newest photos. The mom was so calm and unbothered by our presence, trusting us to hang out with her baby while she rested down below. The calf (which can’t hold its breath as long) would come up for breaths more often, and come closer to us to check us out. In a precious little display of excitement, she even breached next to us several times. Then, she’d go back down to her mom and snuggle for a few minutes before coming back up to play some more. The sweet interactions between the mom and baby are my favorite to witness in person and photograph – you can really see the love they share between them as they nuzzle and rub up against one another.”
Make sure to browse Tara’s other underwater whale photography prints as well: Whale Dance, Whale Eye, Whales on Reef, and Whale Approach. You can see more of her amazing work and adventures at her Instagram @tarashay_ and learn more about her in our Dances With Whales blog.
Tara’s gorgeous underwater photography is also what inspired our Whale Dance collection, with designs based on her images illustrated onto fun accessories like water bottles, long-sleeved tees, journals, Kohola Adventure Totes, patches, pins, keychains, and stickers. We especially love our newest Whale Dance tee in a mellow rust color. These all make great gifts for whale lovers and perfect souvenirs during Maui whale watching season! Shop the entire collection at wingshawaii.com.
Happy whale watching!
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