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Whale Watching on Maui
Maui is a Sanctuary for Whales
Maui is known for its year round balmy temperature and consistent weather. While the weather doesn’t change, contrary to popular belief, we have seasons. In the summer we have Jacaranda season when all the Jacarandas erupt in purple globes lining the Kula highway and the winter we have whale season when the Humpbacks make the journey back from Alaska.
The first whales make it back to Maui in early December. They arrive fat from eating for months in Alaska. In the beginning of the season you will most likely see “little” calves sticking close to their mothers in shallow waters.
While in Maui, the calves go through an amazing growth spurt gaining as much as 100 lbs. per day. They gain this weight by consuming up to 100 gallons of fatty milk per day. While the calf is getting larger, its mother is on a diet. The waters around Maui have no food for adult whales. During their stay in the waters around Maui the adult whales will loose an average of 25% of their body weight.
The whales are feeling so streamlined after losing a few pounds they decide its time to get airborne. All right, there is no scientific proof that whales breach because they are slimmer but in all fairness, there is no conclusive answer to explain breaching behavior.
One of the most popular theories is that breaching helps to loosen barnacles and other growths from the whale’s body. When the whale hits the water the impact helps to remove the unwanted growth. Watching a whale breach is one of the most exciting experiences anyone can hope for on a whale watch. The raw power and majesty of watching a 45-ton animal propel itself out of the depths of the ocean and through the air is unforgettable.
If you are planning your trip to Maui between December and March you should consider adding a whale watching tour to your list of activities. There are many options for whale watching trips. Visitors and residents alike also get up close and personal with these amazing animals on their standup paddleboards and in kayaks.
