Sperm whales prefer the deeper waters where they can dive. Tripadvisor whale watching from lahaina harbor provided by. Scientists take a look at maui whale behavior maui now. You can book a classic maui whale watching tour, or a combo whale watching and snorkel tour. And while the whales do take an extended reprieve near the islands, they are not there year round, and there may be better areas than others to catch a glimpse at their massive beauty. So, get the latest or advance it educational devices for pupils so that, they can actually excel in their.
Since 1980, maui whale festival has offered a series of inspiring events held during mauis peak humpback whale season. We want your whale watching tour to be unforgettable. Types of whales in hawaii almost a dozen whale species. The official hawaii whale watch season runs from late november to april. Sep 05, 2018 seeing as we operate seven boats that offer whale watching tours in maui, this is a question were asked a lot and at all different times of the year officially, whale season in maui runs from december 15thmay 15th, although its still possible to see whales outside of the officialwhale season dates. These atlas maps show the hawaiian islands humpback whale. Whale watching experiences on maui maui s best whale watching tours. Maui whale watching guide humpback whales in hawaii.
What is the best hawaiian island for whale watching. Discounted prices, no booking fees, and easy booking with travelshack. Underwater whale video from 31419 maui forum tripadvisor. To truly go whale watching on maui, however, and experience the wintertime magic, you need to book a whale watching tour to see the humpbacks up close. Although humpback whales can be seen from all of the hawaiian islands, the shallow auau channel between maui, molokai and lanai is one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. Hawaii is known as a top destination for whale watching, especially for an estimated twothirds of the north american population of humpback whales that vacation in hawaii. Although humpback whales can be seen from all of the hawaiian islands, the shallow auau channel between maui, molokai and lanai is one of the best. One of the most popular and fun things to do during this time is to go on a whale watching cruise. Whale watching aboard our flagship pride of maui is even better. Whales and calf protected by dolphins in maui, hawaii island hopper tv. Putting it all together how to maximize whale watching in hawaii. Nov 20, 2018 maui whale watch guide why humpbacks breach nov 20, 2018 fish guide, ocean activities when you join us on a whale watch tour on maui, breaching is one of the common actions youre likely to see.
During your whale watch cruise, these amazing animals will often display themselves in full glory, giving you the ultimate whale watching on maui. Hawaii doesnt participate in daylight saving, maui is two hours behind the west coast of the mainland during the winter. If youre fortunate enough to be here during winter, a whale watching tour is a must. Guide of us is a travel destination media and marketing company that receives compensation from companies or organizations whose products or services are promoted on this site. Hawaiis whale population is reportedly increasing at a rate of about 7% a year which means every year our sightings and encounters increase. Using stateoftheart technology, we bring you eyetoeye with maui s humpback whales in their realm beneath the waves. Great experience, we had a couple of encounters with humpback whales and dolphins. Early in the season, the first sightings are usually of males who have made the swim from alaska, awaiting the females who usually show up between thanksgiving and christmas. Uh had a project with the help of pacific whale foundation and some others to put cameras with suction cups on the back of humpback calfs videos are great, shows a baby nursing from mother maui all maui hotels.
The humpback whale infographic above was built to show some of the annual migration routes across the globe, the most common surface behaviors and the least common in our experience, names of anatomical parts of a humpback whale, length and weight of a typical humpback whale, tips on whale watching, and some mysteries that have yet to be solved. Click on the chart number to download a portable document format pdf of the chart. During your whale watch cruise, these amazing animals will often display themselves in full glory, giving you the ultimate whale watching on maui experience. See these humpback whales in maui from november and may. Maui whale watching is most thrilling aboard the malolo. The waters surrounding maui are the stage for some of the best whale watching in the world. Maui ocean centers sphere breaks the barrier and does what has never been done before.
This is the reason why many maui visitors want to know the best months to do whale watching. These tours run from december through march and provide you with a spectacular. Hawaii whale watching on dinner cruise humpback whale maui hawaii 3 of 7. Boats, by law, cannot approach a humpback whale any closer than 100 yards, but oftentimes the curious whales will swim up and mug the boat. This high speed catamaran leaves from maalaea harbor and can get you to the whales quickly. Experience maui s humpback whales as they come to hawaii to calve, mate, and rear their young. Go here from your mobile device and click your account to create a user login. We are proud to be mauis toprated whalewatch offering the most options from both ma. When is the best time to see humpback whales in hawaii and. Oct 10, 2014 their weight ranges from 20 to 40 tons. Nestled against the lush waikapu valley and greater west maui mountains, this 40minute tour is ideal for families or visitors who want to check off their tropical bucket list. Nautical chart of the west coast of the island of hawaii and the southeasternmost portion 150 sq. Noaa nautical charts with sanctuary boundaries description.
During these winter months thousands of pacific humpback whales migrate from their summer feedings grounds in the waters off alaska to the warm hawaiian waters to mate and nurse their. Hawaiian islands humpback whale explore whale watching. Whale watching cruises are some of the most popular things to do in hawaiis whale season, which runs from december through april. Our small group rafting vessels host small groups of guests so you get up close and personal with mauis whales, dolphins, turtles, tropical fish and other marine life. So they can experience the whale watching activity before they head home. Whale watching maui private luxury whale watch cruises. They are quite large, averaging 16 feet in length and they can weigh up to 4,900 pounds. The island of maui is the best hawaiian island to watch these majestic mammals. Humpback whale filmed feeding her calf in rare, underwater. For visitors of maui on hawaii, usa, trip to ocean on catamaran can be at the same time memorable, due to meeting maui, hawaii, usadecember, 2014. It is a different experience when you get away from all the other tour boats and find your own whales. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, we are the goto guys. Lahaina whale watching deals in lahaina, hi groupon. Every ticket supports active marine research and the whale entanglement response team.
We believe that science lies at the heart of environmental education and conservation. Highly rated whale watch photography workshop on luxury catamaran in lahaina. While it is possible to see whales throughout the year in hawaii, maui s whale watching season is based on the yearly migration pattern of the humpback whales. This content is sponsored by whale watching on pride of maui. In 12 years of studies by cascadia research, a total of 32 sperm whales were sighted in hawaii31 of which were off of the big island. Courtesy university of hawaii at manoa marine mammal research program.
Hear underwater recordings of humpback whales which return every fall to the island. False killer whales rare weve seen a couple of false killer whales during the 20172018 whale season on our whale watch tours, but for the most part, these are rarely spotted in maui. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. I did another post with screen shots from this whale mugging. Oundation in maalaea harbor whale at sunset in hawaii. There are a number of whales that remain in hawaiian waters year round but the massive influx of humpback whales makes spotting a whale during the migration season basically a guarantee. Operating off the kona side of the big island in the deepwater channel between hawaii and maui, torpedo tours has booked an impressive list of whale. Yes, there is only one snorkel spot, but if truth be told, its the finest snorkeling on lanai or maui for that fact.
Feb 05, 2014 the most amazing thing i have ever done. Pacific whale foundation had a solution that created the most successful whale watching tour of them all, the maui sunrise whale watching tour. You can also see the humpback whales in a calmer atmosphere during a. Thank goodness rena is with to edit because she is way faster than me.
Maui whale watching is one of the most popular activities to do in hawaii. Every winter, over 10,000 humpback whales complete their 3,000mile migration from alaska to hawaii to mate and give birth. The peak season for whale watching on maui is january, february, and march, though whale season in maui officially runs from december 15may 15. Killer whale research and tracking in hawaii the researchers were able to deploy a satellite tags, as seen on dorsal fin in photo to left, on three of the four killer whales. See one of the oceans most majestic creatures upclose by taking a whalewatching excursion that offers a whalesighting guaranteeif you dont spot whales you can go again for free. Each winter december through may, thousands of kohola humpback whales travel to hawaii from colder waters to breed, calve and nurse their young. The hawaiian islands large whale entanglement response network is a. During the winter months, the maui coast plays host to the majestic humpback whales who visit the area to mate and give birth. I went kayaking out of olowalu, maui on a kayak and jumped off as a whale swam toward me. Humpback whales in maui are birthing thier calves and finding new mates. Whale watching maui 7 boats compared so you can decide how, when, and where to watch, to select the best choice for your own preferences and budget. What you need to know about the maui whale season the. Whale watching tour in maui hawaii gemini charters.
Hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary. The tropical express tour at maui tropical plantation offers visitors an overview of hawaii s famous fruits and plants. Each occasion is designed to celebrate and inspire environmental stewardship alongside a strong community of maui residents and. Hawaiian islands humpback whale library maps, charts. Third party downloads and distribution is not permitted. Maui hawaii is well known for its surfing, sun and wonderful vacation atmosphere. Every winter, pods of pacific humpback whales make the 3,000mile swim from the chilly waters of alaska to bask in maui s summery shallows, fluking, spy hopping, spouting, and having an allaround swell time. You may also spot kohola from the southern shores of oahu, especially at makapuu lighthouse and along the seaside overlooks near leahi diamond head. The best time to see whales on maui is november through may when thousands of north pacific humpback whales grace hawaiian waters during their annual winter migration. Our certified marine naturalists provide the most innovative and educational whalewatch ecotours in hawaii, drawing from nearly four decades of whale research and ocean conservation. Hawaiis whale watching season runs from december through may. Maui whale watching tips all about maui travel tips.
Hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary is located from the shoreline to the 100fathom isobath 600 ft. But out of all those pictures, only a hundred or so are what he would consider blowup worthy. This year i plan to work with other musicians to combine the sounds of the whales from my recordings with their beautiful music. When choosing a hotel or condo, from our experiences, weve found that the very best humpback whale action is along west and south maui and the kohala coast of hawaii s big island. The humpback whales return to hawaii for a few months every year to mate and give birth, so malolo takes you out to see them from december 8 th april 15 th. Greg kaufman of the pacific whale foundation knows a thing or two about capturing whales on film.
Whales in maui hawaii epic underwater views i was chilling by. The odds of seeing the few that are arriving that early are very slim. Whale stocks from british columbia and alaska flock to the hawaiian waters during the winter months, making hawaii. At 25 to 40 tons, pacific humpback whales are the fifth largest whale species in the world. The series of maps below show the sanctuary boundary on nautical charts.
In hawaii, maui is a top whale watching spot for boatbased viewing. Whale trust, hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary and division of aquatic resources dlnr hawaii and. In 2014, a sick sperm whale was sighted off of kihei, and it was presumed that the whale had ventured to shallower water as it fought to stay alive. Our fast and safe rafting vessels are low to the water and perfect for close whale watching encounters and small groups making every seat a front row seat. We started with over an hour and a half of footage. We took the hawaii ocean project afternoon whale watch tour from lahaina and were thoroughly pleased on how well the captain knew where to go. Research in hawaii our research in hawaii occurs in the fourisland region of maui, which includes the waters surrounding the islands of maui, kaho. Just offshore of maui ocean center is the hawaiian islands humpback whale national marine sanctuary, a renowned gathering site for humpback whales and whale watching activity. Every seat is a front row seat in our whale watching tours. Tour boat captures rare footage of humpback whale giving birth. See the most comprehensive whale watching visual guide all about humpback whales in maui. As you approach lanai, spinner dolphins race down the coast playing in the wake of the boat. A pod of four killer whales, orca whales, was found by cascadia research collective on friday 111 off the coast of kona hawaii.
If you are ready to check out the north pacific humpback whales in hawaii, know that there are a variety of ways to experience it, and the best place to do it is on the island of maui. If you are only after whale watching, you should come and visit maui during the winter season. This video doesnt even begin to capture these few moments. Our mission is to promote, support, and conduct scientific research on whales and the marine environment. The whales are drawn to the areas shallow waters, especially the auau channel between maui, molokai. Witness these magnificent creatures in their natural environment with an educational and fun boat cruise from maui s whale watching experts. The charts should not be used for purposes of navigation. Even though noaa estimates there are almost 3,000 melon headed whales in hawaii, the chances of seeing one on a paddling tour in maui is definitely exceptionally slim. By the peak of the season from januarymarch, thousands of humpbacks have gathered in hawaii from hilo to hanalei, with the largest concentration of whales residing between maui, molokai, and lanai. File transfer protocol, in windows 10 is responsible for downloading or uploading the files to computer 10. Plus, throughout the tour, learn from a guide about the whales lives, ecosystems, and threats. Everything you need to know about whale watching on maui. Feb 20, 2010 whale watching in maui, hawaii maui guide. Mother and new born baby humpback whale, maui hawaii.
The relatively calm, clear, protected waters off the coast of maui combined with one of the largest aggregations of humpback whales in the state of hawaii, make it an ideal location to watch whales. Whale trust maui conducting, promoting and supporting whale. Our high speed eco rafts can take you far from the beaten path. We study humpback whales and numerous species of odontocetes using both systematic and opportunistic data collection methods. Humpback whales unlocking their mystery in maui, hawaii. Off the coast of maui, researchers and whale watchers alike find one of the best spots on the planet to observe whales. Whale watching maui, hawaii kaanapali ocean adventures.
Whale watching is one of the most popular things to do in maui. Rare nursing and other interactions between seven newborn humpback whale calves and their mothers has been recorded in sweet. Every winter, the north pacific humpback whales migrate from the frigid waters of alaska to mate, give birth, and bask in the warm seas of the hawaiian islands, enjoying their own sort of tropical vacation. Make sure you book a dedicated whale watching tour that focuses on that and nothing else. Twohour 360 view of whale watching off the coast of lahaina with humpback naturalists aboard up to 22% off. Humpback whales are arguably hawaii s most iconic marine mammal. The first sightings of the humpback whales in the maui basin are typically early to midoctober.
The whales are drawn to the areas shallow waters, especially the auau channel between maui, molokai and lanai, making maui. They are our most treasured annual visitors, and maui whale watching becomes an obsession during this period. All beverages and snorkel gear are included, making this afternoon whale watch and snorkel tour a great value. The humpback is the star of the annual whale watching season, which usually begins in. Jan 02, 2016 humpback whales slow to arrive in hawaii in this jan.
The footage is part of a project to track the health of hawaii and alaskas humpback whale population and understand why the number of sightings may be declining. Sanctuaries and reserves division, office of ocean and coastal resource management, national ocean service, national oceanic and atmospheric administration, department of commerce february 1997. With a nose that resembles a bottlenose dolphins, cuviers beaked whales are the more commonly seen of the beaked whale species in hawaii. There are so many things to see and activities to choose from here in this paradise that is maui, hawaii. Maui is the prime spot in hawaii for viewing hundreds of humpback whales from november through may as thousands congregate in the warm waters off the coast to eat, mate, and raise their young.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Maui is the undisputed whale watching capital of hawaii. Every winter, about 10,000 humpback whales migrate to. Roughly 10,000 whales are thought to migrate to hawaii each year, and although the increase is promising, they are still an endangered species and are protected by federal law from harassment. This is only the groups third encounter with the killer whales even though they have been monitoring the hawaiian waters for 14 years killer whales are one of 18 marine mammals found in the hawaiian waters however many of. Finally, of all the whales in hawaii s waters, two of the most curious are the beaked whales that inhabit offshore waters.
Maui, hawaii hawaiinewsnow a maui tour boat company captured incredibly rare footage of a humpback whale trying to give birth to her calf. See why pacific whale foundation has the best whale cruises on maui renowned marine experts, ecofriendly, and a unique way to experience the magnificent humpbacks. Whale watching tour with gemini sailing in maui offers a morning whale watch and an afternoon whale watch. Work source maui 2064 wells street suite 108 wailuku hi, 96793 8089842091. For whale watching, pacific whale foundation remains our top choice because of their knowledgeable crews. The above density map only reinforces our experiences. Maui hawaii whale watching and humpback whales in maui.
Whale watching in maui is commonly considered some of the best in the world. Ive been listening to and recording the songs of the humpback whales from my kayak for years. Whales and calf protected by dolphins in maui, hawaii. Hawaii whale stock photos download 783 royalty free photos. This is the first time researchers have been able to tag orca whales in hawaii to track their movements around the islands. In any given year, hell shoot some 10,000 frames during his research trips around the pacific. A new project is looking to quantify the nursing behavior of humpback whale calves in maui breeding grounds. If you book a whale watching tour from maui, experience the thrill of spotting a spout about 300 yards off the bow, and then motoring close for a. Download a one page information sheet on disentanglement response efforts. And even though these deep diving whales will spend ample time on the surface, they tend to congregate over offshore water that is many thousands of feet deep. Manele bay is the snorkel site on this maui snorkel adventure on the pacific whale foundation lanai dolphin snorkel tour. If whale watching is on your bucket list, look no further than maui, hawaii. Researchers share video, photos of maui humpback whales. Maui vacations jons maui info maui hawaii hotels, restaurants, condos, sights, activities, to plan your maui vacations.