If you’re looking for somewhere to see seals in Hawaii then you’re in the right place.
There’s plenty of places to see seals in their natural habitat all over Hawaii, from Kauai to Oahu.
This post will tell you all of the best places to see seals in Hawaii and includes all the information you’ll need for a fun day out.
About Hawaiian Monk Seals
The seals found in Hawaii are Hawaiian monk seals.
Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species with currently only approximately 1,400 seals remaining.
Ancient Hawaiians referred to the seals as ”ilio holo I ka uaua’ which translates to ‘dog that runs in rough water’.
Here’s some quick facts about Hawaiian monk seals:
- They eat reef fish, squid, octopus, eels and crabs.
- They can weigh up to 600 pounds!
- You can often find them on beaches with shallow waters and sandy shores.
- May is the peak birthing season for the seals (but you can spot them all year round).
In the past, Hawaiian monk seals were only really seen on the island of Kauai but in recent years, the seals have also been spotted on all of Hawaii’s main islands.
Kauai is the best place to see seals in Hawaii and offers the most frequent sightings. You can often find seals resting and sunbathing on the shore here.
About 1,100 of the 1,400 seals are found in the northwestern Hawaiian islands (close to Kauai) and the remaining 300 are found around the main Hawaiian islands!
Seals can be spotted all over Hawaii and this article includes the best locations on all of Hawaii’s main islands where you can see the seals.
If you are lucky enough to spot a seal please remember these quick tips:
- You should not touch the Hawaiian monk seals.
- Try not to get too close to the seals (as this may disturb them).
- You can still get amazing views of the seals without disturbing them.
- You should also not feed the seals.
Following these simple tips will help protect this endangered species and help ensure their survival.
Best Tours & Excursions For Seeing Seals In Hawaii
As a quick summary, below I’ve listed the best tours and excursions available on the various Hawaiian islands that all include seeing Hawaiian monk seals!
There’s plenty of fun activities available including kayaking, snorkeling and stand up paddle boarding.
Best Tours For Seeing Seals In Kauai
- This awesome snorkeling tour takes you snorkeling along Kauai’s south shore reef where you’ll see Hawaiian monk seals.
- This full day private tour stops off at one of Kauai’s best beaches for spotting seals! You’ll also visit lots of other places for a fun day out.
Best Tours For Seeing Seals In Oahu
- This scuba diving tour gives you the rare opportunity of scuba diving alongside Hawaiian monk seals! It’s suitable for beginners so don’t worry if you’ve never scuba dived before.
- This non-stop tour takes you all over the island with one of the stops being a beach noted for being the home of monk seals!
- This awesome sunset tour stops off at a stunning lookout point for unforgettable sunset views and a rare glimpse of Hawaiian monk seals.
Best Tours For Seeing Seals In Maui
- Head out on a fun kayaking tour and get up and close with the interesting marine life of Maui, including Hawaiian monk seals! Don’t worry if you’ve never kayaked before, the guides will show you how.
- You can also join a kayaking and snorkeling tour for an even better view of the seals.
- If you’re looking for something a bit different then why not try stand-up paddle boarding in a beautiful lagoon which also gives you the opportunity to see rare Hawaiian monk seals.
- This super fun waterfall and jungle tour stops off at a beach known to be one of the best places in Maui for sightings of Hawaiian monk seals.
- Head out on this awesome kayaking and snorkeling tour where you’ll see Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles up close and personal!
Best Tours For Seeing Seals On Big Island
- This awesome full day tour stops off at Honokohau Beach giving you the opportunity to spot a monk seal.
Did you know you can also see seals in California? Find out where you can see seals in California here.
Best Places To See Seals In Hawaii
Now let’s take a look in a bit more detail at all of the best places in Hawaii where you can see seals!
I’ve covered a range of different locations in Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Big Island.
Best Places To See Seals In Kauai
Kauai is the best place to see Hawaiian monk seals in Hawaii because it is very close to the seal’s main feeding grounds.
Take a look at the best spots on the island to see them below:
Poipu Beach
Poipu Beach is a popular crescent-shaped beach located on Kauai’s southern coast.
The beach features crystal clear waters and soft golden sand. It’s a well known Hawaiian monk seal hotspot and the seals can often be seen sunbathing and lounging on its shores.
It’s actually one of the best places in the whole of Hawaii to see the seals!
Snorkeling is a popular activity at the beach and a great way to spot the seals. You can join a snorkeling tour for the best possible chance of seeing one.
Check out the video below of a monk seal spotted on Poipu beach:
Napali Coast
The Napali Coast spans 17 miles along Kauai’s northern shore.
This stunning coastline features mountainous terrain, emerald cliffs and hidden beaches.
These remote, tucked away beaches are favorites of the Hawaiian monk seals and sightings on their shores are common.
There’s tons of beaches along this coastline to choose from including Miloli‘I Beach, Ke’e Beach, Nualolo Kai Beach, Honopu Beach and many more.
Shipwreck Beach
Another prime location in Kauai where you can often spot Hawaiian monk seals is on Shipwreck beach.
Shipwreck beach is located on the southern shore of Kauai, close to Poipu beach. This beach is famous for having wrecked numerous ships over the years (hence the name).
It’s popular for walking, swimming and surfing. You can often see seals sunbathing on the sand here.
Best Places To See Seals In Oahu
Hawaiian monk seals can also be seen in Oahu.
Below I’ve listed the best places in Oahu to see seals including several monk seal beaches where you can get up close and personal with them!
Did you know you can also see dolphins in Oahu? Find out where to see dolphins in Oahu here.
Waikiki
Hawaiian monk seals can sometimes be spotted on the shores of Waikiki, a vibrant neighborhood in Honolulu.
Waikiki is a popular tourist spot where you’ll find high-rise hotels lining the shore, surfing beaches and tons of fancy restaurants and bars.
Head to the beaches for a potential glimpse of a seal. One of the best monk seal beaches in Oahu is Kaimana Beach.
You could join a scuba diving tour for an epic view of the seals – it’s suitable for beginners so don’t worry if you’ve never dived before.
You can often spot a seal basking in the sun on Kaimana Beach in Waikiki and if you’re lucky you may even spot a pup like the one in the video below:
North Shore
Another place in Oahu where you have a good chance of seeing Hawaiian monk seals is Oahu’s north shore.
This long stretch of coastline is known for big waves and is popular with surfers. Some of Oahu’s best monk seal beaches can be found along this coast.
One of the best spots to catch a glimpse of a rare Hawaiian monk seal along the north shore is at Kaena Point.
Kaena Point sits at the western most tip of the island. The best option is to hike along the coastal trail up to Kaena Point, this will give you plenty of opportunities to spot seals on the various beaches that you’ll pass.
Check out the monk seal in the video below spotted on Oahu’s north shore whilst hiking to Kaena Point:
Nanakuli Beach Park
Another spot in Oahu where you can often spot Hawaiian monk seals is at Nanakuli Beach Park.
This stunning beach park on the west coast of Oahu features over 40-acres of land, a white sandy beach and tons of activities to enjoy.
If you’re interested in learning more about the seals then join a seal tour which teaches you all about the Hawaiian monk seals and allows you to see them up close in the wild at Nanakuli Beach Park.
The beach here is one of the best monk seal beaches in Oahu!
Lanai Lookout
Another great place to see monk seals in Oahu is at the Lanai lookout.
Lanai lookout, located on the southeastern point of Oahu, is a popular lookout point that offers panoramic views of the ocean, cliffs and nearby islands.
It’s a popular sunset spot offering daily, glorious sunsets. You can join a sunset tour to make sure you experience this to the fullest.
The Lanai lookout overlooks the beautiful Kaiwi coastline below where you’re often able to spot seals, whales and sea turtles too.
Best Places To See Seals In Maui
Hawaiian monk seals can also be seen in various places on the island of Maui. Below I’ve listed the best spots in Maui to see the seals.
Lahaina Harbor
One of the best places in Maui to see Hawaiian monk seals is at Lahaina Harbor.
Lahaina Harbor is a small harbor located on the northwestern coast of Maui. It’s well known for its wide range of ocean activities, such as sailing and snorkeling.
It’s also one of the best places for whale watching in Maui.
Hawaiian monk seals can often be seen here too. You can take part in a wide range of water activities at Lahaina Harbor which gives you a chance of seeing the seals up close.
You can join a kayaking tour, a snorkeling tour in the harbor or even try stand-up paddle boarding too!
Ho’okipa Beach Park
Another great place to spot seals in Maui is at Ho’okipa Beach Park.
Ho’okipa Beach Park is a spacious park featuring a white sandy beach and fantastic ocean views.
It is actually a very popular surfing destination, but many people also come to the park to see seals.
It’s a great place to see marine life including whales, sea turtles, starfish, seals, seahorses and more.
For the best chance of seeing the Hawaiian monk seals, join a day tour like this one which includes a stop of Ho’okipa Beach Park.
Check out the video below showing a seal resting on the beach at Ho’okipa Beach:
Makena Bay
Another place in Maui where you can often see monk seals is at Makena Bay.
Makena Bay, located in southwestern Maui, features a small bay and crystal clear waters.
It’s famous for its large sea turtle population but also features a range of other marine animals including seals.
For the best chance of seeing seals, join a kayaking and snorkeling tour where you’ll get an up close and personal view of the seals and you might also spot sea turtles, dolphins and manta rays!
Best Places To See Seals On Big Island
Sightings of Hawaiian monk seals on Big Island are rare, but there is one place that you have a chance of seeing one.
Honokohau Beach
One of the best places to see Hawaiian monk seals on Big Island is at Honokohau Beach which sits on the west side of the island.
This beach is part of the Kaloko-Honokohau National Park and is a popular spot for surfers and sunbathers.
At the south end of the beach is a small reef where animal sightings are frequent including seals, sea turtles and more. If you’re lucky you might spot a monk seal lounging on the beach.
For a stress free day, why not book onto a full day tour that stops off at Honokohau Beach giving you the opportunity to try and spot a monk seal.
Thanks for reading this post on where to see seals in Hawaii.
Wherever you are in Hawaii, there’s plenty of options here to see seals in their natural habitat in Kauai, Maui, Oahu and more.
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