we did the sunset cocktail boat cruise and it was so memorable!! The booking process was so easy and when you arrive to the location, everything was so organized. The boat also was not overbooked so there was plenty or room to sit and enjoy the views. The boat tour itself was amazing. The boat was clean, the crew were so welcoming, funny, accommodating. Service was great!! Also I did not expect there to be appetizers on the boat, but they were actually so delicious. We had chips and salsa, grilled shrimp, chicken quesadillas, potstickers and more. I just thought we were only getting cocktails, so I was very pleased. read more

The Pacific Whale Foundation runs a tight ship for their whale watching tours. They are currently running a 15% discount on their cruises and we jumped on board! We arrived at the center early and there is pay via app parking in the public lot and checked in for the morning brief before we boarded our boat, which was the Kai Ko, a sailing catamaran. Afterwards, the whole group walked down to the docks for boarding. The Kai Ko is a lot bigger than I expected, which was able to accommodate up to 130 people with seating for all on 3 decks. We sat at a bench with a table up forward, but you can sit on the covered upper deck under the sail boom behind the pilot house or on the lower deck with the snack bar. We had the best view forward, but it is exposed to the sun & sea spray. A couple of families sat in the cargo netting right above the waves. The Kai Ko does triple duty for whale watch excursions, as well as dinner cruises and snorkeling, so is equipped for all three trips. For whale watching, they only use the engine and do not raise the sails, which they do use for more relaxed dinner cruises. We motored out of the marina and out into Maalaea Bay and encountered a mother and baby Humpback whales almost immediately. Later we encountered another mother and calf that was also accompanied by an escort whale, which is rare. The mother showed her tail flukes on her last deep dive, which is used to identify the whale by their unique tail markings. You learn a lot of whale facts from the onboard guides. Later, one of the crew lowered a hydrophone in the water to record & broadcast Humpback whale songs over the ship's speakers, which was pretty cool. There were other whales that did full body breaches out of the water, but we were really far away. The whole whale watch cruise is 2 hours and returns you back to the docks exactly on the hour. It was an exciting excursion and we got back in time for lunch. read more

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Update: We re back for an early whale watch trip. It's windy this early , glad we have jackets. Just wait for our boat call in front of the main door. Remember to pay to park QR CODE. update after trip : This time , very little Sea activity. Mainly an expensive coastal boat trip. This captain was different , it felt like he was not searching as much a getting to a turn around point. We had no real activity until the way back. A mother and two young. Many tail flaps and breaching by the young. That made the day. read more

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What a great experience! The boat was clean and the crew was so friendly. It was also informative. We set off at 7:00. Snorkeling at the crater was amazing. Saw so many fish in clear waters. Then headed to turtle cove but didn't see any turtles That's okay because swimming in the ocean was phenomenal. The tour included a light continental breakfast and lunch. Highly recommend! read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Crew was attentive and courteous. Sunset cruise was beautiful. Appetizers were plentiful and flavorful. We sailed out of Lahaina which was great. Only the second week that this outfit is back in Lahaina. read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Sunset - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Dinner cruises are fun to do in Maui. We arrived in the harbor for the meet up then walked a short distance to the boat. The capital ran over the rules of do and not do's. Very nice leisurely cruise out of the harbor and along the coast line. Not much sea life to see other than turtles today. Enjoyed our drinks and the view. Dinner was on point with a lot of fresh veggies. Dessert was unique which was watermelon wedges with pesto and chocolate sauce. Staff took great care of us no complaints at all. Highly recommend this cruise. Beautiful sunsets pretty guaranteed. read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner sunset cruise with Pacific Whale. I chose this cruise over others that I researched mainly because of ease of boarding, dining set up, meals and reviews. Everything was as I expected and it was all great! Seating is assigned. All seats are good. The three course meal was served at our tables. The meal was delicious. The captain took us on a slow cruise not far from where we boarded and we enjoyed the beautiful coast and sunset of Maui. I wore sea sick bands, but I really didn't need them because it was pretty smooth. But, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Check in is inside the store. Be sure to browse the store. Tip: parking after 5pm is free of charge, so don't pay for any more hours after 5pm. I would definitely choose Pac Whale again for a sunset dinner cruise. read more

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Had a good time. We booked for the following day and showed up at 10 am. The only availability was on a boat capacity of 100 people. I think next time I'd go on a more private, intimate ride. There wasn't much shade, outside if we sat inside, we'd miss it all. There were some snacks, chocolate, candy, popcorn,chips. Small bathroom, not the cleanest, the boat was in decent shape not the best or cleanest. It was hard to whale watch with so many people running around in front of you or hogging up space. Every time we came across a whale the ship would turn opposite direction and we'd lose sight. For 200 plus it was a decent ride. We were able to see a few from afar and dolphins. read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Hard to see through people - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

This was a very satisfying 2 hour whale watch. The onboard captain and research assistants were very helpful & knowledgeable. The boat was comfortable & not crowded. It was easy to move about when the boat was not moving. We saw several whales: mother and calf as well as 3 competing males further away. We also saw spouts in the distance. We did not see breaches, but we did see pectoral and tail slapping, as well as a few tails before the whales disappeared below. If you want to enjoy the whale watching without taking photos, a professional photographer will present you with photos of whales seen on your trip for a nominal cost. He'll also show you photos of your group, if you asked him to photograph you & your grou. No selfies necessary! We would highly recommend this whale watch in Maui. AND if you buy tickets to the Aquarium, you'll receive a code to receive 10% off the whale watch price. All money supports the Pacific Whale Foundation, which we have been supporting since 1996. read more

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The captn and crew were great. Never a question of safety. Instructions weee clear and entire crew were very professional. Unfortunately it felt like we were nickel & dimed. $800 plus for the adventure and they charge extra for gear and drinks. Large boat, 90 in our tour and had people swimming on top of you. 2-3' swells and and no snorkel vests so we rented wetsuit tops for the boys to make sure they weee more buoyant (add $20). We were told they had sunscreen on board...yeah to sell. Because the ocean was rough we were only able to snorkel Molokini. Pretty stirred up near the shore. Other boats we have been on had a backup location. I am sure not the captains first choice either. Hi light was a reef tour from the naturalist. Very knowledgeable and good eye for spotting marine life. No regrets...Summary is nothing wrong with PacWhale just not the 5 star experience, guess the extra charges just didn't sit well. Long drive from Kāʻanapali, parking was pretty scarce at the wharf. We went on a smaller boat with better amenities for hundreds less. I get it, they are a save the earth group but yeah...one and done. read more

Went on one of the snorkeling tours, and had a great time! The locations were spot-on, and we were even able to catch some whales late in the season for them. Capt. Aaron, Josh, and Aaron were very welcoming to all the passengers and even cooked lunch for us. Would highly recommend. read more

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This was my second time whale watching with PacWhale and it was as magnificent and breathtaking as the first. This is truly a remarkable experience that I honestly consider a must do if you visit Hawaii during whale season. The staff were excellent and there were snacks and beverages present on board. Definitely plan to wear sun protection or sunscreen as you will have little to no protect from the sun out o the water. There are internal areas of the boat where you won't be in the sun, but I found them to be actually hotter because of a lack of air circulation. read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Whales! - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Amazing whale watch! What really stood our to me for this boat was how knowledgeable and passionate the crew was. This organization gives back most of their proceeds to sustainability. One of the programs they fund is to help the local kids go on trips/learn. Another program they do is ocean clean up. Great company to support!! read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

What a great day on the ocean whale watching. We decided to go on the 2 hour pac whale spirt sailboat. Easy to find the checkin-parking at harbor shops is $3 an hour using the qr code posted in the parking lot. We arrived 45 min early as suggested didn't need to get there that early but did give us time to look around the few shops and hit the restroom. Into at the entrance then a LONG walk down stairs to harbor and clear to far side, I hadn't expected the walk, signing in told just a short walk I felt it was long. We had lots of room to move around once on the boat the staff were very friendly brought water around all other drinks & food cost $. We had a wonder sale and enjoyed seeing whales up close and personal. I would go on this trip again. read more

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We got a deal. JB from a stand we saw walking got us a two for one So we pretty much paid for one ticket marked down a little with the exception of sitting in a time share. It's an hour and a half so it's fine and we got a dinner cruise half off! We were originally supposed to go on the Quicksliver but JB was having a hard time getting it booked. They kept losing connection and then it was full! I can't remember the name of the boat. ‍ It wasn't as fancy as the others but I thought it was fine. We got to sit what I thought was the back of the boat, turns out it was the front. We had like our own private area which was nice. The crew members were super friendly which was nice... I've come across a couple of businesses here in Maui that are not that friendly and the people as well.. The captain was super informative and I liked all the stories he shared with us on our dinner cruise. I was so fascinated with how our servers carried the drinks and food without spilling it while the boat was moving.. lmao. I would of dropped everything! The cruise was nice, it was pretty much smooth sailing. I loved the history the captain shared and his story as well! They play music too but I'd rather like to hear the stories more. We had beautiful views I was scared it was going to rain or we weren't going to be able to see the sunset because it got cloudy. We saw a beautiful sunset. Friendly staff. Great captain. Drinks were good. Make sure to bring CASH we didn't know this and thought we could tip with our card. It's CASH only to tip which is understandable because they share amongst each other. My server said he had Venmo so I had to tip him through there. It's better to just have cash on hand because they do not take card. His name was Wil Dewey young guy but very friendly! You get 3 free drinks (adult beverages) and I think unlimited water, soda. Dinner was good. Hold onto your plates there are some rough patches but most part of our trip was smooth sailing. They said the proceeds go back into the foundation and the community which is great! I would definitely come back to a dinner cruise or snorkeling with them. I will do a boat snorkeling trip the next time we come back. This was my first time in Maui and a majority of the places and people were great. You get a handful of snobby entitled people but you'll get that wherever, just ignore them and don't give them your business! Now if you're looking for a FANCY boat like really fancy this boat we were on is not one of those but it's a nice boat and the captain and crew were amazing! Beautiful views, the captain said we were lucky because he's never seen the sky like that and such calm waters! Thank you for the awesome experience! I'm so later doing my reviews been busy runnng around. I will definitely be back hopefully with my family next time so they can experience this as well! They had inside seating as well. Also up top I didn't see the other side of the boat I stayed in the front but I liked where we sat! They do assigned seating so you don't have to worry about trying to rush to be first etc. I was happy with our seats in the front we had a private area only one other couple but they disappeared so it was pretty much just us until sunset and everyone came to take pictures in the front since we were facing the sunset Thank you again! I watched the videos back and it was the ocean guardian boat! Nice boat and great service read more

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We chose the 9 am whale watching tour on a Wednesday. It was a lovely day with excellent whale watching. January/February is the perfect time to watch whales in this area. The protected ocean between Maui, Lanai, and two other islands is perfect for whale babies to be born and raised in relatively calm pacific waters. PacWhale promised lots of whales and they delivered. Large ones, babies and moms! The Naturalist was excellent in taking and answering questions. Worth every penny! No need to worry about sea sickness in this part of the Pacific. Tranquil seas with only small waves. Would do it again! read more

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What a great night our PacWhale sunset dinner cruise! On the Islands ... no one can control the weather, although it was very windy the Captain made the best of the entire evening .... we motored out to a calmer spot where we had a great dinner & could view our sunset. We laughed all the way out to the calmer waters ... hair blowing, holding onto napkins & yes, watching for whales .... Finally reaching the calmer waters ... dinner was served ~ hubby enjoyed his short ribs & I really enjoyed my shrimp with mango sauce. I also pretty much guessed the ingredients in the purple mashed sweet potatoes ... but the Chef gladly shared the ingredients. So mahalo, now I can hopefully create them at home! The cocktails were wonderful & three are included with your cruise dinner. The brownie dessert was the best - served hot & yummy. The entire crew was helpful & considerate -- no you can't control the weather or wind but you can control your fun! After dinner the Captain did urge us to move downstairs for the ride back to the Harbor - we did & some did not. Maui is ready for visitors ... if you've not visited it is time ~ if you have before, it is time to return! read more

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Using a tip from our Hilton Concierge, we learned that most snorkeling tours head to Molokini, which is over populated with people and there are over 40 boats docked there with at least 120+ people on each boat, all the reef is dead, all the colorful fish are gone. So we went with PacWhale since they are permitted to go to a private island that is less crowded and reefs are alive and well! Unfortunately the wind was too strong to make it to Lana'i, but Captain Chris knew where else to go and it was absolutely amazing! Saw so many colorful fish and sea turtle! The crew (Ollie, Desi and Ashley) were fantastic, breakfast and lunch was amazing and we can't say enough good things about this choice! Highly recommend if you're looking to book a snorkeling adventure! read more

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This is a fairly priced whale watch that we take at least once each whale season. The staff are alway professional and knowledgeable. We go with a group of ten and have a great time. If you wear a hat, make sure it will stay on - I have seen a few lost. It can also get windy, so bring a sweatshirt or light jacket. They provide complimentary water onboard. They also offer other drinks and snacks for purchase. For the price you cannot beat this whale watching experience on Maui. read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Picture of a whale tail from the boat. - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Signed up for a sunset cruise instead of a Luau, mostly because we had done a Luau before and wanted to do something different. Now wishing we would've done the latter. There were windy conditions and we were told that they knew how to work around them and still make it an enjoyable trip instead of canceling. Well Their idea of a workaround was to drive out to a spot in the lee of the coastline and turn the boat in circles for two hours. We were expecting a sunset dinner cruise up the coast, but instead had an expensive floating dinner on a boat parked in one spot. Bottom line, don't sign up for this sunset tour if the conditions look at all like they're going to be windy, because the company will not cancel, or reschedule the tour (they want your $). As a side note, the food and service were great the conditions were not. read more

We've embarked on a couple of different whale watching adventures with PacWhale Eco-Adventures over the years. We've always had a great time and have seen many humpback whales. This trip was no different. Because of the damage done to Downtown Lahaina due to the October Wildfires, we launched out of Ma'alaea Harbor instead. On this trip, we were aboard the Ocean Spirit, which is a 65' Catamaran. My family and I grabbed seats at the front and were extremely happy we did. The view from the Ocean Spirit was amazing and yes, we got very wet. That didn't bother us at all and actually made for a more thrilling adventure. There were others who sat up front and ended-up moving back, since I guess they got too wet. The crew did warn us this could and would probably happen. We were able to see many whale sightings, along with several baby calves too. It's quite a sight to see when these large whales "breach". It's also a joy to see the calves emulating their mothers. Being able to see the whales this close is awesome! We've always had an amazing time and enjoy coming to see the whales in these waters, before they embark on their long journey home. read more

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Had a great time! Lots of options for lunch, burgers, chicken and hot dogs and potato Mac salad! Enough space to retreat to your own corner of the boat. Thank you for the hospitality:) read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Molokini crater - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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This is a tough one for me as I love contributing to eco friendly causes. I did a celestial cruise which is only on Saturdays. Pros: 1: great cause and I love that you are contributing to an environmentally friendly cause. 2. The astronomer was good and I did enjoy most of the talk Cons: 1. The email said to park in the paid parking at ocean Maui center which I did. When I checked in, I was told I didn't have to pay as parking is free: this should have been clarified in the email. 2. On the website, the cruise mentioned 3 drinks, I only got one cocktail (as did everyone else). Not a big deal for me as I wasn't planning to drink more due the drive but it's worth noting for others. 3. Maybe it was the overcast day and night time but for the majority of the time, we couldn't hear the speaker. Maybe they need a better microphone or system. Overall, I enjoyed the cruise and loved the seeing the stars but staying at wailea, I saw the same amount from the beach every night. Worth trying if you have kids for once but I wouldn't do it again. read more

My God these people were heaven sent and amazing to me today. Im pregnant and got terrible motion sickness. I was so quiet and secluded and they came up to me and noticed and offered me ginger ale and water to feel better. when it got too unbearable they came and walked me gently downstairs to to the bottom. They provided me a bag so I could throw up (which unfortunately I did) and even motion sickness bands. Thank God for those 3 people and their hospitality. The captain, a male with dark hair and another lady. It was the 1pm crew today. Thank you guys so much!!!! God bless you. read more

Not a bad experience, not great either. Heard more about the crew and staff on the boat as well as their foundation. I realize spotting whales is not guaranteed but all we saw was a very few blows. Later that evening we went on a sunset cruise had a lot more fun drinks and appetizers and saw twice the whales for half the price. Just my opinion read more

We did a min excursion yesterday and had a great time. Sadly, the water was crazy choppy and the fish were sparse and no sea turtles- but there's no one to blame for any of that. The crew was amazing and friendly and diligent in their service to the attendees. I would rate that crew a 10- and the boat vibe was respectful and serene. So accommodating to people with kids too. The food was just okay- filling but no frills. Would recommend highly! read more

Whale watching on Maui in mid-January, what a great idea!!! We experienced the dinner sunset cruise and had a great time. We had amazing wildlife experiences, I was blown away by the amount of activity around us. Seriously, when the staff pulls out their phone to take a video, you know its a special night. The staff was an absolute joy. Amazing hospitality mixed with really knowledgable backgrounds. I asked a ton of whale questions and they were all so kind and patient. If you get lucky enough to get a seat the front of the vessel, hold on to your plates when it moves at high speeds, you may have flying shrimp. I was also appreciative they were able to accommodate our dairy-free needs and also great to know they could also accommodate vegan folks. I had a ball. I would strongly recommend this experience. read more

We booked two excursions this visit. #1. Molokini and Turtle Town this past Tuesday on a catamaran. There were 63 passengers. We were on their largest vessel the Odyssey. Given a choice I'd go with a company that offers smaller group size. It was so gusty that we couldn't go to Molokini. We went to Coral Gardens which is the turtle cleaning station and one other snorkeling spot a bit further down. # 2. Whale watching in small group. We were on the Explorer today. Still very gusty. We spotted under a dozen or less whales. Because whales are protected a vessel can't go closer than 100 yards to a whale. Approximately 40 passengers. The Explorer sits lower so it's harder to spot a whale from your seat. We saved 30% cuz we booked two excursions. We've gone out with Pacific Whale in the past but out of Lahaina. But due to the fire last August all sailings are now out of Maalaea harbor. There's paid parking- I mistakenly keyed in the wrong license plate and was issued a violation on Tuesday. Fortunately I made a screen shot of my receipt. I called and rectified the error. Once you've gone with Pacific Whale Eco you'll receive email offers to book again with a steep discount. I'll pass for the rest of the time I'm here visiting on Maui. read more

SNORKELING at Lana'i and Molokini for the win. PacWhale Eco-Adventures are based on nearly four decades of marine research and ecotourism experience. Every trip is led by certified Marine Naturalists who provide a truly unique, educational and fun adventure at sea though you do have to sit outside to hear better. They provide snorkels, flippers, floatation devices, and boogie boards for those that need it. Before the first stop they have a "tutorial" session for beginners and we were surprised there were a couple people on board that didn't know how to swim. It's very safe with staff in water with you and a large floating platform next to the boat. We loved Molokini the most and swimming with the fishes and seeing the reefs. Unfortunately we had to take turns because our kids were too scared to go into the open ocean. The water was colder than we thought and we probably should have rented them we suits. The boat ride does rock slightly and my wife gets bad motion sickness, Dramamine helped and it also made for a nice nap for my wife and kids. They provide breakfast and lunch which were not that great but better than going hungry on the boat ride. The hotdog is probably the best thing to order though you will see the crew grilling the chicken in between stops. read more

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100% shit show. flew in from Honolulu for a 1 day trip mi informed on show time, which was wrong, then told to rebook next day. I wouldn't recommend this place to cruise my late fathers ashes. staff was rude and unprofessional. great to see the Maui tourism is back and thriving after the fires. mahalo read more

We had a phenominal experience! Our guide said it was one of the best whale watching tours he had ever lead. We saw tons of whales and dolphins. The experience was great with the guides and crew, it was nice having some snacks for sale, and I appreciated that they kept everyone drinking water. I definitely suggest going with this tour. They also have a really nice gift shop. read more

Fabulous Sunset & Celestial Cruise with PacWhale Eco-Adventures. We saw over a dozen whales and heard them singing via a hydrophone. Excellent docent who talked about Polynesian navigation: pointing out specific stars and current visible planets. Delicious pupus and drinks, then cookies and strawberries on our way back to the harbor. read more

Visited Maui for the New Year! Excellent for whale-watching. This was my first experience with it, and it didn't disappoint! We saw a mother and her calf shortly after leaving shore on the Ocean Spirit catamaran. The boat was full but not over crowded. Water was free and given often. Restroom on the boat as well. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. I hope you get Captain Chris -- he knew right where to go to safely (for the whales too) view the groups of whales. You can rent binoculars for $10 if that's your thing. The two hour tour was just right, with plenty of time for everyone to see what they paid to see. Beautiful waters, and the ride is enjoyable in itself. Do not hesitate to reserve your whale watch with Eco- Adventures. Good for families too! read more

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Second outing with this outstanding company. Great communication, service, safety, and education; I love their tours. Today was an especially active " competition pod" during the waning mating season in early March. This pod had 12-15 humpback whales and lasted over three hours between two tours. We were also treated to whale song at the end of our tour. Highly recommend this company during whale birthing / mating season of December-March. read more

Mother Nature was misbehaving on our tour, but the crew absolutely made the best of it. Our snorkel tour turned into a whale watching trip with some snorkeling on top. The crew was completely focused on our safety while still providing an incredible experience. I would highly recommend booking a tour with them if you're coming out to Maui! read more

We did the sunset cocktail cruise out of Ma'alaea Harbor. My parents have limited mobility and this company could not have been more accommodating - they let us drop my parents off right at the boat and let them get on right after members did. I had worried my parents would feel rushed or swarmed but everything was calm and relaxed - so nice. Service was amazing - cocktails came around quickly, as did the food. When we spilled something they cheerfully cleaned it up, which I was grateful for. Food was enough for a light dinner (for meat eaters, at least) and was pretty good, although not gourmet restaurant level of course. The cruise itself was laid back. Music was playing but not too loudly, the boat was about half full so felt spacious, and the view was absolutely beautiful. There was plenty of time and space for everyone to take pictures and relax on the deck or in the cabin. Definitely a great use of a few hours! read more

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Sailing, snorkeling, and sunset with this company was top notch!!!! From Henry at the front counter to all the amazing staff who took us out on the boat. My family and I had the most amazing time! We felt so safe and had such a fun experience, we would rate this 100/10!!! This experience was worth the money, the captain, and all her crew made it the best tip ever! We will recommend this excursion with this company to everyone we know! Thank you so much for the memories and keep on doing what you're doing! This was AT THE LEVEL AND THEN SOME!! read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - We loved how one of the crew was sitting on his surfboard in the water keeping an eye on us all. - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Enjoyed a wonderful day on and in the water with Captain Chris, Connor and Christie on the Ocean Spirit. Every last detail was covered...even complimentary glasses cleaning while we looked for dolphins. 10/10 would go with them again. read more

Loved ! Fantastic crew ! Everything they do plus it's a nonprofit! Book them for any water adventures in Maui! read more

PacWhale Eco-Adventures - Sunset cruise with cocktails - Tours Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Checked out a pamphlet with whale watching tours starting at $52, by PacWhale Eco-Adventures. When making a reservation, it does not include a mandatory $5 fuel surcharge. I buy two tickets for $52 apiece online, but only get that price at 6:30am early bird trips, with all profits benefiting whale research. The trip starts in Maalaea, a 30 minute drive from our Kihei Maui Banyon timeshare. We wake up at 4am, robbing my wife of her beauty rest! I do not eat breakfast, as it has been a long time since I've been on a boat, and don't want to lose my breakfast. No problem says the wife, as if I throw up over the side of the boat, it will attract fish, and perhaps whales! Nice to have a wife with such confidence in me! We leave the luxury condominium in the pitch dark at 515am, when the only vehicles on the road in Wailea are tow trucks and cop cars, the main source of revenue in a tourist town at this time in the morning! At Maalaea Harbor at 545am, find out we have to pay using a QR code, and google pay, all by cell phone, entering the car license plate number. How many people remember their rental car license plate number, and in the dark? $5 for 5 hours, not bad compared to $20 for similar time in Lahaina. We get on the boat at 6:15am, having our picture taken. Another way PWEA makes money. We go top level near the bow, for the best views, dressed in long pants and long sleeve shirt to withstand the strong winds. Lahaina was a huge whaling station in the late 1800s. Humpbacks were hunted to the brink of extinction, until they were labeled an endangered species and a moratorium declared in 1966. We see a few whales at long distance, visible from the plume of water blowing out of their top, as in the movie Moby Dick. Difficult to take pictures of whales, as they are distant, and move quickly, too quickly to get a steady long distance telephoto camera shot, let alone a smart phone or tablet shot. Me having a queasy stomach from the boat rocking up and down, makes picture taking even more difficult. The boat captain tries to run parallel to the whales, so that we can get sustained camera shots. People are seated for the most part, until a whale is sighted. There she blows, and everyone jumps to their feet and runs toward the railings, cameras, smart phones, and tablets clicking picture after picture. We get lucky, as toward the ends of the 2 hour boat trip, a pod of 3 whales steam right toward the boat, making like the whale in Moby Dick, ready to ram! Boats are not allowed closer than 100 feet of the whales, but these are coming straight at us,until at the last moment, they dive under the boat! This makes our day and is known in whale watching circles as a Maui mugging! As we leave the boat, the tour master stands next to the exit ramps, holding a large jar for tips -another Maui mugging! Sir, do you have change for a $20? read more

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