Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Whale watching and dolphin tours › Waikiki Best Whale Watching in Honolulu: Whales Guaranteed
Waikiki Best Whale Watching in Honolulu: Whales Guaranteed
★ #8 of 14 in our list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” Picked from the 46 whale watching and dolphin tours in the Oahu catalog, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated price re-read every day; listing, times and pickup notes reviewed with it
Three Tiki Sailing takes you whale watching off Waikiki on a trimaran with naturalists aboard. The 2-hour cruise costs from $79 per adult. You meet behind Prince Waikiki at Ala Wai Harbor for 8:30 or 11 a.m. departures on select dates of the whale season, November to May. Your own food and drinks are welcome. There's an ice cooler aboard and shaded seating between views from the open deck.
Our check
Waikiki Best Whale Watching in Honolulu: Whales Guaranteed at a glance
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Price | from $79 per adult |
| Departures | 8:30 or 11 a.m., select dates in the November to May whale season |
| Meeting point | Northwest corner of Ala Wai Harbor, behind Prince Waikiki |
| Check-in | 30 minutes before departure |
| Boat | Trimaran, up to 35 guests |
| Water time | Whale watching from the boat, no swimming |
| Food | Outside food and drinks welcome, ice cooler aboard |
| Main trade-off | Free return dependent on available space |
| Guide languages | English |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Children pay less.
What's included
- Bottled water
- Guaranteed Whale sightings*
- Clean and hygienic restrooms onboard.
- Informative whale information from our knowledgeable crew and on board naturalists
What's not included
- The operator lists no exclusions
Options
Which option to book
One option covers the whale watch with naturalists. You can sail at 8:30 or 11 a.m. on select dates.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Best Waikiki Whale Watching in Honolulu: Whales Guaranteed | 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. |
The catch: The guarantee provides 1 free return subject to space, with no refund if you can't use it.
The day
How does the day work?
The trimaran heads out from Ala Wai for a whale search with Diamond Head visible from the deck.
- 1
Find the trimaran
You join the crew behind Prince Waikiki at the northwest corner of Ala Wai Harbor. The check-in signs identify Three Tiki Sailing.
- 2
Watch with naturalists
Naturalists help you watch for whales from the open deck. The crew explains what you see during the search.
- 3
Views from aboard
Diamond Head forms a coastal backdrop for photographs. There's shaded seating when you want a break from the open deck.
Your 2-hour cruise ends back at the Ala Wai meeting point behind Prince Waikiki. It doesn't include a swim stop. Whale sightings depend on the outing.
Pickup and meeting point
- Finding check-in: The Three Tiki Sailing check-in signs are in the harbor's northwest corner. Prince Waikiki is the landmark, with the meeting area behind the hotel.
- Arrival window: Arrive 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled sailing. That time comes before your 2 hours on the water.
- Hotel journey: You make your own way to the harbor. This booking has a dock meeting point rather than a hotel collection.
Before you book
- Bring your own food and drinks for the cruise. Water and an ice cooler are provided.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 35-guest trimaran suits you if you want whale watching with your own food and drinks. You get 2 hours aboard. Shade is available when you want a break from the open deck. It's a fit if a missed sighting won't require cash compensation.
For a shaded cabin, Lahaina Princess costs from $49.95 per adult with an underwater microphone. For evening light, Living Ocean runs a 5 p.m. sunset sailing, and its daytime trips cost from $54 per person.
Who it's not for
- Guests who want to snorkel
- Travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Anyone needing a refund if a repeat won't fit
Good to know
Know before you go
Child tickets cover ages 3 to 12, with a separate infant band for ages 0 to 2. Strollers and service animals are allowed. The trip isn't recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
Bring the food and beverages you want for the sailing. Three Tiki provides drinking water and a cooler filled with ice. You also have shaded seating and a restroom aboard the trimaran.
You need to reach the meeting point 30 minutes before sailing. Look for Three Tiki signs behind Prince Waikiki at Ala Wai Harbor's northwest corner. Your hotel ride is yours to arrange.
The trimaran carries up to 35 guests, with 1 to 15 travelers allowed per reservation. An adult must be part of your booking. Your party uses mobile tickets for this shared cruise.
Weather can cancel the whale watch, and a sailing also needs enough passengers to operate. Your reservation doesn't promise that every departure will run. Naturalists accompany the cruise when it goes out.
A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Later cancellations don't qualify under the standard policy. This deadline is separate from the terms for a missed-sighting repeat.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
Cabin shelter between whale sightings
Oahu: 2-Hour Whale Watch from Ala Wai Harbor, WaikikiLahaina Princess costs from $49.95 per adult with a shaded main cabin. You can also listen through its hydrophone.
★ 4.6 · 2,000 reviews · from $49.95 per adult
A choice of daytime or sunset
Waikiki: Sunset Whale Watch, Whales Guaranteed or Free ReturnLiving Ocean's daytime whale watch costs from $54 per person. Its separate 5 p.m. sunset option costs more.
★ 4.8 · 119 reviews · from $54 per person
Free rides for the youngest children
Waikiki 2-Hour Whale Watching with Guaranteed SightingsPink Sails costs from $53.31 per person with free rides for children under 4. Its power catamaran leaves Ala Wai Harbor.
★ 4.6 · 1,336 reviews · from $53.31 per person
All 14 tours in the list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- How much is the Three Tiki Sailing whale watch?
The cruise starts from $79 per adult for 2 hours on a trimaran. You get drinking water and an ice cooler for your own supplies. The boat has shade and a restroom, while hotel transport isn't included.
- How does Three Tiki Sailing's whale guarantee work?
You get 1 free return if no passengers see a whale during the outing. The repeat depends on available space. It has no cash value, and you don't receive a refund if your schedule can't accommodate another trip.
- Can you bring alcohol and food on Three Tiki Sailing?
Yes, your own food and beverages are allowed on the 2-hour whale watch. A cooler with ice is provided for your drinks. You can sit in shade between sightings, with open deck space available for watching offshore.
- What time is check-in for Three Tiki Sailing's morning trips?
Check-in is 30 minutes before your selected departure at Ala Wai Harbor. The tour offers 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. sailings on select dates. Arrive at the Three Tiki signs behind Prince Waikiki before that check-in deadline.
- Is Three Tiki Sailing's whale watch a swimming tour?
No, you stay aboard the trimaran during the 2-hour wildlife cruise. The onboard naturalists help explain what you're watching. The boat takes up to 35 guests, so your own group shares the viewing space with other travelers.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Booking happens on the booking page, at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.