PacWhale Eco-Adventures earns No. 1 spot as best whale watch in Hawaiʻi

PacWhale Eco-Adventures was named the No. 1 whale watch tour in all of Hawaiʻi and the third-best whale watch in the nation by USA TODAY in its 2026 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

The USAToday Best Whale Watching Tour category recognizes the top 10 whale watching operators in the country with nominees specially curated by a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10BEST editors. Winners are then determined by public vote.

“We are incredibly honored and grateful to USA TODAY for this recognition, said Alyssa Moser, PacWhale EcoTours Director. “This really belongs to our crew, who bring so much knowledge, passion, and care to every experience on the water. It is a privilege to share the beauty of Hawaiʻi’s marine environment with people from all over the world, and we recognize the responsibility that comes with that.”

“For us, whale watching is about more than seeing whales. It’s about helping people build a deeper connection to the ocean, better understand the place they are visiting, and leave with a greater appreciation for why it is so important to protect it,” said Moser. “As the social enterprise of Pacific Whale Foundation, we are proud that these experiences also help support the research, education, and conservation work that gives back to our ocean and community. We are grateful to our team and to every guest who has been part of that journey.”