humpback whales – Private Sailing Charters, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

March 17, 2024

Your Hawaii Whale Watch

This has been a busy week for our humpback visitors as the season winds down for a Hawaii whale watch. I prefer to call it a “whale sail”: we set sail with the hope of seeing these gentle leviathans cruising our waters. February and March are the best for Oahu. The females come to the Lahaina area to have their calf and re-mate before heading back to their Alaska feeding grounds. We have the fortune of seeing mums and calves playing and gaining strength in our Waikiki waters before their 3000 mile trip north.

What time of day should we schedule our whale watch?

Because this is custom sailing, and humpback whales do not have a schedule, we can sail any time of day you want and whatever length of time you wish. Our islands are most consistently graced with trade winds so any time is a good time to go sailing…✨book a SUNRISE cruise, a morning or afternoon day-sail, or our most popular SUNSET cruise ✨ It is all good for a whale sail.

Will we see marine life other than humpback whales?

“Kaikiwi” sails from Oahu’s south (protected) shore, not far from Honolulu, past beautiful coastline in the cobalt blue blue waters of our Pacific. Wildlife such as green sea turtles, “honu”, dolphins, “nai’a”, humpback whales, “kohola” (in winter season only), and flying fish, “malolo” are some of the critters we may see as we sail. Beautiful views of Oahu, Diamond Head and, on clear days, far in the distance, Molokai and Lanai can sometimes be seen. Please understand this is not “destination” sailing. “Destination” is sailing.

February 18, 2024

Hawaii Proposal at Sea

Definition of romance: chartering your private yacht to propose to your loved one while in Hawaii. Imagine saying “YES” while sailing into the sunset.

Sail Sunset on Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day was a highlight for me. I have been running private charters for many years now but this one stands out. The young couple, delighted in each other, chose to spend their time on the forward deck…what I call the “best seat in the house”. Not long into our sunset sail, a whale breeched, some distance from us but still out-of-this-world spectacular. We spent the two hours enjoying 2 whale groups as they swam and played in Mamala Bay. Honolulu, Hawaii. Humpback whale sighting rules are strict here: keep a minimum 100 yard distance and do not change direction to follow them. No worries! We just sailed our track and the whales theirs and the show went on. The couple I took sailing earlier in the day have been thrilled daily by whale sightings from their Waikiki lanai. But there is NOTHING better than seeing them from your Hawaii private yacht.

Dolphins too!

Yep. As if the humpbacks weren’t thrilling enough, the Hawaiian spinner dolphins came out to play. Usually in my sailing area, dolphins cruise by around 10 in the morning. So imagine the thrill of this huge pod swimming in Kaikiwi’s bow wake, frolicking and spinning all around us. WOW! As sunset came on, he asked, she said “YES”! How could you not after a show like this?

Sail Blue Hawaii

Call today for your Hawaii proposal at sea. It will stay with you for your lifetime.

March 16, 2023March 16, 2023

Hawaii Whale Watch

The season for your private Hawaii whale watch is fast coming to the end. These marvellous leviathans have given us the best season in the last 5 years. No one knows exactly why whales have been fewer in numbers over the last few years. No worries!. We had a fabulous season. And it is not over yet.

Why do humpback whales visit the Hawaiian Islands?

Humpback whales come to our warm waters, from Alaska, to have their babies. That is 3000-odd miles away!. It takes mama 6 weeks to get here. She stays for around six weeks..has her calf, re-mates, then it’s a 6-week passage back with baby to Alaska. All this happens between November and April every year. During that whole long time, mama does not eat, but does milk her calf. When she gets back to Alaska, she is very emaciated. Wow, what a story!

Why don’t whales feed while in Hawaiian waters?

We have no krill. Krill are found further north, in cooler waters. Begs the question…WHY?? Why travel all this way. Humans have their theories, of course, but only the whales know.

Before this season is over, call Sail Blue Hawaii for your private whale sail. We’ll set sail in beautiful tradewinds and enjoy the thrill of seeing humpbacks up close and personal as we sail. How better to spend a winter’s day?

Call today for your private Hawaii whale watch. It could well be the highlight of your Hawaii vacation.

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022

Hawaii whale watch

It was a fabulous afternoon with tradewind sailing at its best while enjoying our Hawaii whale watch. Captain Gaelyn managed to find two sets of mom and calf humpbacks in the bay. Our private sailing charter was also blessed with dolphins swimming in Kaikiwi’s bow wake. I had read on her website: “watch spinner dolphins surfing the bow wake” but thought that an exaggeration. Nope! much to our delight.

Honolulu’s best private sailing charter

It is perfect in today’s world to sail with Sail Blue Hawaii. We choose Captain Gaelyn and her “Kaikiwi” because of her beautifully maintained sailboat and the “private” sailing charter. Keeping family safe while having fun on the ocean was our priority. Humpbacks, dolphins, turtles, flying fish… all in one fabulous balmy afternoon. When we wrote for information on her private sailing charter, she wrote back:

“Kaikiwi” sails from Oahu’s south (protected) shore, not far from Waikiki, past beautiful coastline in the cobalt blue blue waters of our Pacific. Wildlife such as green sea turtles, “honu”, dolphins, “nai’a”, humpback whales, “kohola” (in winter season only), and flying fish, “malolo” are some of the critters we may see as we sail. Beautiful views of Oahu, Diamond Head and, on clear days, far in the distance, Molokai and Lanai can sometimes be seen. Please understand this is not “destination” sailing. “Destination” is sailing.

We didn’t miss out on one single thing in that very wordy paragraph. Cobalt blue blue? Understated! Wildlife? They were all out to play. Molokai and Lanai were both there, yes, in the distance. Destination? Sailing!

Whether you are signing up for a Hawaii whale watch, a sunset cruise, a sunrise cruise, or just an afternoon of private sailing, write for your custom quote today. Sailing with Sail Blue Hawaii could well be the highlight of your Hawaii vacation. Locals welcome too 🙂