Kihei Boat Ramp · Wailea · Molokini
Kihei Whale Watching
Redline Rafting's large raft from the Kihei boat ramp: 90 minutes off the south end of Maui with a marine naturalist and a hydrophone, at most 20 guests, three morning departures and free parking at the ramp.
- 4.9 / 5 696+ Reviews
- 1 h 30 min Duration
- Free parking At the Kihei boat ramp
- 90 minutes On the Redline raft
- Free Cancellation
Kihei at a Glance
- Where boats leave from
- The Kihei boat ramp at the south end of Kihei, by Kamaole Beach Park III
- Parking
- Free, in the upper lots; the lower lot is for trucks and boat trailers
- From Wailea
- About 10 minutes by car to the ramp
- The water
- The south end of Maui toward Molokini and Kaho'olawe; morning departures usually meet calmer water
- Who it suits
- Adults and older children: the Kihei rafts set minimum ages of 4 to 8 and exclude pregnant travelers
- Tours
- Redline's 90-minute raft from $99.64 a person, December 13, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (checked October 2026)
The Experience
What the Redline Raft Whale Watch Covers
A fast, sturdy raft and a short run out to the whales of South Maui.
Highlights
- Departures at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. in season
- Free parking above the Kihei boat ramp
- Limited to 20 guests, with a marine naturalist
- Ages 8 to 65; not for pregnant travelers or anyone with back or neck problems
What's Included
- Marine naturalist on board
- Hydrophone for whale song
- Free parking at the ramp
Not Included: Hotel pickup, Gratuities, Not for pregnant travelers or anyone with back or neck problems; ages 8 to 65
How a Kihei Whale Watch Works
Early starts, free parking and a short ride to open water.
Park Above the Ramp
Parking at the Kihei boat ramp is free in the upper lots; the lower lot is for trucks and trailers. Search for Kihei Boat Ramp in your map app.
Check In 30 Minutes Early
For Redline's 7 a.m. trip, check in in the parking lot; for the 9 and 11 a.m. trips, at the picnic tables above the dock.
Check the Age and Health Limits
Redline takes guests aged 8 to 65 and turns away pregnant travelers and anyone with back or neck problems. Blue Water Rafting starts at 4.
Dress for Spray
A raft is open to the sun and the spray. Bring a hat that ties on, reef-safe sunscreen and a light layer for the ride back.
Photo Gallery
Whales off South Maui
Photos from the Redline Rafting listing: the raft and the humpbacks off Kihei and Wailea.
Book Your Experience
Check Dates for the Redline Raft
Dates, times and the live price open on the tour's Viator page.
Redline Rafting
Whale-Watching Tour by Raft from Kihei
- 4.9/5 from 696 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
- 1 h 30 min
- From $99.64 per person (checked October 2026)
- Runs December 13, 2026 to March 31, 2027
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Kihei boat ramp; check in 30 minutes early (the parking lot at 7 a.m., the picnic tables above the dock later)
Four Ways to Whale Watch from Kihei
All from the Kihei boat ramp area. Prices from the listings, with the month they were checked.
| Feature | THIS PAGE Redline Raft | Blue Water Rafting | Kayak and Snorkel | Molokini + Whales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From $99.64 per person (checked October 2026) | From $93 per person (checked October 2026) | From $119 per person (checked October 2026) | From $161.49 per person (checked October 2026) |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
| The Boat | Large raft, at most 20 guests | Raft | Sit-on-top kayaks, at most 10 | 40-foot Zodiac raft |
| Ages | 8 to 65 | 4 and up | Able to paddle a kayak | 5 and up |
| Best For | Adults, early starts | Families with school-age children | Active travelers who want to paddle | Snorkelers who want both in one trip |
| Check dates | See the raft | See the kayak trip | See the combo |
Nearby, from Ma'alaea
Bigger Boats, a Short Drive Away
For younger children or a steadier ride, the Ma'alaea boats are the next harbor up the coast.
NATURALISTS, MA'ALAEAWhale Watching from Ma'alaea Harbor
Pacific Whale Foundation's two-hour whale watch from Ma'alaea, led by certified marine naturalists, with hydrophones; see no whales and you go again free.
ALL-AGES CATAMARANMa'alaea Harbor: Whale Watching Tour Aboard Power Catamaran
Quicksilver's double-deck power catamaran from Ma'alaea: two hours with a shaded cabin, restrooms, sodas and juice, and an underwater hydrophone.
SUPER RAFT, RESTROOMSWhale Watch on a Custom Super Raft from Ma'alaea
A custom-built super raft from Ma'alaea: the close-to-the-water feel of a raft, with two restrooms on board, a naturalist and a hydrophone, for 1 hour 45 minutes.
The Guide
Kihei and Wailea: Whale Watching from the South Shore
Rafts and kayaks from the Kihei boat ramp, and when to drive up to Ma'alaea instead.
If you are staying in Kihei, Wailea or Makena, the closest whale watches leave from the Kihei boat ramp, at the south end of Kihei by Kamaole Beach Park III. They are mostly rafts: fast, open boats that reach the whales off the south end of Maui quickly and are back within two hours. Parking is free, the drive from the Wailea resorts is about ten minutes, and the first trips leave at 7 a.m., when the south shore is usually at its calmest.
The short answer
For one whale watch from the south shore, book Redline Rafting, in the booking box on this page. Its large, sturdy raft leaves the Kihei boat ramp for 90 minutes off the south end of Maui, with a marine naturalist and a hydrophone, and takes at most 20 guests. Trips leave at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. December 13, 2026 to March 31, 2027, from $99.64 a person, rated 4.9 from 696 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor (checked October 2026).
Check dates for the Redline raft
It is an adult trip: guests must be between 8 and 65, and it is not for pregnant travelers or anyone with back or neck problems. With younger children, choose Blue Water Rafting from the same ramp, or drive up to Ma’alaea for a catamaran.
Pick by what you want
Whale-Watching Tour by Raft from Kihei
Ninety minutes on a large raft, at most 20 guests, a naturalist and a hydrophone. Ages 8 to 65.
Check dates →Kihei Whale Watch by Raft, 90 Minutes
Blue Water Rafting's 90 minutes from the same ramp, from age 4. No whales: the next ride is free.
See the raft →South Maui: Whale Watch Kayaking and Snorkel Tour in Kihei
Three hours by sit-on-top kayak with a guide: paddle out to look for whales at a safe distance, then snorkel with turtles.
See the kayak trip →Molokini Snorkel and Whale Watch from Kihei
About an hour snorkelling at Molokini Crater from a 40-foot Zodiac, then whale watching for the rest of the trip. Ages 5 and up.
See the combo →Prices, ratings and review counts from the Viator and GetYourGuide listings (checked October 2026; GetYourGuide checked October 2026). Operators price by season; treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
The Kihei boat ramp
The ramp is a working state boat ramp, with three launch ramps, two docks, restrooms and a shower, and it is busy in the early morning. Visitors park in the upper lots, which are free; the lower lot is for trucks and trailers. Redline checks in its 7 a.m. guests in the parking lot and its later guests at the picnic tables above the dock. Blue Water Rafting also checks in 30 minutes before departure, and cancellations there must be made by phone at least 24 hours ahead.
Raft, kayak or a Molokini combination
The Kihei rafts are the quickest way to whales from South Maui. Redline has the most reviews of the Kihei rafts; Blue Water Rafting's 90-minute trip costs $93 on GetYourGuide, takes children from age 4, and gives you the next ride free if no whales show (checked October 2026).
South Pacific Kayaks’ whale-watch kayak and snorkel trip is the slow way: three hours in sit-on-top kayaks with a guide, paddling out to look for whales and then snorkelling the reef, where green sea turtles are common, from $119 (checked October 2026). Kayakers follow the same 100-yard rule as boats, so the whales come to you or not at all. Launch points can change with the tide and wind.
Makena Coast Charters’ Molokini snorkel and whale watch spends about an hour in the water at Molokini Crater and the rest of its two and a half hours looking for whales, from $161.49, December 15, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (checked October 2026). It suits confident swimmers aged 5 and up; guests have to climb a vertical boat ladder.
When to drive to Ma’alaea instead
Ma’alaea Harbor is about 20 minutes north of the Kihei ramp by car, and its boats are bigger: double-deck catamarans with shade and restrooms, Pacific Whale Foundation’s naturalist trips, and the sunset dinner cruises. Go there with toddlers, with anyone who dislikes a bumpy ride, or for an evening on the water. The Ma’alaea whale watching page has them all.
Ninety Minutes off the South Shore
Redline Rafting from the Kihei boat ramp: a large raft, a marine naturalist, a hydrophone and at most 20 guests, with departures at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Starting from $99.64 per person.
Check dates on ViatorMore on the Water
Other Maui Boat Trips with Open Dates
Snorkel, sunset and whale-watch trips around Maui with live availability. Times and cancellation terms are on each listing.
Kihei Whale Watching: Questions
Whale watching from Kihei, Wailea and Makena.
The Kihei boat ramp, at the south end of Kihei by Kamaole Beach Park III. Redline Rafting and Blue Water Rafting launch there, and Makena Coast Charters' Molokini trip meets nearby at 2800 S. Kihei Road. Parking in the upper lots is free.
Yes, often from shore in the peak months, and closer from a boat. The water off South Maui toward Molokini and Kaho'olawe holds whales all season. The Kihei boat ramp is about ten minutes from the Wailea resorts.
For older children. Redline takes guests from 8 to 65; Blue Water Rafting from age 4; the Molokini combination from 5. With toddlers, take a catamaran from Ma'alaea, where Quicksilver and Pacific Whale Foundation take all ages.
From $93 on Blue Water Rafting to $161.49 for the Molokini snorkel and whale watch. Redline's 90-minute raft is $99.64 (checked October 2026; GetYourGuide checked October 2026). Parking at the ramp is free.
Yes, with a guide. South Pacific Kayaks runs a three-hour whale-watch kayak and snorkel trip from Kihei, at most 10 people, from $119 (checked October 2026). Kayaks follow the same 100-yard rule as boats.
Still have questions? Email us at info@maui-whale-watching-tours.com