By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Reported by Li Xinyi
From December to May each year, humpback whales return to Hawaii for the winter. These gentle giants set off from their home in the Alaskan straits and travel less than two months across a staggering 3,000 miles to reach Hawaii’s warm waters, where they give birth and nurture their young. Their annual migration brings joy to visitors from around the world and local residents alike, with January through early April being the best time to spot them.
Winter vacation is the perfect time to go whale watching in Hawaii. (Photo provided by Hawaii Tourism Taiwan)
Weighing up to 45 tons, humpback whales are akin to graceful acrobats. Watching their massive 45-foot bodies gracefully play on the wave crests is truly breathtaking. And the mysterious whale songs, a fascinating skill of male humpback whales, can be heard even from over 12 miles away underwater. How can you see whales in Hawaii? Just hop on a whale-watching cruise. Laws require boats to stay at least 100 yards away from whales, but even from that distance, you can get a close-up view of these incredible creatures.
Whales can be spotted from every island in the Hawaiian archipelago. The Auau Channel, located between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, with its warm and clear waters, is one of the best spots to observe Hawaii’s humpback whales. Even without boarding a boat, you can often see them from the shore. Though still an endangered species, ongoing conservation efforts have led to a rise in the population of these gentle giants. 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 the numbers continue to grow.
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