Hawaii Whale-Watching
Hawaii Whale-Watching
Hawaii whalewatching is truly a memorable experience. In this article we will focus on whalewatching off the island of Maui. Whalewatching season starts as early as November but the largest number of whales travel through Hawaii waters from midDecember to midApril.Each year during this time approximately 1500 to 2000 humpback whales migrate south from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists estimate that this 3000 mile swimming trip takes them from 80 to 100 days.
The whales seem to favor the calmer bays and wide bank areas between the islands of Maui Molokai and Lanai. With their bulky heads and two blowholes they can often be seen cavorting in the warm waters breaching and slapping the surface of the water. Here they mate or bear their “calves” conceived the previous winter.
A mature humpback whale is about 45 feet in lenth and can weigh up to 80000 pounds. Their calves weigh around 3000 pounds at birth and feed off their mother’s highfat milk for six to eight months consuming 100 to 130 gallons per day.
Strangely enough the adult whales do not eat while in Hawaii since they are “seasonal” feeders. However when they return to their Arctic habitat an average humpback whale will consume 4500 to 5000 pounds of plankton krill small shrimplike creatures and fish per day!
On Maui the opportunities for whalewatching from land are extensive. A good vantage point for seeing whales from land is basically anywhere you get a pretty a wide ocean view. McGregor Point at mile marker 9 as you head from Maalaea toward Lahaina is a wellknown whale watching place. Continuing toward Lahaina whales can also be seen off the Olowalu Reefbetween McGregor Point and the town of Olowalu.
When you head south on the Wailea coast the Outrigger Wailea Resort provides another excellent viewing spot with a telescope installed by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. South from Wailea Puu Olai overlooking Makeena Beach is considered Maui’s best spot for whalewatching.
Whale watching requires patience. Scan the horizon for a cloud of spewing water that rises from 10 to 20 feet above the ocean’s surface. Watch for a good halfhour or so; whales need to breath every 7 to 20 minutes and their spray is simply water vapor that they exhale from their blow hole. So once you locate that telltale spray of water focus your eyes on the area for another one. Here binoculars are especially helpful.
But the best way to see humpback whales is out in their domainand you can book a whalewatching cruise for that. Maui is the home of the Pacific Whale Foundation. A nonprofit whale research organization it supports its research by offering whalewatching tours.
In addition almost every snorkel and diveboat in the area becomes a whalewatching vessel in winter. Maui whalewatching tours leave Lahaina and Maalaea harbors daily during the winter months. In addition to humpbacks sperm whales pilot whales pygmy killer whales beaked whales melonheaded whales and “false” killer whales can often be seen there. You can also view the whales on a rafting expedition. These excursions also leave daily from Lahaina harbor.
The whale may play a little game with you he will poke his head just above the water’s surface to “scope out the scene.” That kind of behavior is actually called a “spy hop” meaning it’s his way of showing off if he feels so inclined. He’ll then leap completely out of the water. If he’s only in the mood to exchange nods he’ll slap his tail or wave his side fins at you that’s the humpback whale’s way of saying “Hi!
Whales communicate underwater through mysterious “songs” forming a perplexing series of sounds. Most whalewatching charters on Maui have a hydrophone on board which will enable you to hear and enjoy the complex sounds of these majestic creatures.
Remember that humpback whales are protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act and you may come no closer than 100 yards. Even at that distance you will sense the power and beauty of these creatures and you will come away with memories of a lifetime.
About the writer: Name: Nivedita Balamurugan
Occupation: Traveler
Website: www.thereservationcenter.com
Biography: Nivedita is with The Reservation Center providers of discounted tours to make your vacations and sightseeing trips in various cities across the world as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
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