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Federal law prohibits approaching humpback whales within 100 yards in Hawaiian waters. This applies to all ocean users — boaters, swimmers, paddlers, and drone operators. During whale season (November through April), reduce speed to 15 knots in whale habitat.
If a whale approaches you, stay stationary with your engine in neutral. Violations carry heavy federal penalties. Learn more in your boating safety course at https://recademics.com/boating/hawaii/.
Under federal law — specifically the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and National Marine Sanctuaries Act — no person may approach a humpback whale within 100 yards (300 feet) in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. This applies to all ocean users, not just boaters. The rule is a hard minimum distance that must be maintained at all times, whether the whale is resting, traveling, feeding, or breaching.
The sanctuary covers waters around the main Hawaiian Islands and is one of the most important humpback whale habitats in the world. Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters each winter for breeding and calving. The sanctuary exists to protect these whales during this critical period, and the approach regulations apply throughout sanctuary waters.
Humpback whales are present in Hawaiian waters primarily from November through April, with peak activity from January through March. During this period, boaters should be especially alert for whale activity and maintain heightened awareness of their surroundings. Whales can surface unexpectedly and are sometimes difficult to spot until they are close.
NOAA recommends a top speed of 15 knots while transiting through whale habitat (waters up to 600 feet deep) during whale season. This reduced speed gives you more time to spot and avoid whales and reduces the severity of impact in the event of a collision. Vessel strikes are a significant threat to humpback whales, and slower speeds meaningfully reduce that risk.
If a humpback whale approaches your vessel on its own, NOAA guidance is clear: remain stationary and wait for the whale to move away. If you are in a motorized vessel, put your engine in neutral — do not turn it off, as you need to be able to maneuver if the whale gets too close. Do not attempt to chase, follow, or swim with the whale.
If whales are in your path of travel, go around them from behind while maintaining more than 100 yards of distance. Do not attempt to cut in front of whales or speed past them. If multiple whales are present and you cannot safely navigate around them, slow to idle speed and wait for them to move.
Violations of the MMPA and Sanctuaries Act carry substantial federal penalties — civil fines can reach tens of thousands of dollars per violation, and criminal penalties may apply for intentional harassment or harm. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement investigates violations, and reports from other boaters and aircraft are used as evidence.
While humpback whales are the primary concern during winter months, Hawaii’s waters are home to other protected species including Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, and spinner dolphins. DLNR’s DOBOR and the Division of Aquatic Resources encourage boaters to maintain safe distances from all marine wildlife and to avoid disturbing nesting or resting areas.
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