Whale Watching, Fishing & Molokini

kevinwuklife
Mar 12
4 min read

Real-World Ocean Experiences on Maui

A sunset whale tour and an early-morning fishing trip produced very different — and unexpected — results.

Quick Take

✔ Excellent whale sightings on both trips

✔ Pac Whale Foundation tour was organized and educational

✔ Fishing trip unexpectedly produced the closest whale encounters

✔ Molokini crater is impressive from the water

✘ Fishing success can vary widely depending on conditions

✘ Parking at Maʻalaea Harbor costs $15

✘ Ocean conditions can change quickly offshore

Both trips offered very different experiences, but one surprise stood out: we actually saw more whales, and closer, during the fishing trip than during the dedicated whale watching tour.

Nature doesn’t always follow the plan.

At a Glance

Harbor: Maʻalaea Harbor

Tours

• Pac Whale Foundation Sunset Whale Watch

• Aloha Blue Charters Bottom Fishing Tour

Tour Times

• Whale watch: 4:00 PM – ~7:00 PM

• Fishing trip: 6:30 AM departure

Cost

• Whale tour: $310 for two people

• Fishing trip (including licenses): $441 for two people

Parking: $15 per visit

Key Details

Whales seen

• Whale tour: well over 15

• Fishing trip: well over 20

Distance

• Whale tour: ~50–250 yards

• Fishing trip: many closer encounters

Other wildlife

• hundreds of flying fish

• sharks chasing fish while fishing

Full Report

Pac Whale Foundation Sunset Whale Tour

The sunset whale watch departed Maʻalaea Harbor at 4 PM aboard a large catamaran operated by the Pac Whale Foundation.

The boat was comfortable and not crowded, allowing passengers to move around easily.

We quickly found the best viewing spot: the netting stretched across the front center of the catamaran, which gives a clear view of the water ahead.

The tour lasted about three hours, and the ocean conditions were very calm.

We saw well over 15 whales, typically at distances between about 50 and 250 yards.

One interesting feature of the tour was that the crew lowered a microphone into the water so passengers could listen to the songs of male humpback whales through a speaker on the front of the Catamaran.

The crew was organized, professional, and clearly experienced at locating whales.

Complimentary snacks and drinks were also provided during the trip.

Bottom Fishing with Aloha Blue Charters

2 days later we returned to Maʻalaea Harbor at 6:30 AM for a bottom fishing trip with Aloha Blue Charters.

There were about 18 people aboard.

Fishing conditions turned out to be challenging.

The crew tried more than ten different fishing locations, but sharks were aggressively chasing the fish away.

Because the water was very clear, we could actually see the sharks moving in and scattering the fish.

In the end, between all of us on the boat, we caught only five small fish, none particularly notable.

But something else happened that made the trip memorable.

Unexpected Whale Encounters

Despite the slow fishing, the trip produced some of the best whale encounters of the entire trip.

We saw well over 20 whales, many closer than during the whale watching tour.

We witnessed:

• breaching whales

• tail slaps

• whales surfacing nearby

• mothers traveling with calves

It became clear that being out on the water longer and moving between fishing spots we saw Many More whales than on the whale tour.

In this case, the fishing trip actually provided the closest whale encounters of the trip.

Molokini Crater

During the fishing trip the boat also circled Molokini crater, a partially submerged volcanic crater off Maui’s south coast.

Conditions were a bit rougher offshore, making it difficult to see clearly beneath the surface, but the crater itself is impressive from the water.

Several snorkeling boats were already operating inside the crater when we passed by.

Flying Fish

One of the most surprising sights came during the fishing trip.

For about ten minutes we saw hundreds of flying fish.

They would burst from the water and glide across the surface for over 100 yards.

Photographing them proved extremely difficult, but watching them glide across the water was remarkable.

Comparing the Two Experiences

The whale tour and fishing trip offered very different experiences.

The Pac Whale Foundation tour was organized, educational, and comfortable.

The fishing trip, although slow for catching fish, provided longer time on the water and unexpectedly produced the closest whale sightings.

Both trips ended up being memorable for different reasons.

Reality Check

Ocean tours depend heavily on conditions and wildlife behavior.

Fishing success can vary widely from day to day, and whale sightings are never guaranteed.

Parking at Maʻalaea Harbor also costs $15 per visit, which adds to the overall expense of these activities.

Despite those factors, both trips offered excellent opportunities to experience Maui from the water.

Final Thoughts

Spending time on the ocean turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip.

The whale watching tour was well run and informative, while the fishing trip provided surprising wildlife encounters — including the closest whale sightings of the trip.

Even without a big catch, the experience of seeing whales, flying fish, and Molokini from the water made the morning worthwhile.