QUICK ANSWER
Blue Water Rafting Whale Watching Tour: Ages 4+ · 1.5 hours · adventure raft from Kihei · guaranteed whale sightings.
Price: $85.00 adults (13+) · $70.00 children (4-12) · $1,630.00 private charter for up to 24 · confirm current rates at booking
Duration: 1.5 hours
Island: Maui (Kihei)
Best for: Visitors who want to be close to the water rather than looking down from a big deck
Booking: instant confirmation.
WHY A RAFT RATHER THAN A BIG BOAT
Height. On a large catamaran you look down at a whale from a deck several metres up. On an adventure raft you sit almost at the waterline, so a curious humpback surfacing nearby is at eye level. The trade-off is a bumpier ride and no cabin, which is why the operator recommends morning departures, when conditions are usually calmest.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE TOUR
Trained guides narrate whale behaviour and island facts, and an onboard hydrophone lets you hear humpback song underwater. Tours may run slightly longer than scheduled when whales are nearby, because federal rules limit how close and how quickly boats can move around them.
PRICING
$85.00 per adult aged 13 and over and $70.00 per child aged 4 to 12. A private charter for up to 24 people is $1,630.00. Verified against FareHarbor, September 2026. Confirm current rates at booking.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
– Adventure-style raft with trained guides
– Low-to-water whale viewing
– Hydrophone for listening to whale songs
– Narrated whale and island facts
– Water and Hawaiian juices
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
– Whale season on Maui runs roughly December to April
– Minimum age is 4
– Departs from 2800 S Kihei Road, Kihei
– Morning departures usually have the calmest water
– Tours can run slightly long when whales are close, to comply with federal viewing rules
– Raft seating is open, so expect spray
WHO IT IS FOR
Families with children aged 4 and up, photographers, and anyone who wants the closest possible perspective on a humpback. Anyone prone to seasickness or wanting shade and a restroom should choose a larger catamaran instead.
BROWSE MORE
Browse more Maui whale watching tours, or see everything we run on Maui. Planning ahead? Read when to go whale watching in Hawaii and which island is best. Also see our guide to Maui whale watching tours compared.
