Aloha Humpbacks! A Hui Hou Kakou!
Image courtesy of Kyle McKinzey
Aloha,
Guests joining us on Thursday’s Wake up with the Whales Cruise got quite the ride! The trade winds were blowing hard, so we decided our best course of action would be to head right into them. It took us awhile, but we finally saw a spout offshore of Hapuna Beach. While we were maneuvering over to that whale, we were surprised when a calf (who we didn’t even know was there) surfaced fairly close-by. We watched the baby spout a few times before he sounded. While we were waiting for him to reappear, we were surprised again when two other adult Humpbacks surfaced just about 50 yards from us and cruised past our boat. Then, we got to see the calf spouting again, but we had to head back to the bay before we ever got a glimpse of his mom.
I can hardly believe that I have to write these next paragraphs already…
Though we have a few more Whale Watch Cruises scheduled over the next couple of days, and I suspect we’ll be seeing Humpbacks on occasion over the next few weeks, this is the final official post of the season. (Just a head’s up…I may not be able to resist posting the occasional April update when we see something really surprising).
We’ve had a great time sharing all these Whale Watching Adventures with you this season – both onboard, and here, in cyberspace. I want to send out a huge MAHALO to all of our knowledgeable and entertaining naturalists, without whom these reports and experiences wouldn’t be possible. Mahalo Nui Loa to our head naturalist Greg, and to Pono’i, Sterlin, and Shane; and to Captains Will, Ryan, Jeff, Kino, Kimo, Ikaika, Jason, Maika, Adam, and Sam. I also want to thank Captain Malinda for ferrying countless guests safely to and from our catamarans at Anaeho’omalu Bay.
Finally, Mahalo Nui Loa to all of you who have read and commented on these reports, and have generously shared your photos and videos with us. Watching the Humpbacks living their lives around us can be a life-changing experience, and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to share these sightings and adventures with you.
A hui hou kakou!
Claire
Ocean Sports Whale Fact of the Day: According to observations made by Humpback researchers in Hawaii, the first whales to arrive in Hawaii each year from Alaska are females with a yearling, followed by sub-adults (usually males) — the teenagers of the whale world. The next arrivals are adults who are looking for mates, and the last to arrive are pregnant females. I can guarantee you that we’ll be on the look-out and ready to welcome those early arriving female Humpbacks next autumn!