Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Whale watching and dolphin tours › Waikiki: Sunset Whale Watch, Whales Guaranteed or Free Return
Waikiki: Sunset Whale Watch, Whales Guaranteed or Free Return
★ #13 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
Living Ocean Tours takes you whale watching off Waikiki from Kewalo Basin Harbor. Its daytime cruise lasts 2 hours and costs from $54 per person. You meet the double-deck Coral Kai at slip B-1 with your own transport to the harbor. Living Ocean runs whale watches from early January to the end of March, with daytime departures at 8 a.m. or in the afternoon. The 5 p.m. sunset option costs more.
Our check
Waikiki: Sunset Whale Watch, Whales Guaranteed or Free Return at a glance
| Duration | 90 to 120 minutes across options, 2 hours for daytime |
| Price | from $54 per person |
| Daytime departures | 8 a.m. / 2 or 2:30 p.m. daily, early January to the end of March |
| Sunset departure | 5 p.m. daily |
| Meeting point | Coral Kai at Kewalo Basin Harbor, slip B-1 |
| Boat | Two decks, up to 45 guests |
| Water time | Whale watching only, no swim stop |
| Ages | 3 and up, children and adults at the same rate |
| Main trade-off | Free repeat limited to the same season and 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 .
What's included
- Carbonated beverages
- On-board restrooms
What's not included
- The operator lists no exclusions
Options
Which option to book
The daytime whale watch lasts 2 hours. The 5 p.m. sunset option costs more if evening light matters to you.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| 2-Hour Whale Watch (No Sunset) | 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., daily |
| Sunset Whale Watch in Waikiki | 5 p.m., daily |
The catch: You need to be at the boat 30 minutes early, and limited harbor parking can delay your arrival.
Route
How does the day work?
Coral Kai leaves Kewalo for a whale search with coastal views in daylight or at sunset.
- pass by
1. Diamond Head
Diamond Head is viewed from the water during your whale search. You also see Waikiki and the Honolulu skyline without leaving the boat.
The daytime option takes 2 hours, with the full set of options spanning 90 to 120 minutes. You finish at Kewalo Basin Harbor's slip B-1. There isn't a landing at Diamond Head.
Pickup and meeting point
- Find the boat: Your meeting point is Coral Kai at slip B-1 in Kewalo Basin Harbor. You go straight to the boat rather than waiting for a hotel pickup.
- Before arrival: Your online waiver needs to be completed ahead of check-in. It shouldn't be left until you're ready to board.
- Check-in time: Arrive at Coral Kai 30 minutes before your sailing. The boat leaves at its scheduled time.
- Parking: Harbor spaces are limited, so driving requires extra time to find one. A taxi avoids the parking search before you meet the crew.
Before you book
- Book early in your stay for a possible repeat. The offer doesn't extend beyond the same season.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 2-hour daytime option fits travelers who want whale watching without paying for sunset. Children can join from age 3. Your child's ticket costs the same as an adult's. It's a fit if you can reach Kewalo yourself and don't need a swim stop.
For younger children, Pink Sails costs from $53.31 per person with free rides under age 4. For cabin shelter between sightings, Lahaina Princess costs from $49.95 per adult and leaves Ala Wai Harbor.
Who it's not for
- Families with children under 3
- Pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health
- Guests looking for snorkeling
Good to know
Know before you go
Children can join from age 3, with the same starting price as adults. The trip isn't recommended during pregnancy or for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. You stay aboard for the whale watch.
Bring sun protection and a light jacket for the boat. A camera or phone with zoom helps you photograph distant whales. Binoculars are optional, and you don't need swimming equipment for this outing.
Your online waiver needs to be complete before you arrive at Coral Kai. Check-in is 30 minutes before sailing at slip B-1. Parking is limited, so a taxi can remove the search for a space.
One mobile reservation accepts 1 to 30 travelers with an adult required. The selected tour's group limit is 45 guests. A smaller party still shares the boat with others on the same departure.
If no whales are seen, you can return free during the same season when space is available. The season runs from early January to the end of March. There's no refund if you can't return. Your remaining time on Oahu affects the value of that offer.
Your cancellation gets a full refund when made at least 24 hours before departure. Later cancellations aren't covered by the standard refund policy. Weather or insufficient passenger numbers can also cancel the cruise.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
Whale watching with younger children
Waikiki 2-Hour Whale Watching with Guaranteed SightingsPink Sails costs from $53.31 per person with children under 4 riding free. Its whale cruise lasts 2 hours.
★ 4.6 · 1,336 reviews · from $53.31 per person
A shaded cabin during the search
Oahu: 2-Hour Whale Watch from Ala Wai Harbor, WaikikiLahaina Princess costs from $49.95 per adult with an underwater microphone and shaded cabin. You can bring snacks aboard.
★ 4.6 · 2,000 reviews · from $49.95 per adult
A smaller whale group with naturalists
Waikiki Best Whale Watching in Honolulu: Whales GuaranteedThree Tiki costs from $79 per adult for a trimaran cruise capped at 35 guests. Naturalists help explain the whale activity.
★ 4.6 · 251 reviews · from $79 per adult
All 14 tours in the list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- How much is Living Ocean Tours' daytime whale watch?
The daytime option starts from $54 per person, and children pay the same price. It lasts 2 hours and includes soda aboard. The 5 p.m. sunset sailing is a separate option that costs more than the daytime choice.
- Where does Living Ocean Tours' whale watch leave from?
You board Coral Kai at Kewalo Basin Harbor's slip B-1. Arrive 30 minutes before your booked departure with the online waiver completed. Your ticket doesn't include a hotel ride, so you need to arrange the journey to the harbor.
- Does Living Ocean Tours refund a whale watch with no whales?
The missed-sighting offer is a free return within the same season, which runs from early January to the end of March. It depends on space. You don't get a refund if you can't take that repeat. Plan your 2-hour daytime cruise with another possible date left in your stay.
- Can toddlers join Living Ocean Tours' whale watch?
Children must be at least 3 years old for this tour. The child ticket band covers ages 3 to 11, with the same price as adults. You remain aboard throughout, and the double-deck boat has a restroom.
- Is Living Ocean Tours' daytime whale watch also a snorkel cruise?
No, this 2-hour daytime option is for watching whales from the boat. You have viewing space across two decks and soda aboard. A swim stop isn't part of this selected trip, even though Living Ocean also operates snorkeling tours.
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.