Whale activity this year?

Question

We've been here since yesterday afternoon, staying in Kahana, oceanfront and haven't seen a single whale. Are they light in number this year?

Answer

Great question. Short answer: no, the whale activity in Maui this season does *not* seem unusually light based on recent counts — in fact, the data shows a pretty healthy presence of humpback whales. But that doesn’t guarantee you’ll see one from your specific spot, especially if you’re viewing from shore.

Here’s a detailed look at what the 2025 season has looked like, possible reasons why you might not be spotting any right now, and some tips to improve your chances.

What the data says about whale activity in 2025

During the first coordinated count of 2025, volunteers observed 2,121 humpback whales across the Hawaiian Islands.
On Maui specifically, the Great Whale Count reported 702 whales in that first count.
In the second count (February), the Great Whale Count on Maui observed 802 whales.
The final count for the season (March) registered 307 whales at 11 sites on Maui and Lānaʻi.

So, from a survey standpoint, the whale population seems strong and consistent with typical humpback activity for this season.

Why you might not be seeing whales from your location (Kahana)

The *peak* of whale season in Maui is generally between January and March, especially late January through early March.
Not all whales are close to shore — many prefer the Auʻau Channel (between Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi), which is a core breeding and calving area.
Your vantage point matters: viewing from a balcony or beach doesn’t always give you the best line of sight to where whales are actually surfacing. Some viewers recommend using binoculars or spotting scopes.
Weather and sea conditions can affect visibility. Even though the counts saw many whales, on-count days had calm seas early but more white caps later, which makes spotting harder.
Some of the whales counted may be duplicates (seen by different observers or at different spots), so the “count” is not a perfect measure of unique whales.

What people on the ground are saying (recent visitor reports)

According to Reddit users: > “There are more whales in the channel between Maui and Lana‘i. We still have a lot up here.”
Another report: > “In a couple weeks they will be slightly less commonly seen … but there should still be lots … Binocs help.”
One guest staying on the west side said: > “We have seen several whales on this trip! … sometimes you’ll see one for weeks then one will pop up.”

Conclusion & advice

Based on both scientific counts and local observations, whale activity this season is strong, not unusually light. However, your lack of sightings from Kahana could just be a matter of location, timing, or visibility.

If you want to increase your chances of seeing whales this trip, here are a few tips:

Try a whale-watching tour (boat) — tours often have better luck than shore-based viewing.
Watch during early morning or calm sea days when spotting is easier.
Bring binoculars — they help a lot with spotting distant blows or breaches.
Consider walking or driving to known whale-viewing spots, especially along West Maui (like near Maʻalaea or west-facing cliffs) where whales are more commonly seen.

So — no, you’re not alone, but the data doesn’t suggest a decline. You might just be unlucky in your spot (or timing), but if you put in a little effort, you might still catch some whale action before they leave.

Whale activity this year?

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