The Hawaiian whale-watching season is here — see humpback whales without even setting sail

Written/Compiled and Reported by Li Xinyi, MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network

 

 

From December each year to May of the following year, humpback whales return to Hawaii for the winter. These gentle giants set off from their home in the Alaskan straits, traveling less than two months across a staggering 3,000 miles to reach Hawaii’s warm waters, where they give birth and raise their young. Their annual migration delights visitors from around the world and locals alike, with January to early April being the best time to spot them.

Weighing up to 45 tons, humpback whales are akin to elegant acrobats. Watching their massive 45-foot bodies gracefully frolic on the wave crests is truly breathtaking. The mysterious whale songs, a captivating skill of male humpback whales, can be heard even from 12 miles away underwater. How can you see whales in Hawaii? Just hop on a whale-watching cruise. By law, boats must stay at least 100 yards away from the whales, but even from that distance, you can get a close-up view of these amazing creatures.

 

Whales can be spotted from every island in the Hawaiian archipelago. The warm, clear waters of the Auau Channel, located between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, are among the best spots to see Hawaii’s humpback whales. Even without boarding a boat, you can often spot them from shore. Though humpback whales are still an endangered species, ongoing conservation efforts have led to a rise in their overall population. The number of humpback whales in Hawaii has doubled over the past decade. Currently, 6,000 to 8,000 humpback whales visit Hawaii each year, and that number continues to grow.

 

 

● Read more: Planning an Overseas Trip for Chinese New Year (Part 2) / Smart Choices for Island, European, and American Group Tours

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