Whales in Hawaii in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see whales in Hawaii. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 613 of the 4,432 sightings logged across the year (13.8%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Spinner Dolphin photographed in HawaiiChital photographed in HawaiiSpinner Dolphin photographed in Hawaii
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for whales in Hawaii

13.8%

of yearly sightings

613

records in March

#3

busiest month of 12

4,432

verified records a year

February 15.1%, March 13.8%, April 8.6%. Busiest month is February at 15.1%.

Best months: February, January, March

4,432 verified observations of whales in Hawaii, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When whales are recorded in Hawaii

Peak month

February

671 records (15.1% of the year)

Quietest month

September

181 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak63314.3%
Februarypeak67115.1%
Marchpeak61313.8%
April3828.6%
May3127%
June2866.5%
July2676%
August2084.7%
September1814.1%
October2335.3%
November2435.5%
December4039.1%

Whales you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Humpback Whale1,247
Spinner Dolphin996
Domestic Goat787
Wild Boar707
Domestic Sheep169
Common Bottlenose Dolphin112
Chital112
Domestic Cattle45

In Hawaii, March carries 13.8% of the year's whales sightings, about 5.5 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from February (15.1%) into March, and it heads toward April (8.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The whales most often recorded in Hawaii are Humpback Whale, Spinner Dolphin and Domestic Goat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March itself.

Which whales you are most likely to see

  • Humpback Whale1,247 records
  • Spinner Dolphin996 records
  • Domestic Goat787 records
  • Wild Boar707 records
  • Domestic Sheep169 records
  • Common Bottlenose Dolphin112 records
Plan your tripAla Kahakai National Historic Trail

Plan your whale trip in Hawaii

Start with live tours near Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see whales in Hawaii in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 613 of the 4,432 verified whales sightings logged in Hawaii across the year, which is 13.8% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see whales in Hawaii?+

March is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of February, January and March.

What month is best for whales in Hawaii?+

February is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through February, January and March, based on 4,432 verified observations.

Which whales are you most likely to see in Hawaii?+

The most-recorded species in Hawaii are Humpback Whale, Spinner Dolphin and Domestic Goat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.