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whale watching tours

2023 Humpback Whale Watching

Image of a boat tour group on an Oahu whale watching tour. North shore whale watching tours are an excellent way to experience some of the marine life the islands have to offer.Our favorite time of the year is fast approaching! With a handful of humpback whale sightings already along the island chain. It’s a sure thing that we are going to have another spectacular humpback whale season again! Momma whales, along with the male 50 thousand pound escorts, are making their way here now as you read this to give birth and calf. They’re young in our safe, warm waters. They make their way from Alaska every year, coming down the coast of Washington, Oregon, California, and Mexico before making their way across the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaii islands. Last year, we got to witness a birth just 1 mile from the harbor and have had numerous interactions inside of the head buoy of the channel. Going out of Haleiwa Harbor here on the North Shore of Oahu has got to be one of the best places in the World to whale watch!

Book Your Whale Watching Tour Today

Image of a pod of whales. A good way to see whales during their migration is to take a North Shore Whale watching tour.Here at Banzai Adventures on Oahu’s North Shore, we have our calendar open for our private whale watch trips starting December 20, 2023, and book through the end of April. On our private whale watch trips, you can bring up to six people, and that’s for a 1 1/2-hour trip. With the close proximity of the whales and the speed of our zodiac RIB boat, the hour-and-a-half curated trips seem to be just right.  On these trips, you’ll see much more than the humpback whales as well. Stunning views of the North Shore, Hawaii, green sea turtles, flying fish, sea birds, Spinner, Dolphins, and of course, sharks if you care to go by that area too! Please check out our website at www.banzaiadventures.com to see and read more. You can easily book on our online calendar as well.

Thank you, and have a great day! Aloha, Jared.

How to Book Oahu Whale Watching Tours
An Insider’s Guide

If you’re looking for an exciting and unique experience while visiting Oahu, Hawaii, then whale watching should definitely be on your list. Every year between January and April, whales make their way to the waters of Oahu to give birth and mate. Watching these majestic creatures in their natural environment is truly an unforgettable experience that you won’t soon forget. To make the most of your Oahu whale-watching excursion, here’s an insider’s guide to booking a tour in Oahu.

Humback whale breaching on whale watching tour in Oahu. North Shore whale spotting. Learn how to book a whale watching tour with Banzai Adventures.

Determining Where & When to Go Whale Watching in Oahu

The best time to go whale watching on Oahu is between January and April when humpback whales migrate to the islands. You can find various whale-watching boat tours that leave from different parts of the island – some may be closer to your accommodation while others will require a longer drive. Depending on the Oahu tour boat company you choose, there may also be options for private charters or larger group excursions.

North Shore Whale Watching Tours

Haleiwa Boat Harbor on Oahu’s North Shore is considered by many one of the best places to go for whale watching in Oahu. The area is well-known for its beautiful scenery, big wave adventures, and large concentrations of humpback whales. It also offers the perfect opportunity to spot other wildlife, such as dolphins, sharks, and turtles, in their natural environment.

Leeward Whale Watching Tours

Although the leeward side of Oahu is also a popular option for whale-watching tours, as waters are typically calmer, the concentration of humpback whales is not as high as it is on the North Shore. However, the area does offer stunning views of Oahu and often provides a more laid-back cruising experience than its northern counterpart.

Choosing the Best Whale-Watching Charter Boat

When it comes to booking a whale-watching tour, there are a few things you should consider. First, you’ll want to look for an experienced and knowledgeable crew that can provide helpful insight into the world of whales during your excursion. You should also pay attention to the size and type of boat being used – larger boats typically provide more stable rides, while smaller ones can get you closer to the whales. Finally, some tour boat companies also offer additional tours and sights, so make sure to look for a package that will allow you to get the most out of your trip.

Man on a Banzai Adventures tour boat pointing at whales, North Shore. Oahu whale watching tours, Hawaii.

Banzai Adventures is one of the premier whale-watching companies on Oahu, offering guided north shore tours and charters out of Oahu’s Haleiwa Boat Harbor. With years of experience, they’re experts at finding whales and getting customers up close and personal with whales and other marine wildlife while providing a safe, comfortable ride. The company also offers additional activities such as shark viewing and sunset cruises, so you can be sure to have a truly unique experience.

Booking Your Whale-Watching Adventure

Once you have selected the tour that best suits your needs, it’s time to book your whale-watching adventure. Depending on the company, you may be able to make reservations online or by phone, or you can stop by the tour office in person to make arrangements. Most Oahu boat tour companies require a deposit upon booking and accept major credit cards, cash, and checks.

When planning your whale-watching adventure in Oahu, it’s important to make sure you have all the necessary information before you set sail. Be sure to check the weather ahead of time and dress appropriately – a light jacket, hat, and sunscreen may be necessary on some days. Bring along binoculars or a camera to capture the beauty of the whales up close. Finally, don’t forget snacks and water for your excursion in case you get hungry or thirsty during your tour.

Tail of a humpback whale, North Shore, Hawaii. Whale watchers spot whales on a charter boat.

Take the Plunge: Book a Whale Watching Tour with Banzai Adventures Online Today

Whale watching near Oahu’s north shore coastline is an experience unlike any other. Get up close and personal with the world’s largest mammals as they migrate through these warm waters, all while enjoying the stunning views of Oahu’s North Shore. Book a whale-watching tour today with Banzai Adventures and make your trip to Oahu even more unforgettable. With experienced boat captains and a safe, comfortable ride, you’re sure to have an experience you won’t soon forget. So don’t wait – click here to book your whale-watching tour with Banzai Adventures today!

North Shore Whale Watching Cruise Highlights

Image of a boat tour group on an Oahu whale watching boat tour. North shore whale watching boat tours are an excellent way to experience some of the marine life the islands have to offer.Well, we sit about halfway through our whale season and it’s been nothing short of phenomenal!  Highlights of our North Shore whale watching cruises so far have been a heater ( breading) session of Humpbacks surrounded by sharks that extended for an hour. It just so happened to take place when the boat was stopped observing some sharks in the water and the whales came up right next to us as they started, so the view was amazingly close! The second highlight, which is a very special story happened as our guests who were celebrating their 70th birthday got to witness a Humpback whale give birth to a fresh baby! The Mom was laying there on the surface motionless for about 15 minutes while we watched. Wondering what she was doing as we kept our attention towards her our question was answered as the baby calf, very white in complexion came up for its first breath of air! Once that happened mom and baby circled for another 15 minutes or so enjoying their first moments together on Earth as they slowly swam in a circle, breathing and taking it all in.

A humpback whale tail above the surface of the pacific ocean near Oahu's coastline.In addition to the two highlights, our Oahu whale watching tour groups have been seeing a ton of breaching whales every morning and throughout the day. Locating them has not been an issue.  Usually, we see the whales pretty good all the way through the end of April before they head home to Alaska. Our aspiring whale specialist, Captain Hunter Farr is a wealth of knowledge and we’ve been really fortunate to have him on board! A new addition to our whale watch tours is the underwater microphone that’s been really, really fun! Putting it in the water with the engines off hearing the male whales sing. It adds so much to the experience! Weather-wise we’ve had an exceptional winter as well! The entire month of January has been nothing but stellar and continues into the month of February. Hopefully, this trend continues for the rest of the season, it’s been delightful. With the calmer weather, we’ve also been seeing a lot of dolphins mixed into our adventure tours which have been nice too.  Galapagos and Sandbar sharks have been present as always as well. Life is good onboard Banzai Adventures!  So please go online or give us a call to book your unforgettable adventure tour, whale watch tour,  big wave adventure, or sunset tour with us soon!

North Shore Whale Watching Tours

Humpback whale watching on Oahu is truly amazing and the experience of seeing them up close never gets old. Our season that Humpback whales migrate through the Hawaiian starts in December and goes through April. The Humpback whales spend the fall months coming down the west coast of the US mainland from Alaska into Mexico and cross over to Hawaii to give birth to calves and nurse their young here on the North Shore of Oahu until the time comes to complete the 6,000-mile round trip journey and head back to Alaska. While they’re here away from the predation of killer whales, great white sharks, and other irritants to give birth, they really seem to enjoy the Hawaiian, Pacific Ocean waters. Often seen slapping their giant pectoral fins, tails, poking their big heads out to get a closer look at us, and breaching clear out of the water is nothing short of breathtaking.

We have a ton of fun sharing this Oahu whale watching experience with you from the safety, shaded, dry and comfortable confines of our rigid inflatable bottom (RIB)boat. Banzai is such a perfect North shore tour boat to experience this from! Often times we can get into an area where we’re seeing a lot of whale activity and then shut the motor off and drift with them. This gives you the added experience of hearing them breathe and gives the whales a comfortable feeling of knowing we aren’t there to chase after them or harass them. We are there to see their beauty and grace. When doing this we have some mind-blowing experiences that will leave you absolutely 100% grateful that you decided to go on our guaranteed-to-see whale adventure on Banzai!

Humpback whales can reach up to 55 feet in length and weigh in at 30 tons! The calves are born in the 10-15 foot range and weigh in at 2,000 pounds. About 11,000 humpback whales migrate through the Hawaiian islands each year and the north shore of Oahu is by far the best place to view them as they really tend to concentrate close to the island in a predictable area that offers us the ability to guarantee that you’ll see them during the season on our adventure boat tour. All ages are welcome to join our private boat tour on this unforgettable experience. We can take up to 6 persons on this 1 hour plus North Shore whale watching experience!

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