There are 26 sites on Oahu for whale watching, according to the website of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The organization functions under the National Marine Sanctuaries and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
There are two sanctuaries in the waters off the shores of Oahu for whales; one is by Waikiki, and the other wraps around much of the North Shore, including the waters beyond the beaches of Laie and Hauula. The Laie Point and Hauula Beach Park are two of the spots that are said to be prime for whale watching.
Alyx Stuehler, a senior psychology major from Oregon, was surprised to hear that the Point was one of the sites designated for whale watching, but said that if she were to whale watching on the island, it would probably be there due to ease of access.
Other places along the North Shore include Turtle Bay and Shark’s Cove. These places are not just for whale watching, as people have reported seeing sea turtles and other unique wildlife. Haleiwa is another marine life hot spot, with Puaena Point making the list of whale watching spots.
Students said they are aware of the opportunities the island holds to go whale watching, but they didn’t know where to go to see them.
Madi Hurd, a freshman majoring in exercise and sport science from Utah, brought up the idea. “It’d be cool if there were a whale watching club here at school because I think a lot of people would like to go. They just don’t really know where to start.”
According to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, humpback whales are most frequently seen in Hawaii, and the best time to go see them is between December and May. There are tourism companies that offer boat tours for those who would like to get a little closer to the creatures, but all boats must stay a minimum of 100 yards away from the whales.
The spray from a whale’s blowhole can reach up to 20 feet, so watching from a boat or offshore provides a visual experience for everyone.
Adventure seekers can also go cage diving with sharks at the same location through North Shore Shark Adventures, which is based in Haleiwa.
Tristan Wagner, a junior majoring in English from Utah, has gone cage diving before. She said of her experience, “They all surrounded the boat, most of them were 6 feet and the biggest one we saw was about 10 feet.”
Spear fishing is another marine life pastime for BYUH students. Dio Su, a junior majoring in psychology from Japan, shared, “I enjoy catching eel, because in Japan we have a lot of eel. Also unicorn fish, but you don’t really eat those. They’re just fun to catch.”