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Tours

Catamaran Whale Watch from the North Shore

A Whale watching + Cruise experience by North Shore Catamaran Charters. Back to all Oahu tours.

Tour Summary: Join the only commercial sailing catamaran on the entire North Shore and get up close with breaching whales

  • Humpback whale breaching the surface Large photo
    Humpback whale breaching the surface. Image: North Shore Catamaran Charters.
  • Guests riding the Hoo Nanea catamaran through open swell Large photo
    The Ho’o Nanea is the perfect boat for North Shore whale watching. It is just the right size to keep you close to the ocean, but big enough to be a safe and stable viewing platform. Image: North Shore Catamaran Charters.
  • Catamaran under way off the coast in deep blue water Large photo
    The Ho’o Nanea is the perfect boat for North Shore whale watching. It is just the right size to keep you close to the ocean, but big enough to be a safe and stable viewing platform. Image: North Shore Catamaran Charters.
  • Ocean views of the North Shore Large photo
    Views of the North Shore. Image: North Shore Catamaran Charters.
  • Humpback whale breaching the surface Large photo
    Humpback whale breaching the surface. Image: North Shore Catamaran Charters.
  • Crew handling lines on a catamaran with the north shore behind Large photo
    Image: North Shore Catamaran Charters.

2 Tour Highlights:

  • Morning, afternoon, and sunset options
  • Spectacular ocean views from the North Shore

Important: This is a seasonal tour, only available from mid-December to mid-April

Tour Information:

Price: AdultYouth
(excluding taxes & fees)$99$79

Tour Provider: North Shore Catamaran Charters

Activity: Whale watching + Cruise

Tour start time: 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 4:30 pm

Duration: 2 - 2.5 hours

Location: North Shore

Pick-up available? No

Included: Soft Drinks & Water included. Guests may BYOB (we offer a cooler on board).

Cancellations: All cruises and tours have a 24-hour notice of cancellation policy, and there is a 20% fee for rescheduling within 24-hour period. Customers will also receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances (i.e. lack of participation). Weather conditions are decided at the boat dock.

Read more: about whale watching in our Oahu whale watching guide.

Book online here (instant confirmation)
Read more about this tour

North Shore Catamaran organizes their whale watching cruises on the Ho’o Nanea. This vessel is just the right size to keep you close to the ocean, but big enough to be a safe and stable viewing platform, making it the perfect boat for North Shore whale watching.

There are very few whale watching tours in Haleiwa; as a matter of fact, This is the only commercial sailing catamaran on the whole North Shore. You will not find a gaggle of boats competing for whales.

Morning, Early afternoon, or Sunset whale watching?

You can choose to go on a whale watching tour at 3 different times, and each comes with their own advantage:

  • Morning cruises: The early morning is the best time to go whale watching if seeing whales is all you care about. Oftentimes the wind has not yet picked up which means the ocean is calmer, wihch in turn means that it will be easier to spot whales at a distance.
  • early afternoon cruises: Are very convenient. They let you have a relaxed morning and come back to shore in time for a quick visit to a nearby beach before you need to start thinking about dinner.
  • Sunset cruises: The sunset hours here in Hawaiʻi are magical and I think we can all agree that North Shore sunsets are the best :). If you want to experience the sunset from the ocean while spotting whales, this is the time you should choose.
Affiliate Disclaimer

Booking through this page costs you nothing extra and is made directly with North Shore Catamaran Charters. We earn a commission from the operator, not from you, and it is what pays for the research that keeps lovebigisland.com free and free of paid placement. We only list operators we would send a friend to. Details on our affiliate links are here.

Last checked July 15, 2026 by Gerrit van der Plas, founder of Love Hawaiʻi Guides. We re-confirm pricing, schedules, and operator details, and update this page when they change.

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Price (adult):$99 +taxes & fees
Duration:2 - 2.5 hours

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