Whale Watching Cruise from Waikiki: An Encounter with Migrating Humpback Whales

204 Ratings

Honolulu

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Embark on a thrilling whale-watching cruise from Waikiki and witness the majestic humpback whales during their annual migration. Capture incredible photos and spot other marine life in the beautiful waters of Oahu.

Duration: 2 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Aloha Tower Marketplace - Begin your day with a whale-watching adventure on the Star of Honolulu®! With four walk-around decks and three types of stabilizers, it provides the utmost comfort, along with live narration. The certified Naturalist crew will impart their expertise, ensuring a memorable experience on Hawaii’s largest, award-winning Star of Honolulu®!

What's Included

Naturalist guide
Breakfast
Onboard exhibits

What's Not Included

Gratuities

Additional Information

Experience the awe-inspiring sight of humpback whales on their yearly migration with a whale-watching cruise departing from Waikiki. Capture stunning photographs of these majestic creatures and take in the breathtaking views of Honolulu, Diamond Head, and the Kahala Gold Coast. Additionally, be on the lookout for other marine wildlife such as Hawaiian…

Location

Aloha Tower Marketplace

Aloha Tower Drive

Star of Honolulu departs from Aloha Tower Market Place, Pier 8 at 9:15 AM. Please check in from 8:30 AM onboard the Star of Honolulu.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.4

(204 Ratings)

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Navigate794668

Mar 2, 2026

Smooth sailing and beautiful views - My boyfriend and I went on the Early Bird Whale Watching Cruise and we both had a great time. The cruise is ~2 hours long and I wish it could've been longer. It was a beautiful sunny day when we went, but eve if the weather is bad, there is indoor and covered seating and viewing locations. It is a family friendly and accessibility friendly boat making it great for everyone to be on board. The staff were kind and helpful, we enjoyed the onboard Naturalist's informative overview of whales and the other animals of the Hawaiian islands. And even though we didn't see any whales on this trip, you get a voucher to go on another cruise with them during whale season which is a cool gesture

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ambassador9618

Feb 25, 2026

whale watching Star of Honolulu - The Captain and the crew were very helpful and friendly with information and finding whales. Great Time Aloha

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Kurtirvin_c

Feb 25, 2025

You’ll definitely see... - You’ll definitely see whales here! We were able to see everything they said through the introduction of the trip.

Review provided by Viator

Marisamm1061wq

Feb 22, 2025

Awesome BOGO Whale Watching Tour - I took advantage of a By One Get One deal for the early bird whale watching tour and it was phenomenal! We had the pleasure of standing by the naturalist, Alyssa, for most of the trip and she was informative and a joy to be around. We saw a momma and her calf breach, and several fluke tail breach’s. The star itself had a ton of space to allow families to spread out and was very clean. What a great experience!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Shimizuh2025

Feb 21, 2025

stephen - Captain stephen is the best!! He had a good personality ⭐︎ He was nice and nice! The food was good and the boat was beautiful!!! If you're struggling, please join us!!! I hope they'll entertain you a lot! I'm sure you'll join us!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Scott

Feb 19, 2025

Great first experience - Everyone was super friendly, wwlearned a lot and we saw some whales and a big pod of dolphins! All in all, it was a good morning and a great first whale watching experience for two of us. Also banana bread and coffee was a great bonus

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Kenneth_d

Feb 15, 2025

Whale watching off Oahu - Beautiful ocean & island views! The shop crew were very courteous & knowledgeable and the ship was clean.

Review provided by Viator

Lanette_p

Feb 22, 2025

Whale watching was great.... - Whale watching was great. Loved the snacks and beverages included. Unfortunately, the parking validation sticker didn't work and we had to pay.

Review provided by Viator

Sylvia_h

Feb 25, 2025

Never again - I feel a little deceived because reviews on this cruise said we would have to get briefly in the water to get on and off making me think it was a different cruise and smaller boat. I have already been on the star of Honolulu and thought it was quite boring. Didn't see any whales but that's not the reason. I just wanted a different boat experience. I think they should actually tell you the name of the boat before you book.

Review provided by Viator

754yadanarm

Mar 8, 2026

Really bad experience - Breakfast is only banana bread and coffee. Don't even include the juices. Staffs are arguing in front of the guests. We didn't see a whale either. They offered to call the customer service to rebook but I am not doing it. I wasted my half day and $85 per person.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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