Our Whales Are BACK!

We’re beyond thrilled to announce that our Humpback Whales have returned home!  Yes, their HOME: over 1/2 of the North Pacific Humpback Whale population travels from Alaska to Hawaii in order to mate and give birth each year.  So, many are coming home to where they were born!

Maui whale watching season doesn’t officially start until December 15th and runs to around April 15th, but there have already been sightings of new arrivals.  Take advantage of one of the smaller whale watch boats to have a more personal experience and more control over where you go in the water.

Below we’ve shared some of the past whale seasons’ best photos taken by Natalie Brown Photography.  There’s also an experience shared by Megan Edgar.

I leaned over the edge of the boat as far as I could, totally mesmerized by the huge eye staring up at me. “She’s looking right at me. I know it.” I leaned back slightly and slid myself left along the side of the boat. The big eye followed me. I grinned and slid myself to the right. The big eye followed me back. Maui whale sequence“What must you think of me?” I whispered to the whale. “Do you wonder about me the way I wonder about you? Are you old enough to remember when there weren’t so many humans riding on boats? Are you able to remember at all?” A giant splash to my right startled me out of my revere. Another whale was slapping his shining white pectoral fin over and over against the surface of the water. Then he rolled onto his back and began slamming the back side of his tail on the surface. Bang, bang, bang. One more splash, a big breath, and then he dove, sinking out of sight. I turned back to the water, but the first whale was gone too. “Well ladies and gentleman,” the Captain of the Kai Kanani said into his mike. “That was quite a show but it’s time for us to be heading back to shore. Please check for any loose clothing or trash, and be careful of your hats as I pick up speed. The whales aren’t looking for any donations.” On the trip back I thought about what I’d seen. The breaching and splashing were very exciting, and I had some great photos to share with my friends. But I was moved by what I had seen looking into the eye of the whale. “Humans aren’t so special,” I thought to myself as we neared shore.