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ULTIMATE #1 BIG ISLAND WHALE WATCH
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Overview
2 Hours • Ages 3+ • Encounter Whales In Nursery Grounds! • Hear live whales sing!
Whale Watching with Adventure X Boat Tours – An Unforgettable Experience
Every winter, humpback whales migrate to the warm Hawaiian waters—not just for the tropical setting, but to give birth and mate before returning to their feeding grounds in Alaska. With Adventure X Ocean Tours, you’ll get front-row seats to this incredible natural event.
Departing from Kawaihae, we quickly enter the nursery grounds, where mother whales and their calves play in the shallows. As we venture further, you may witness dramatic encounters like a competition pod—an intense display as males vie for a female’s attention. From curious baby whales inspecting the boat to awe-inspiring triple breaches, we’ve seen it all, and we’ll take you where the action is.
Our experienced captains and crew are passionate and knowledgeable about whale behavior, sharing fascinating insights throughout the trip. It’s a thrilling, safe, and respectful way to get up close with these 80,000-pound giants—truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Tour Information
Season: Mid-November through April
Peak Whale Sightings (Guaranteed): January 1 – March 15
Check-In: 30 minutes before departure at Kawaihae South Boat Ramp. Late arrivals may miss the tour.
Duration:
-2 Hours aboard our favorite Vessel: Malaialena
-Listen to the humpbacks sing live on our Hydrophone!
-Enjoy fresh complimentary snacks and refreshing beverages
-Listen to our amazing whale interpretation!
What to Know Before You Go
Our vessel, Malaialena, is a high-performance raft similar to a Zodiac—designed for stability, maneuverability, and comfort in a variety of ocean conditions. Being closer to the water helps minimize motion, making seasickness less common than on larger boats. We operate rain or shine, so be sure to bring a jacket. Some of the most spectacular whale sightings happen in less-than-perfect weather—when the whales are often at their most active!
Weather: Conditions in the Pacific can change quickly. Forecasts beyond 24 hours are unreliable. We’ll notify you of any changes via phone or email—please ensure your contact info is correct.
Cancellation Policy: 48-hour cancellation notice required. Tours may be canceled at any time for unsafe weather or low bookings with a full refund issued.
Footwear: This is a barefoot charter. Shoes are collected before boarding (special exceptions apply).
Attire: This is an open-bow vessel—dress like you're going to the beach. Bring a towel, a light jacket, and be ready for some ocean spray!
Seasickness: Motion is usually mild, but if you’re prone to seasickness, we recommend taking medication the night before and morning of the tour. Stay hydrated, eat light, and avoid alcohol beforehand.
Bring your sense of adventure and join us for a truly magical whale watching experience in Hawaii!
Tours with less than 6 passengers are not confirmed. You will be notified the day before if for some reason your tour does not have 6 passengers total.
Restrictions:
-No one over 6 months pregnant
-No guests with neck or back injuries
-No children under 3 years old (Exception for PRIVATE CHARTERS)
Meeting And Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
Street: Puako Boat Ramp
City: Waimea
Country: US
Postal Code: 96738
Province: HI
Additional Info
✅ Whale Watch Confirmation – Adventure X Boat Tours (Big Island)
Aloha & Mahalo for Booking with Adventure X!
We’re thrilled to welcome you aboard for your Humpback Whale Watch Tour on the Big Island! This email contains all the details you need to prepare for your trip — please take a few moments to review everything carefully.
📍 Check-In Time
You must arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure for check-in.
Late arrivals may miss the boat — literally!
🚫 Cancellation Policy
We have a 48-hour cancellation policy for all tours. Please notify us in advance if your plans change.
🌦️ Weather & Ocean Conditions
We go out rain or shine, as conditions on the lee side of the Big Island are typically calm and ideal for ocean adventures. However, it’s the ocean — there's always a little motion!
We recommend bringing a light jacket or windbreaker, as it can occasionally get breezy or wet out on the water.
Weather forecasts in Hawai‘i change often and are frequently inaccurate.
Don’t worry — if the weather conditions are unsafe or we need to cancel for any reason, we’ll contact you directly by phone, text, or email.
We operate a raft, which is more stable than traditional boats and designed for adventure. If you’re looking for a close-to-the-water excitement, you’re in the right place!
📲 Weather & Conditions Notice
Should conditions change, we will contact you via text, email, or phone.
Make sure we have a valid phone number on file, and check your messages prior to your tour. It is your responsibility to stay updated.
❓Top FAQs
1. Can I bring a GoPro or camera?
Absolutely! We encourage it. We also provide dry storage onboard for your belongings.
2. What about sunscreen?
Hawai’i law prohibits sunscreens containing harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, or octocrylene.
Mahalo for helping protect our reefs!
3. What’s a good tip for the captain & crew?
Gratuities are never expected but always appreciated. Here's a general guide:
👍 Good Tour: $20 per guest
🌟 Great Tour: $30 per guest
🤩 Excellent Tour: $40+ per guest
Tips can be given in cash or via Venmo @ADVX1 (please include trip date & name in the note).
🧳 What to Bring:
Reef-safe sunscreen
Sunglasses, hat, light jacket
Towel
Camera, GoPro, binoculars
Flip flops or easy-to-remove sandals (we operate a shoeless boat)
Cash or Venmo for tips
Beach attire (expect to get a little salty!)
🚤 Note: We collect shoes before boarding. Please wear footwear that’s easy to slip on and off. Exceptions may apply for medical needs.
👥 Group Size Notice
We require a minimum of 6 guests to operate. If we have not met the minimum 24 hours before your trip, we’ll reach out to discuss options.
Maximum group size is 20 guests.
🌊 Motion & Comfort Tips
We depart from the lee side of the Big Island, where ocean conditions are typically calm. However, there’s always a natural motion to the ocean, and everyone reacts differently.
Sea sickness is uncommon on our tours, but if you're prone to motion sickness, we recommend taking preventative medication the morning of your tour (not right before boarding).
Stay hydrated, avoid heavy or greasy foods, and refrain from alcohol before boarding.
If you’re unsure how you’ll feel, it’s always better to prepare ahead of time so you can fully enjoy your experience on the water.
📍 Directions – New Departure Location
Due to damage at Puako Boat Ramp, all tours now depart from:
Kawaihae South Basin Boat Harbor
(aka Small Boat Harbor)
Directions from Waikoloa / Mauna Lani:
Head north on Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy (HI-19) for ~12 miles
Turn left onto Kawaihae Rd
Turn left at the first harbor entrance (Gate 1)
Continue through Gate 11
Follow the dirt road to Gate 12, turn left
Proceed straight, through one more yellow gate
Look for the bathroom building and boat ramp — you're there!
🚗 Park in the designated stalls or gravel area. Please avoid parking near trucks/trailers.
🟡 Look for our yellow boat at the dock — if it's not there, it's just moments away!
📞 Need Help?
Call or text us at (808) 937-7245
Email: customerservice@adventurexboattours.com
Website: hawaiiankineadventures.com
We’re looking forward to sharing the magic of humpback whales and the ocean with you. Mahalo for choosing Adventure X!
🌊🐋 See you soon!
—
Adventure X Boat Tours
Cancellation Policy
🚫 Cancellation & Booking Change Policy
We understand that plans can change — however, due to limited capacity and high demand, all cancellations, reschedules, or changes to your booking must be made at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure time.
Changes made less than 48 hours before departure are not eligible for a refund or reschedule.
This policy allows us the opportunity to rebook your spot and keep tours operating smoothly.
If you need to cancel or make changes, please contact our office as soon as possible.
📞 Call/Text: (808) 937-7245
📧 Email: customerservice@adventurexboattours.com
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation!
