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5 Hawaii Whale Watching Tips For An Unforgettable Adventure

Each year, the Humpback Whales migrate around 4,000 miles, from summer feeding grounds in Alaska, to mate in Hawaii’s warm waters. Humpback whales migrate 4,000 miles, from Alaska to Hawaii, to mate in the warm tropical waters. Hawaii is a popular destination during mating season because of the increased activity by the whales that can be seen from a boat. The opportunity to see a whale breach makes a whale watching vacation very exciting.
Here are five tips to ensure you get the most out of your Hawaii whale watching experience.
1. Plan Your Trip during Peak Months Humpback whales begin arriving during November and return to Alaska in May, but keep in mind that you will likely see whales during the peak months of February and March. If seeing whales is your top priority, be sure to plan for your vacation around this time.
2. Visit Islands Known For Whale Watching Whales are mostly seen on the islands of Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, so plan your vacation on these islands. It is possible to see whales while on Oahu, but keep in mind that they won’t be as abundant.
3. Plan a Boat Tour Whale watching tours given on boats are perfect for seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural environments. Since whales are very curious about their surroundings, they may even approach the boat, making this the perfect way to catch a glimpse of these animals. In Maui, you will find many boat tours leaving the Lahaina Harbor several times throughout the day. While on the Big Island and Kauai there are many opportunities available, as the tour scheduled throughout the day has a knowledgeable tour guide.
If you prefer watching these creatures from shore, there is the Kilauea Lighthouse and Kealia Lookout on the island of Kauai. Of course, high points of land in coastal areas are always great places to start your whale watching adventure. They are easy to spot with playful splashes and majestic jumps across their ocean playground.
4. Respect their Space There are rules to whale watching, and one of the most important is that observers cannot be within 100 yards of the whale. This rule also applies to boats. There is no rule, however, that penalizes observers if the whale approaches them. The benefit of going with an experienced tour guide is that they know how to encourage them to come closer.
5. Preserve the Humpback Whale Mass commercial whaling in the early 20th century almost caused the humpback whale to become extinct. Today, however, there are over 30,000 humpbacks world wide. While laws protect them, doing the following can encourage the safety of these species:
* Keep beaches and waters clean and debris-free * Participate only in responsible whale watching activities * Support efforts to stop illegal whaling * Support legislation, research and preservation programs * Patronize eco-friendly companies and organizations While there are many books about whales, there are even more opportunities to see them with your own eyes. When you are in Hawaii next, seriously consider taking a whale tour, not only is it a great experience, but extremely memorable as well.

Sunday, September 28th, 2008, by and is filed under "Business | , Boat Plan, Knowledgeable Guides, Plan Your Trip ". You can leave a response here, or send a Trackback from your own site.