How to Watch for Whales in Maui
One of the most spectacular sites when visiting Hawaii is to watch for whales in Maui. You'll see Humpback whales in the surrounding waters of Maui from the middle of December to the middle of May each year, as they come to their natural breeding grounds. These whales have traveled 3,500 miles from the Alaskan waters to mate and give birth to their calves. The thrill of seeing these magnificent creatures is a memorable experience.
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Instructions
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Take a whale-watching cruise from the beautiful tiny seaport town of Lahaina Harbor in Maui throughout the day from sunrise to sunset. Information on these cruises is available at websites such as Adventure Maui. Although there is a law that states that boats must stop 100 yards from the whales, the whales come much closer to the boats, often swimming underneath and jumping nearby.
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Contact the Island Marine Institute of Maui at (866) 410 6284 or check out their website, Whale Watch Maui, to join their research team. The team studies the humpback whale migration and has intern positions available each year.
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Watch for the newborn baby whales swimming with their mothers after their birth in the Maalaea Bay of Lahaina Harbor. In this area, the boats must stop 300 yards from the whales, as it is a designated calving area.
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Time your visit. In the beginning of November the humpback whales begin to arrive in the Hawaiian waters. By January, most of the whales have arrived in the shallow, warm waters between Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.
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Drive along the majestic mountain roads, such as the Pali Highway, and stop to view the whales at the popular overlook areas.
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Paddle out in your kayak and view the whales swimming in the distance. Sit on your hotel room balcony overlooking the Maui waters and watch for the breaching whales gliding out of the surface of the water. Stand on a hillside and view the beautiful humpback whales from a distance. Use binoculars for an even better view.
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Stroll along the white sand beaches as you watch the humpback whales frolicking in the warm Hawaiian water.
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