Whale Watching in Hawaii on the Lanai Ferry

The ferry from Maui to Lanai

There are a lot of tours for whale watching in Hawaii, at least in the colder winter months when the whales are in season – December to April. And I’m sure a lot of them offer wonderful experiences, like the one I enjoyed on Molokai. But by taking the ferry to Lanai from Lahaina, Maui, it’s possible to do a lot more than just see whales; you’re to a completely different island! That’s a big thing, too, since each has such distinct personalities. So it’s like going to a totally different world. I was reminded of that yesterday morning, too, when I set foot on my fifth Hawaiian Island, the “Pineapple Island” of Lanai.

The alarm clock sounded way too early. It didn’t matter how tired I was, though; I hopped out of bed to get ready for the day. I was going to Lanai! And I was told, almost even guaranteed, that I’d see whales while on the ferry to the sixth largest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands. So, without a doubt, I was pumped up for the day. Whale watching is one of my favorite activities in Hawaii. And if it could happen as my very experience with Lanai, it would be an excellent way to start the trip.

Lahaina, Maui

The boat rocked from side to side. Sitting on the aft deck – the top back part of the boat – I knew I not only had an awesome vantage point for spotting whales, but I’d also be fine with motion sickness; seeing the horizon helps keep a stomach calm. No sooner had the boat pulled out of Lahaina Harbor and I was already spotting whales. With a gleeful yelp and a point of my finger I alerted the only two other people on the deck with me. From there on during our nearly-hour long ferry ride we exchanged shouts and points, spotting dozens upon dozens of whales.

Here’s a look at a series of one humpback whale…

Two humpback whales surface on the Pacific Ocean

One of the whales starts to go down

The humpback whale arches its back as it dives

As it dives the whale’s fluke…

…pops out of the water only to disappear again beneath the surface

And here are yet more humpback whales!

A whale goes for a dive

A humpback whale surfaces under the sunrise

The sun rose over Maui, further brightening my day. I was, once again, thankfully back on Hawaii, a place that is beginning to feel more and more like another home for me. And how can it not with beauty such as this?

The beautiful sunrise from the ferry to Lanai

In what literally felt like the blink of an eye, the ferry ride was over. I had spotted several whales, likely more than the sunrise cruise that left with us from Maui, and was now on a totally new island. My fifth of the Hawaiian Islands, Lanai, was there beneath my feet, as ripe for the picking as a juicy, fresh pineapple. (Hey, as I said, Lanai is the known as the Pineapple Island!) And I’m only too excited to be here for the week on a Lanai Visitor Bureau trip, enjoying all of the great attractions and experiences Lanai has to offer!

Lanai’s dramatic coastline