On a recent visit to Maui, my friend and I booked the classic whale-watching outing with PacWhale Eco-Adventures, which benefits the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation. It was my second time on the two-hour tour, and I was happy to see that not much has changed. The last time I went was about eight years ago, and that experience was unforgettable: a cute, energetic baby whale breached over and over in our direction.
Though humpback whales can be seen on whale-watching tours across the Islands, the shallow channel between Maui, Molokai and Lanai is the best place to spot whales in Hawaii. From November to April, this area is a breeding ground for humpback whales, which make the long journey from the north Pacific every year.
The view alone is worth the trip, but PacWhale Eco-Adventures also has a whale-spotting guarantee. If a whale is not seen, guests can go on another outing for free. Photo Credit: Christine Hitt
There she blows
After parking at the Maui Ocean Center, we checked in at the PacWhale Eco-Adventures at the shopping center next door. When our tour time came up, our guide led us on a short walk down to Maalaea Harbor, where we boarded the two-story vessel.
On departing, the views of Maui while out at sea are reason enough for this trip, but we were on a mission to spot breaching whales, whether near or far. The company is so sure that whales will show themselves on the tour that there is a guarantee: If none are spotted, your next trip is free.
I started to feel brave and joined everyone else standing up against the rail, eyes wide and waiting for a whale to make itself known. My friend, who had not seen a whale in person before, was already thrilled by the experience.
A whale breaches off the coast of Maui on a PacWhale Eco-Adventures tour. Photo Credit: PacWhale Eco-Adventures
The captain and the on-board naturalist guide kept their eyes peeled, then finally, the guide yelled, "There's one over there at 1 o'clock." We all turned our heads. About 100 to 200 yards away, I saw the hump of a whale surface slightly above the water, and then back under. Its tail maked an appearance, and everyone gave oohs and aahs. My friend was snapping photos with her camera and took videos with her phone.
It's female, the guide said, as it was with a baby whale. The captain stopped the boat and we watched and waited until it surfaced again, the baby following right beside the mother. Watching the gentle giants gliding through the water was captivating and makes you want to see more. But the sighting was short, as they disappeared, likely diving deep. Our captain moved on and soon spotted another whale farther ahead.
Clearly visible was a fluke, pointed straight up, and slapping the water hard. It was repeating this behavior a good 20 or so times, as we watched from afar, amazed by its power. The captain turned off the engine, and our guide said to listen. Though at least a good 200 yards away, I easily heard the whooshing of the tail slapping the water. Its force was tremendous, and we all watched the display intently.
I hadn't seen that behavior on my last tour, which shows you never know what you're going to see when you go whale-watching. You can go on more than once and see something different each time.