Maui Whale Watching in December
Whale watching on Maui in December: how early in the season it is, which boats have started, holiday booking, short days and tips for choosing a trip.
Yes, there are whales off Maui in December, and it is a good month for a first whale watch, but it is the opening of the season: numbers are still building toward the January to March peak, and many boats only start running partway through the month. The practical question for December is which trips have begun on your dates. Several Māʻalaea and Lahaina-area boats run from 1 December or earlier, while Sea Maui, Kaulana, Malolo and others start on 15 December. Check each start date before you compare the Maui whale watching cruises on price.
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Maui: Whale Watching Cruise with Open Bar from Ka'anapali Beach
- 4.8/5 (855 reviews)
- About 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Operated by Sea Maui
Includes Open bar for guests 21 and over · Snacks · Live commentary from trained naturalists
You'll choose your date and complete the booking on Viator. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Same cruise, also on GetYourGuide
From $103 per person · ★ 4.9 from 87 GetYourGuide reviews
Each platform sets its own price and collects its own reviews, so compare both before you book on Viator.
December is the season opening
Humpback season in Hawaiʻi runs roughly November to May, with the peak from January to March. December sits just before that peak. Whales arrive through the month, so you are watching a population that grows week by week, and a trip on 28 December is a different proposition from one on 2 December.
Early-month trips are where a written sighting guarantee earns its place. Several listings carry one, and the terms differ, from a free repeat trip to a choice of a repeat or a refund. Our sightings guarantee guide sets them side by side.
The featured December trip: Sea Maui from Kāʻanapali
Sea Maui’s whale watching cruise with open bar is featured here because its season opens on 15 December, right where the month turns from early to busy. It is a two-hour trip from Kāʻanapali Beach, from $103 per person, rated 4.8 from 855 reviews. Check in 30 minutes before departure at the Sea Maui kiosk between Leilani’s and Hula Grill on the Whalers Village beach walk; the listing validates four hours of parking in the Whalers Village structure. The open bar, snacks and naturalist commentary are included, and the drinking age is 21.
The catch is boarding. The boat loads from the sand, so expect wet feet, and the listing says it is not recommended for travelers with mobility issues. Kāʻanapali faces west, where winter swells can reach. Our review covers the boat in detail, and our Kāʻanapali departures page explains beach boarding.
Other Experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy
More Maui whale watches that run in December, from Māʻalaea Harbor catamarans and Kīhei rafts to beach-boarding sails at Kāʻanapali.
Which whale watches have started, listing by listing
These are the first bookable dates on each listing for the 2026–27 season, as of October 2026. The raft trips from Lahaina run all year, and their guarantees cover December to April.
| Whale watch | Departs from | Season starts | From (per person) | Sighting promise on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Whale Foundation | Māʻalaea Harbor | 1 Nov | $100 | Guaranteed, or go again free |
| Makai Adventures | Māla Boat Ramp | 13 Nov | $109 | Guaranteed |
| Quicksilver | Māʻalaea Harbor | 24 Nov | $50 | None stated |
| Alii Nui premier catamaran | Māʻalaea Harbor | 1 Dec | $139 | Guaranteed on every charter |
| Hawaii Nautical, six guests | Māʻalaea Harbor | 1 Dec | $279 | None stated |
| Redline Rafting | Kīhei Boat Ramp | 13 Dec | $100 | Guaranteed |
| Sea Maui | Kāʻanapali Beach | 15 Dec | $103 | None stated |
| Kaulana, Hawaii Ocean Project | Lahaina Harbor | 15 Dec | $70 | None stated |
| Lahaina Sunrise | Māla Boat Ramp | 15 Dec | $70 | Guaranteed |
| Malolo | Māʻalaea Harbor | 15 Dec | $60 | None stated |
| Ultimate Whale Watch | Māla Boat Ramp | All year | $77 | December to April: go again free |
| Dive Maui raft | Front St, Lahaina | All year | $81 | December to April: free trip or refund |
One whale trip on this site waits for the new year: Pride of Maui’s whale watch and turtle snorkel is bookable from 1 January.
Lahaina Harbor reopened in a limited way in December 2025, for permitted operators and daytime use only, so Kaulana’s 15 December start is a harbor departure that ends before dark. Many trips sold as “Lahaina” actually leave from Māla Boat Ramp, about a mile north; our Lahaina departures page explains where each one boards, and MauiRecovers.org has current harbor access.
Christmas and New Year weeks
The last ten days of December are a holiday period for visitors and residents alike, and they coincide with the date most boats open their season. That combination is why the popular morning departures over Christmas and New Year are the first to go. Book once your flights are set, and prefer a free-cancellation listing: every whale watch in the table above has free cancellation on the booking platform, so an early booking holds a seat without locking you in.
If the trip you want is full, look at the other harbors. A family staying in Kāʻanapali can reach Māʻalaea in about 35 minutes without traffic along Honoapiʻilani Highway, the only road out of West Maui, so allow 30 to 45 minutes and more at rush hour. Our Māʻalaea or Kāʻanapali comparison covers the trade-off.
Short days: the earliest sunsets of the season
December has the shortest afternoons of the whale season. In Lahaina the sun rises at 6:56 a.m. and sets at 5:48 p.m. on 15 December, the earliest sunset of the season, and civil twilight ends about 24 minutes later. Sunset and dinner whale watches therefore leave in mid-to-late afternoon. Pacific Whale Foundation’s sunset dinner cruise from Māʻalaea starts its season on 15 November, and Sea Maui’s premium sunset dinner cruise includes whale watching from 15 December. Read the departure time on your voucher.
December is also the wettest of the five main whale months at Kahului, with 2.8 inches of rain in a normal year, and winter fronts can interrupt the trade winds for days. Daytime highs still average about 83°F with lows near 66°F, but on deck with wind it feels cooler, so bring a light layer. Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons.
Frequently asked questions
Are there whales in Maui in December?
Yes. December is the opening of the season, and whale numbers build through the month toward the January to March peak. Sightings are likely on most trips but never certain, which is why several December listings publish a sighting guarantee.
Is early December too early for whales?
It is early, but whales are already arriving. The first can turn up as early as September or October, and boats such as Pacific Whale Foundation, Makai, Quicksilver, Alii Nui and the year-round Lahaina rafts are running in the first week of December. Pick a trip with a written sighting guarantee.
Can you see whales in Maui in November?
Sometimes, in small numbers, and a few boats are already out: Pacific Whale Foundation from 1 November, Makai from 13 November and Quicksilver from 24 November, plus rafts that run all year. Treat a November sighting as early-season luck.
How crowded are Maui whale watching tours in December?
The first half of December is the quieter part of the month. From mid-December more boats start their seasons, and the holiday weeks are the busiest time to book, so reserve morning departures early for Christmas and New Year dates.
Are Christmas week tours busy?
Yes, Christmas and New Year weeks are when popular departures fill first. Book when your flights are confirmed and choose a free-cancellation listing so plans can still change.
Ready to book?
Read our review of Sea Maui’s whale watch, see how December fits the whole season in our best time for whale watching guide, move on to January, or compare the boats on our best Maui whale watching tours page. You can also check dates on the homepage; booking is completed on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Two Hours with the Humpbacks off Māʻalaea
Certified marine naturalists explain what the whales are doing, a hydrophone lets you hear them sing, and if no whales are seen you go again free. Season: 1 November to 15 April.
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