Whale Watching Maui

Close Encounters

With ever increasing interest in ecotourism, whale watching Maui has helped track the progressive growth of these great ocean dwelling mammals. In the early 70s, scientists inventoried approximately 600 Humpback Whales migrating to Hawaii waters. Now, the population of these gentle giants has grown exponentially with nearly 15,000 cruising the waters just off our coastlines.

Sightings are most common during the whale watching Maui peak season of December – March. While whale sightings occur as early as October, and as late as June, the whale watching experience is at its best during its peak. This means book now, or face the ill consequence of “sorry, sold out”. Here’s a link to our favorite.

While whales are visible from shoreline, nothing can compare to a close encounter experience that would occur on a whale watching Maui tour. As these great mammals surface for air, it is almost certain that you will be able catch a glimpse of these enormous mammals. What makes these tours even more fascinating is witnessing the nurturing of young calves by their mothers.

A whale watching Maui tour is truly exciting if your close encounter includes one of these young calves being shown off by their proud mama. Humpback calves are born with a whopping, average length of 14 feet, and weighing in 2.5 tons. The baby whale is supported by its mama which can grow to a mature size of 30-50 tons at a length of 50+ feet. To catch a glimpse of this incredible bond while on tour compares to no other encounter on earth.

It should be known that whale watching Maui tours are under strict guidelines to maintain a distance of 100 yards from these great giants. However, even with a boat’s engines turned off, it is quite likely to have a close encounter especially during the months of December – March. It is during this peak season that you can witness life, extremely LARGE in size, as humpbacks breed, or birth and nurture their young calves.

The immense size of these mammals while they are spy-hopping, or surfacing for air will have you awestruck while you’re on your whale watching Maui tour. It is even more astounding to witness these giant mammals breach the water, doing their playful, social acrobatics. Needless to say, I weigh much less, but I can’t even do that in the pool!

The harbors of Lahaina and Maalaea lead to perfect whale watching Maui conditions. The waters off the leeward coastline of Maui provide a great habitat for humpbacks during their breeding and birthing. The tropical, shallow coastline waters in this area become their home, and provide you with excellent viewing conditions during most of the whale season.

Along with excellent viewing conditions, whale watching Maui tours provide you with the only encounter you will have with humpbacks and their famous songs. It is only while humpbacks are in tropical waters that the males sing the most varied, imaginative, and complex whale songs in comparison with the rest of their kind. Some scientists attribute this to their breeding practices in these waters. However, migrating back to colder waters, the whale song changes to groans and rougher sounds that are said to help them locate massive amounts of krill as they begin to feed again. (I think they’re bummed about having to leave Maui!)

Your whale watching Maui tour becomes the ultimate visual and auditory spectacle of North Pacific humpbacks that call our Hawaii waters home. The tour is certain to please young and old, but don’t forget to be mindful of your needs too (e.g. sunscreen, eyeglasses, hats [securely fastened], and comfortable clothing), and accommodations for the best and safest viewing (e.g. railings on ships for little ones, and seating arrangements for viewing by our elderly and those with disabilities). Enjoy your encounter with the whales!