Maui Whale Watching in February
Why February is the peak month for Maui whale watching: the 847-whale count, World Whale Day week, busy boats, booking ahead and what each trip costs.
February is usually the best month for whale watching on Maui. It sits in the middle of the January to March peak, and the Maui shore count on 28 February 2026 found 847 humpbacks, the highest of the season’s three counts. It is also the busiest month on the water and in the booking calendars, with every whale watch on this site running and Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day week usually held in mid-February. Book as early as you can, and compare the Maui whale watching cruises by harbor and boat size before you settle on a time.
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Maui: Whale Watching from Ma'alaea Harbor
- 4.8/5 (585 reviews)
- About 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Operated by Pacific Whale Foundation
Includes Two-hour whale watch from Māʻalaea Harbor · Narration by certified marine naturalists · Hydrophone listening for whale …
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 $94 per person · ★ 4.6 from 203 GetYourGuide reviews
Each platform sets its own price and collects its own reviews, so compare both before you book on Viator.
February is the season’s high point
In 2026 Maui’s three shore counts read 694 whales in January, 847 in February and 141 in late March. February was the top of that curve on Maui, even though the statewide February total of 1,935 sightings was about level with January’s 1,954. The counts are one morning’s sightings from 12 Maui shoreline sites and one on Lānaʻi, not a census, but they match NOAA’s description of a January to March peak.
For a visitor, that means February is the month with the least guesswork about timing. Sightings are still never certain on a single trip, and the weather can cancel a day, so leave a spare morning in your plans.
What a February trip can show you
With more whales in the channels, February trips have the widest range of behavior to watch. Breaching and slapping the water with tails and long pectoral fins are what draw whale watchers, and mothers with calves rest at the surface. Peak season is also when you may come across competition pods, fast-moving groups in which escort whales, thought to be males, compete, sometimes violently, for a place beside a female. A hydrophone can pick up the song of the males.
None of this can be promised on a given day, and every boat must keep at least 100 yards from humpbacks whatever its size, under the federal approach rule. If a whale comes close, the boat stops and waits.
Other Experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy
More Maui whale watches for February, from Māʻalaea Harbor catamarans and Kīhei rafts to Lahaina small boats and Kāʻanapali beach sails.
The featured February trip: Pacific Whale Foundation from Māʻalaea
Pacific Whale Foundation’s whale watch from Māʻalaea Harbor is featured for February because the foundation also runs the month’s two whale events on Maui: World Whale Day and the Great Whale Count. The two-hour trip is led by certified marine naturalists, uses underwater hydrophones, and the listing says sightings are guaranteed on all whale watches or you go again for free. It is from $100 per person on Viator and $94 on its GetYourGuide twin, rated 4.8 from 585 reviews. Children 4 and under ride free but must be on the booking.
Check in 45 minutes before departure at the PWF store in the Māʻalaea Harbor shops, which share parking with Maui Ocean Center. Harbor parking is paid by kiosk or QR code, and towing is enforced. Māʻalaea Bay is known for strong afternoon trade winds, so a morning departure is usually the smoother choice. Our review covers the boat, and our Māʻalaea departures page covers the harbor.
World Whale Day week
Pacific Whale Foundation’s festival usually falls in mid-February. In 2026 the festival week ran from 9 to 15 February, with a free Community Day on Saturday 14 February at the Māʻalaea Harbor Shops and the World Whale Day Parade on Sunday 15 February along South Kīhei Road, from Kamaʻole I to Kalama Park. The 2027 dates had not been announced as of October 2026, so check pacificwhale.org before you plan a trip around them.
If your stay overlaps the festival, expect Māʻalaea and South Kīhei Road to be busier than usual on those days, and book boat trips for the mornings either side. The second volunteer whale count of 2027 falls on Saturday 27 February, from 8 a.m., on shoreline sites across Maui; the January guide explains how the counts work.
Booking in the busiest whale month
February is the one month when every whale watch on this site is inside its season, from the November starters to the boats that open in mid-December or on 1 January. Demand is highest too, so small boats and morning slots go first. Prices do not rise for the peak: each listing we track keeps one per-person price across its season. All of the whale watches below offer free cancellation on the booking platform.
| Trip type | Whale watch | Departs from | From (per person) | February note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naturalist-led catamaran | Pacific Whale Foundation | Māʻalaea Harbor | $100 ($94 on GetYourGuide) | Guaranteed or go again free; kids 4 and under free |
| Budget catamaran | Quicksilver | Māʻalaea Harbor | $50 on Viator, about $60 on many departures | Hydrophone, shaded cabin, two restrooms |
| Luxury catamaran | Alii Nui premier | Māʻalaea Harbor | $139 | Drinks and onboard photographer; sightings guaranteed |
| Raft from South Maui | Redline Rafting | Kīhei Boat Ramp | $100 | Ages 8 to 65; season ends 31 March |
| Small raft from West Maui | Dive Maui | Front St, Lahaina | $81 | Free next trip or refund if no whales |
| Beach-boarding sail | Teralani whale watch sail | Kāʻanapali Beach | $113 | Go again free if no whales |
| Six guests at most | Hawaii Nautical | Māʻalaea Harbor | $279 | Season ends 31 March |
| Dinner and whales | PWF sunset dinner cruise | Māʻalaea Harbor | $189 | Three hours with dinner and drinks |
For a fuller ranking by traveller type, see our best Maui whale watching tours page. Families should also read our whale watching with kids guide.
February weather and sea
February is mild and fairly dry for a winter month. Kahului averages a high of about 82°F and a low near 64°F, with 2.0 inches of rain, less than December or January. The sea is at its coolest of the year from late February into March, around 73 to 74°F.
Days are getting longer. On 15 February the sun sets at 6:24 p.m. in Lahaina, about half an hour later than in mid-December, which gives sunset whale watches more light. Lahaina Harbor is still daytime-only, so check where any evening trip boards. The wind is the bigger variable: it usually builds through the day, and our morning or afternoon guide covers how that plays out by harbor.
Frequently asked questions
Are there whales in Maui in February?
Yes. In 2026 February had the highest count of the season: the Maui shore count on 28 February 2026 found 847 humpbacks, against 694 in January and 141 in late March. Sightings are likely on most trips, but never certain.
Is February the best month for whale watching on Maui?
Usually, yes. It sits in the middle of the January to March peak and recorded the highest Maui count of 2026. Late January and early March are close behind, and they are a little less busy to book.
Should I book a February whale watch early?
Yes. February has the most demand of the season, and small boats and morning departures fill first. The listings we track keep the same price all season and offer free cancellation, so booking early costs nothing extra.
What is the best time of day for a February whale watch?
Mornings are usually calmer, because the wind tends to build after late morning, especially around Māʻalaea. Whales are around all day. Our morning or afternoon guide compares the two in detail.
How many boats are on the water in February?
There is no published daily count, but February is the only month when every whale watch on this site is running, from Māʻalaea catamarans to Kīhei and Lahaina rafts and Kāʻanapali sails. Every vessel must keep 100 yards from humpbacks, whatever its size.
Ready to book?
Read our review of Pacific Whale Foundation’s Māʻalaea whale watch, compare February with March, see the whole season in our best time for whale watching guide, or 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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