Whale Season in Hawaii!

DDD	I moved to Maui in 1980, I was absolutely taken back and totally mesmerized when whale season came for the first time. I was lucky enough to move into a condo in North Kihei that overlooks Maalaea Bay. Shortly after I moved to Maui, I met Greg Kaufman, who founded the Pacific whale foundation in 1980. Up on the roof of a North Kihei condominium we tracked whales using binoculars, my telescope, a spotting scope and a few volunteers. Who knew what would come from that! The Pacific Whale Foundation now has over 200 employees, they research marine mammal behavior and the threats they face; operating sustainable whale watching tours in Hawaii, Australia and Ecuador. By 1993, it was estimated that 4,000 whales from the North Pacific Ocean came to Hawaii. That number today is more than 10,000, according to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.	DDD
	Every year, I look forward to whale season, whether I'm looking off my Lanai, observing from McGregor's point, or on a whale watch, it's been a source of joy ever since my first year on Maui. All photo's & videos were shot by me "Mauidan2" on Utube.

HHH	The Hawaiian Islands are a National Marine sanctuary for humpback whales, a protected marine environment. Where they are free to breed and give birth. Fun Facts: Humpbacks grows up to 60ft in length and weigh up to 40 tons, and can hold 5,000 gallons of water in its mouth. Did you know the opening at the back of its throat is no larger than a grapefruit! (a hard fact to swallow, but true). When humpbacks surface to breathe, they are not blowing water into the air! Instead, they blow a cloud of air and mucus. Whales spend 6-8 weeks migrating between Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. Humpback vocalists are strictly males and singing typically takes place during the mating season. Humpbacks in Alaska eat up to 3,000 pounds of food daily to sustain their winter migration to and from Hawaii. Once in the islands to birth and nurse their young, humpback whales don’t eat until they return to Alaska.	HHH
	I'm noticing an earlier arrival and departure in recent years, humpback whale sightings are starting in November, but I would agree that the start of whale season would be December running through the end of March. With February being whale soup in the water.