Every year, the mammoth Pacific humpback whales trek 3,000 miles from the icy waters of Alaska to the warm climes of Hawaii to breed and bask in the sun. As many as 3,000 humpbacks make the journey, starting as early as September and arriving until April or May. They don’t all show up at once, with the peak runs typically in February and March.
The 40-ton, Pacific humpback whales enjoy the warm waters of Hawaii, following their annual, 3,000-mile trek from chilly Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Pacific Whale Foundation.
These 45-foot, 40-ton leviathans are a protected species that nearly went extinct in the days of the Hawaii whaling industry in the 1800s. Now, they are an amazing attraction for visitors to see up close . . . but not too close! The law requires that boaters, kayakers, windsurfers, and swimmers must stay at least 100 yards away from the whales at all times. And, yes, some people have been prosecuted for getting too near.
While you can actually see the whales breaching, jumping and just playing around from shore, a whale watching cruise is best for getting terrific looks at these gentle mammals. One of the best shore locations is on Kaanapali Beach right in front of the iconic Royal Lahaina Resort. The resort’s Activity Center can also arrange any of the oceangoing transportation to get you nearer to the humpbacks.
At 45-feet long, humpbacks make a big splash in Hawaii. While visitors can watch these giants frolic from shore, the best views are at sea on a whale watching cruise.
There’s no best time of day for whale watching, but they seem to prefer calm wind and sea conditions. Many of the whale watching cruises provide fascinating narrations about these sea going giants. Some even offer undersea hydrophones that allow onboard guests to listen in on the mysterious, plaintive songs of the whales.
While out on the ocean, you will also likely meet up with all kinds of dolphins. Spinner, bottlenose and spotted dolphins are often frolicking in the warm Pacific in the vicinity of the humpbacks. The very social spinners are named for their acrobatic leaps and spins out of the water and the bottlenose dolphins love to ride the bow waves of boats to the delight of passengers.
Your visit to Hawaii isn’t complete until you have had close encounters with these magnificent marine creatures. For more information on things to do during your Hawaii adventure, go to www.hawaiihotels.com.