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Home / Activities / Whale Watching from South Maui (rafting) for $75!
Maui Activities Whale Watching

Whale Watching from South Maui (rafting) for $75!

There are two great things about this Maui whale-watching tour! First, it leaves from Kihei in South Maui (super convenient). Second, you’ll love the chance for close encounters from their power raft on this 1.5-hour, 15-passenger tour. Booking here saves you $10 per ticket!

maui redline rafting whale watching review

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here.

Activity Overview

  • Departs From: Maui – Kihei/Wailea (South)
  • Duration: 1.5 hours
  • Included in the price: Whale watching Jan – Mar, guaranteed humpback whale sightings, small 15 passenger raft, onboard marine naturalist, onboard hydrophone to listen to whale songs, 3 departures daily

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Book directly with Redline Rafting at the book here below. They will email you a confirmation email and take care of the rest of your whale-watching tour! Booking here helps us write more Hawaii travel info, at no cost to you. Mahalo for your support!

book here

This tour is only available during the annual humpback whale migration season. Tickets are available from January through March. Booking online here saves you $10 on an all-ready well-priced whale-watching tour.

Whale Watching Highlights with Redline Rafting

The whale-watching tour on their power raft leaves from Kihei Small Boat Ramp on South Maui, between Kihei and Wailea (click here for directions).

See the most stunning marine life in their natural habitat on this amazing whale-watching tour. Humpback whales migrate to the Hawaiian Islands during the winter months, December to March, for the purpose of calving and mating. The warm inshore waters surrounding the Hawaiian islands offer the young whales protection from predators as they build up enough body fat for their 3,000-mile journey north.

Watch as humpback whales complete acrobatic breaches, pec slaps, spy hopping, and more. Whale sightings are not guaranteed but the captain and crew are experts at spotting them. They abide by federal requirements to keep a safe distance so as to not disturb the whales.

While whales can be spotted all over the island, they usually head down to the calmer waters of West and South Maui.

  • 3 tours are available daily (7 AM, 9 AM, and 11 AM)
  • Check-in 30 minutes prior to departure at Kihei Small Boat Ramp
  • Small group tours of a maximum of 15 passengers
  • Onboard marine naturalist
  • Guaranteed to see and hear humpback whales
  • Onboard hydrophone to listen to the whales
  • 1.5 hour tours
book here

Our Experience with Redline Rafting

We have recommended Redline Rafting for years as they are a local company and provide unique snorkeling tours around South Maui. We had a blast with them on their 2-hr Molokini Crater tour, watch our experience with them below.

Learn more about their 2-hour and 5-hour Molokini snorkeling tours here.

Redline Rafting Whale Watching Review: Why We Love It

Redline Rafting whale-watching tours offer a good tour size on a comfortable boat. We like whale watching from a power raft for its ability to cover more ground to find the whales and since they are close to the surface, whales take a natural interest in taking close looks.

Between their knowledgeable crew and the great departure location in South Maui, this is a great whale-watching tour.

Power raft is super fun

Power rafting tours add adventure to your whale-watching. Their quick and comfortable rafts get you out on Maui’s water to find and respectfully watch the whales.

1.5-Hour Duration Tours

3 tours are offered daily tours for 1.5 hours. Ages 8 and older are welcome. All tours leave in the morning as the trade winds pick up in the afternoon, making for a rough ride.

Departs from Kihei Small Boat Ramp

Located off South Kihei Road between Kihei and Wailea, this is the ideal departure location for a quick and fun whale-watching experience.

Excellent Crew

Super friendly, knowledgeable, great reviews, and we enjoyed going out with them too. If you’re going to spend 1.5 hours on a boat, it’s helpful to enjoy the crew members and tour guides.

book here

Redline Rafting Whale Watching Review: Things to consider

Power rafts make for an adventurous ride. While we love to hold on tight to the side rope and have our feet under the jackline, some folks don’t love tours like this one. While the ride is smooth and comfortable, you may be sitting on the side of the inflatable raft or in a seat inside the raft.

There is also no shade canopy (except for the Captain) so bring that sun-protective clothing!

Due to the adventurous nature of this trip, it is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back or neck problems, elderly or fragile people, or children under 8.

If your plans change, they do have a strict cancellation policy. They offer a full refund if you cancel your trip 48 hours in advance.

If you’d prefer a more comfortable whale watching experience, like on a luxury catamaran, then we highly recommend this South Maui Whale Watching tour.

maui whale watching tour redline rafting.jpg
Have fun whale-watching on their 15-passenger power raft. Close encounters are their thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is check-in and departure?

They offer three-time slots for their whale-watching tours (January through March only).  Arrive 30 minutes prior to departure (the stated tour time) as they leave promptly!

Where do I check in?

Check-in is in at the boat ramp, look for their red and grey raft located at Kihei Small Boat Ramp.

What is the cancellation policy?

In the unfortunate event that a cancellation is necessary, they require 48 hours’ notice of the cancellation or reschedule from the check-in time . This allows them enough time to find new friends to enjoy the coastline. Cancellations within 48 hours will be assessed the full fare. 

Thanks for reading our Redline Rafting whale-watching review. We are affiliate partners with Redline Rafting which means we receive a small commission for each completed booking made through this site. This is done without any additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate policies here.

Know that we only recommend tour operators that we know and trust. Your positive experience and your trust in us mean more than any affiliate commission. By booking tours through our website you help us to provide free information and videos to help you and other readers plan their perfect Hawaii vacation. Thank you so much for your support — we appreciate you!

Aloha! We're Jordan and Erica.

We are Hawaii travelers who have lived on Maui and Oahu sharing our adventures, travel tips and resources, and honest reviews so you can easily plan your dream vacation to Hawaii.

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