If you like animals and you are planning a Hawaii vacation, then you are bound to enjoy swimming with dolphins during your trip. Hawaii dolphin swims are understandably popular among visitors, and you'll be glad to know that they aren't hard to arrange. Plenty of boat tour operators on the different islands offer Hawaii dolphin swims, and you can enjoy both half-day and full-day excursions if you please. More often than not, tours that involve swimming with dolphins in Hawaii will also involve other activities, such as whale watching and snorkeling. Swim with dolphins in Hawaii, and it's bound to figure among the highlights of your trip.

Oahu Dolphin Swims

Oahu is one of the best islands to visit if you are looking to swim with dolphins in Hawaii, partly because of the fact that it's where you will find Sea Life Park. While actually touching dolphins that you encounter in the wild is generally not encouraged, you'll be encouraged to touch dolphins at Sea Life Park, not to mention sting rays. Sea Life Park is a marine wonderland, and if you're up for it, letting one of the dolphins here give you a dorsal fin ride is sure to be unforgettable.

Hawaii Map

While a visit to Sea Life Park is what some Oahu visitors will prefer, others will look to swim with dolphins in the wild. In this case, heading to either the Ko Olina Resort & Marina or the west coast outpost of Waianae is recommended. These are two of the top overall destinations for those who want to enjoy boat tours in Oahu, and you'll do well to keep them in mind if you are also interested in Oahu whale watching.

Big Island Dolphin Swims

When swimming with dolphins in Hawaii is high on your list of things to do, then you'll do well to head to the Big Island's Kailua-Kona area. The drier and less windy west coast of the Big Island is a great place to swim with dolphins, as the relatively calm water conditions are simply ideal. You'll find Kailua-Kona right in the middle of the island's west coast, and boat tours abound here. Should your Big Island boat tour include swimming with dolphins, you'll likely be happy to know that it's not uncommon to encounter hundreds of them on a single trip. In addition to dolphin swims, those who are visiting the Big Island's west coast might also consider booking whale watching tours, which are best enjoyed in the winter months. Don't forget to also visit a coffee plantation and check out some volcanoes when visiting the Big Island.

Maui Dolphin Swims

Dolphins can be found in the waters off the Maui coast throughout the year. As such, it's an ideal place to find yourself if you want to swim with dolphins in Hawaii. As is true in most of the Hawaiian waters, the dolphins that you can swim with on Maui dolphin swims are either spinner or bottlenose dolphins. The spinner dolphins are accurately labeled, as they are known to leap out of the water and spin in mid-air. The Auau Channel, which separates Maui from the smaller islands of Molokai and Lanai, is the best place to enjoy Maui dolphin swims, and you won't have problems booking them at major resort areas like Kapalua.

Kauai Dolphin Swims

Kauai visitors who are interested in swimming with dolphins in Hawaii are encouraged to book a dolphin-watching excursion off the Na Pali Coast. Not only is the scenery absolutely stunning along the Na Pali Coast, but it's also where most of the boat tour companies take their guests. If you want to swim with dolphins in Hawaii and Kauai is where you are spending most or all of your time, the best place to actually book your excursion is Port Allen, as it's where the bulk of the island's boat charters are based. Port Allen can be found west of Poipu on the southern coast.

Lanai and Molokai Dolphin Swims

For those who are interested in Hawaii dolphin swims off the coasts of Lanai and Molokai, then booking one of the Maui dolphin swim tours that visits the Auau Channel is the best way to go. Some of these tours will allow you to explore the islands themselves when you're not snorkeling and keeping an eye out for dolphins in the protected waters.