Kauai Whale Watching Cruises
Humpback Whales, Spinner Dolphins and na Pali
Kauai whale watching cruises travel up the na Pali coast and to Niihau (the Forbidden Island) in search of humpback whales and spinner dolphins.
Every winter humpback whales arrive in Kauai waters to calve, court and mate. Local whale watching cruises offer a chance to see humpbacks and spinner dolphins up close. Whale watching season on Kauai runs from mid-November to Mid-March every year, although you may still see the occasion humpback in April or, rarely, in May. All told, over 10,000 humpback whales travel from Alaska to Hawaii every year.
Whale Watching under na Pali
Most of Kauai’s whale watching cruises depart from Port Allen, a harbor on the west side of Kauai. Sixty foot catamaran’s leave port several times a day and head north to the breathtaking na Pali coastline (na Pali is Hawaiian for “the cliffs”).
Some whale watching cruises sail to Niihau, Hawaii’s fabled Forbidden Island, after they tour na Pali. Trips to Niihau, however, are always contingent on ocean conditions and the weather.
Winter Weather and na Pali Cruises
Winter swells can make na Pali ocean conditions choppy, and occasionally whale watching cruises have to change plans at the last minute due to rough weather. When na Pali is unsafe, whale watching cruises typically head south to Kipu Kai’s calmer waters.
Visitors can be disappointed when whale watching cruises don’t go to na Pali, and some cancel their cruise. Heading south to Kipu Kai has some advantages however. True, the south shore cliffs aren’t as tall or lush with greenery as na Pali, but he scenery is still beautiful (hey, this is the Garden Island we’re talking about).
In season, whales are just as plentiful in southern waters as they are in the north. If you’ve booked on whale watching cruises that offer snorkeling and scuba diving you get the chance to hit the waters of Kipu Kai, which offers fantastic snorkeling because the beaches aren’t accessible by land.
If you’re heart is set on seeing na Pali and north shore weather doesn’t cooperate, rebook if you can. Otherwise Kipu Kai whale watching cruises are equally enjoyable.
Types of Whale Watching Cruises
Not all whale watching cruises are created equal. Na Pali cruises that leave port in the morning and early afternoon typically last five hours, including an hour stop for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Morning cruises are more likely to encounter Hawaiian spinner dolphins, which often swim in to ride the catamaran’s bow wave and entertain with their characteristic spinning jumps. Later in the day spinner dolphins head out into deeper water and aren’t seen as often.
Trips to the Forbidden Island
Niihau whale watching tours, which include a trip down na Pali, usually last seven hours. The Niihau coast offers spectacular cliffs and ocean carved rocks. Cruises often stop to snorkel and scuba dive at Lehua island, an ancient volcano caldera. Niihau snorkeling is ranked amongst the best in the State of Hawaii.
Dinner/sunset cruises are available and last two to four hours depending on the cruise. Sunset cruises typically don’t include snorkeling stops, instead, you get to view na Pali in the soft evening light (the cliffs look very different in the evening than in the bright light of morning). Many dinner cruises serve champagne as the sun sets. If you’re looking for romance, a sunset cruise can’t be beat.
Zipping Along in a Zodiac
More adventurous whale watchers might try a zodiac raft tour of na Pali. Zodiacs are 24 foot inflatable rafts with a rigid hull. Zodiacs can get much closer to the shore than larger catamarans, and if spinner dolphins approach the raft you get the thrill of being right at water level with them (remember that it is illegal to touch, chase, or otherwise harass ocean mammals in Hawaiian waters).
Zodiacs have to observe the same whale watching rules as larger watercraft. Boats, snorkelers, and scuba divers cannot approach closer than the length of a football field to humpback whales. If whales choose to come closer to the boat, that’s fine, but otherwise minimum distances must be maintained. This minimizes the risk of collisions during whale watching cruises and helps prevent injury to both whales and people.
