Maui’s #1 Eco-Rafting Tours
Maui Whale Watching & Snorkeling Tours
30 years of small group eco-rafting tours.
Voted a better experience and better for the environment.
The most fun you can have on Maui!
- Steven, TripAdvisor
SEASONAL DEC-APRIL
2 HOURSAGES 3+
$57+
Maui Whale Watching Tours
Whale Sightings Guaranteed or go again FREE. Our small group eco-rafting tours are a whale watch adventure for everyone.
CUSTOM CHARTER
2-6 HOURSAGES 3+
$900+
Maui Private Boat Charters
Book a custom private boat charter for your family & friends.
Choose your Maui activities, time, duration and menu.
SEMI-PRIVATE TOURS
2.5-4 HOURSAGES 4+
$129+
Maui Snorkel & Dolphin Tours
Cruise Maui with 14 or less passengers on small group eco-rafts. Snorkel with turtles and venture to Lanai for dolphin watching.
MEMBER SAVINGS
JOIN OUR OHANA
$499+
HIOCR Ohana Memberships
Become a monthly member or buy a weekly pass, save on tours and become a part of our rafting ohana!
Lahaina Harbor Tours Wildfire Update
This season is going to look a little different as we make some adjustments after the fires took our home, boats and our beloved Harbor.
We are grateful we officially starting operating whale watching tours this season December 1st, 2023!
There will be a temporary change in departure location and alternative vessels for this season 23/24. We will not be operating from Lahaina Harbor or on our rafts. It will still be a small group experience and with our amazing crew. Check out our whale tour page for more info.
We cannot thank you enough for supporting us until Lahaina Harbor and our rafts are back again.
-Peter & Toni
Owner/Operators & Lahaina Residents
TOUR CHANGES SEASON 23/24 DUE TO LAHAINA HARBOR FIRE
• Temporary Location: Check-in at least 30 minute prior to your tour at Dive Maui Shop located at 1223 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761.
• Temporary Vessels: 20 passenger Raft and 25 passenger Monohull
Why whale watch
or snorkel with us?
Adventure with the locals.
Hawaii Ocean Rafting is proudly Owned and Operated by Native Hawaiian and Lahaina local with a passion for ocean conservation and the community of Maui.
A trusted experience.
For more than 30 years, Hawaii Ocean Rafting has been sharing the aloha of our Maui whale watch and snorkel adentures and practicing the malama of our land and ocean.
Family-style tours.
Every whale watch and snorkel tour is a small group experience so you get one-on-one education and connection with our crew wIth no more than 16 passengers on our whale watches and snorkel tours.
Maui
Whale Watching
Tours
Maui’s original small group eco-raft
whale watching adventures.
What makes our Maui Whale Watch Tours so popular?
Guaranteed whale sightings or go for free!
Our adventure rafts only take 16 passengers maximum, giving everyone a front row view of humpback whales! Avoid crowds and enjoy an eye-level encounter with whales during our tours, perfect for photo ops and underwater go-pro footage! We guarantee whale sighting or you go again for free!
Best chance for up close whale watching in Maui!
Because we are a small raft, whales are more likely to swim up to us which makes for a once in a life- time close whale encounter! Although they can approach us, whales are protected in Maui so we do not approach them closer than federal regulations allow. Listen to whale songs on our hydrophones and learn whale facts from our Our marine natural- ist guides will also share whale facts and other ocean information, making this tour a fun and educational experiMarine Naturalist on board during your Maui Whale Watching Tour!
When is the best time for Maui Whale Watching?
The short answer is that any time of day is great for Maui Whale Watching! Because Humpback whales migrate to Maui to mate and give birth but are not feeding, they do not have any time they are more or less active! Whales migrate to Hawaii seasonally and can be seen from December through April!
What is the best weather for Maui Whale Watching?
Obviously, whales don’t mind getting wet, so the rain isn’t a bother! When it comes to weather there does not appear to be weather patterns that affect whale activity.
With that in mind, we reschedule tours due to weather if it will be unpleasant or unsafe for our guests
Can we swim or snorkel with whales in Maui?
Whales are protected in Hawaii so we do not approach them closer than federal regulations allow, that includes no swimming or snorkeling with whales. But because we are a small raft, whales are likely to swim up to us in the boat! When whales approach our boats closely, it’s called a mugging!
What makes our Maui snorkel tours so popular?
Maui Snorkeling away from the crowds!
If you’re looking for an adventure snorkel, escape the crowds with us and snorkel the island of Lanai, exploring unique reefs, sea cliffs and watching wild dolphins! The island of Lanai is a 20 minute boat ride from Maui and has more than a dozen snorkel spots to choose from!
Snorkel with turtles & see dolphins!
Many of our snorkel stops include snorkeling with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle! Sea turtles are protected in Maui so we will guide you on snorkeling safely with Maui’s honu! Dolphins are also protected in Maui, but we can watch them in the wild from the boat! This is where our low to water rafts make the dolphin watching experience the next best thing.
Do we offer beginner friendly snorkel tours in Maui?
Yes, our snorkel tours are beginner friendly! Our Maui Snorkel Tours are small groups and give one-on-one snorkel instruction, and our crew snorkels with our guests in the water during the tour! Flotation devices like float belts and pool noodles to assist snorkelers are also available on our snorkel tours!.
Where do our snorkel tours snorkel on Maui or Lanai?
Our snorkel tours go to the island of Lanai which is a private island about 8 miles from Maui! This island has more than a dozen snorkel spots with unique reefs, tropical fish and turtles! Lanai also displays a giant sea cliff you can see from the water and is home to pods of spin- ner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins!
While snorkeling do we see tropical fish, turtles or dolphins?
Most commonly we snorkel with tropical fish and Hawaiian Green sea turtles on our snorkel tours! Although we can’t snorkel with dolphins due to their protection, we do get to watch them from the boat! We also see other marine animals on rare occasions including whale sharks, monk seals, rays, octopus, reef sharks and pseudo orcas!
Maui
Snorkeling
Tours
Learn why Lanai Snorkeling makes it
on Maui’s list of top snorkeling spots.
Our mission is to provide a fun, authentic, aloha filled, Maui ocean experience that educates and inspires visitors to love and respect Hawaiian culture, the ocean and our island.
New Temporary Location: Dive Maui Shop, 1223 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761
Parking: Front Street or in Lahaina Cannery Mall parking lot.
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