Consolidated "Whale-Watching on Maui" Thread [2015 and Onward]
Feb 1, 2015, 9:23 am
#1
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Consolidated "Whale-Watching on Maui" Thread [2015 and Onward]
I am back in Maui on a whale-watching marathon with 11 trips scheduled over 3.5 days. Yesterday, I went out with Maui Adventure Cruises and Hawaii Ocean Rafting. Humpbacks are everywhere and extremely surface active. We saw competition pods, breaching, tail slapping, and pec slapping on every trip.
In the largest comp pod that we witnessed, at least seven males were chasing one female. The fighting was fairly aggressive and the primary escort's rostrum was bloody. He did lots of head lunges and jaw claps.
It was an extremely exciting day with calm water and cloudy skies. Today should be similar in Maui. My first whale watch departs in an hour and a half.
In the largest comp pod that we witnessed, at least seven males were chasing one female. The fighting was fairly aggressive and the primary escort's rostrum was bloody. He did lots of head lunges and jaw claps.
It was an extremely exciting day with calm water and cloudy skies. Today should be similar in Maui. My first whale watch departs in an hour and a half.
Feb 2, 2015, 9:58 am
#2
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I am back in Maui on a whale-watching marathon with 11 trips scheduled over 3.5 days. Yesterday, I went out with Maui Adventure Cruises and Hawaii Ocean Rafting. Humpbacks are everywhere and extremely surface active. We saw competition pods, breaching, tail slapping, and pec slapping on every trip.
In the largest comp pod that we witnessed, at least seven males were chasing one female. The fighting was fairly aggressive and the primary escort's rostrum was bloody. He did lots of head lunges and jaw claps.
It was an extremely exciting day with calm water and cloudy skies. Today should be similar in Maui. My first whale watch departs in an hour and a half.
In the largest comp pod that we witnessed, at least seven males were chasing one female. The fighting was fairly aggressive and the primary escort's rostrum was bloody. He did lots of head lunges and jaw claps.
It was an extremely exciting day with calm water and cloudy skies. Today should be similar in Maui. My first whale watch departs in an hour and a half.
Are all of your trips scheduled out of Lahaina or also Maalea?
Feb 2, 2015, 9:34 pm
#3
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I use three companies for whale watching trips and all three are based in Lahaina. So far, I have gone on eleven trips over the last three days. The best trip so far was with Maui Adventure Cruises. We had a pair of humpbacks approach our boat and hang out with us for over an hour. Both whales spy hopped repeatedly. A spy hop is when a whale raises its head slowly out of the ocean and looks around. The whales swam around the 45 foot raft and spy hopped at everyone on the boat. Both whales swam around the boat and under the boat slowly. The female rolled on her back and surfaced; we saw her hemispherical lobe so we knew she was a girl. Our close encounter with the whales was amazing.
Feb 3, 2015, 9:04 am
#5
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Some companies offer five trips a day. They start at 6:30 in the morning and the last trip departs at 4:30 or 5:00. Full-moon cruises are even offered a few days every month. It is an incredible experience to watch and listen to humpbacks with only a full moon for illumination.
Mar 4, 2015, 1:33 pm
#7
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Just returned from another three-day trip in Maui - my third trip this whale-watching season. I went on ten adventures on this trip: four on Sunday, four on Monday, and two yesterday. Nine whale watches were with Maui Adventure Cruises and one was with Hawaii Ocean Rafting; Ultimate Whale Watch was booked so I was not able to go with them.
Each trip was different and each one was amazing! Highlights included watching baby whales learning to breach thirty feet from the raft; spending over an hour with two juvenile whales who swam under the raft, around the raft, next to the raft; enjoying an escort who checked out the boat very up close and personal (an escort whale is a male who spends time with the mother and calf); following an intense competition pod of at least a dozen males pursuing a female; and just zipping through the waves with lots of other whale fanatics, naturalists, and captains who absolutely love humpback whales. I even got a free tee shirt.
I cannot stress enough how whale watching is such a magical experience. It does not matter which company you go out with in Maui because you will see humpback whales during whale season. If you want to experience close and totally legal encounters with these magnificent giants of the ocean, please go with one of the smaller companies.
Each trip was different and each one was amazing! Highlights included watching baby whales learning to breach thirty feet from the raft; spending over an hour with two juvenile whales who swam under the raft, around the raft, next to the raft; enjoying an escort who checked out the boat very up close and personal (an escort whale is a male who spends time with the mother and calf); following an intense competition pod of at least a dozen males pursuing a female; and just zipping through the waves with lots of other whale fanatics, naturalists, and captains who absolutely love humpback whales. I even got a free tee shirt.
I cannot stress enough how whale watching is such a magical experience. It does not matter which company you go out with in Maui because you will see humpback whales during whale season. If you want to experience close and totally legal encounters with these magnificent giants of the ocean, please go with one of the smaller companies.
May 13, 2015, 2:40 pm
#8
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Whales in early December?
Hi Solarliving. We'll be on Oahu from 11/27 to 12/1, Kauai from 12/1 to 12/8 then off to Maui from 12/8 - 12/15. What's the chance of seeing whales that early on any of these islands? I remember being on Maui in late January of 2009 and there were plenty, but how about this early? Thanks in advance?
May 13, 2015, 6:25 pm
#9
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Officially, whale watching season in Maui begins December 15; however, this date applies to restrictions regarding parasailing and other activities. I have been in Maui the last two Decembers and have had excellent whale watching experiences.
The Pacific Whale Foundation offers trips beginning December 1. Ultimate Whale Watch and Maui Adventure Cruises begin offering trips as soon as they are confident that they can guarantee a whale watch with high-quality sightings. Their trips usually start by December 10. Hawaii Ocean Rafting tends to begin on December 15. Companies operate a reduced schedule - not always offering trips as frequently as during peak season (January through March).
Humpback whales will be in the waters between Maui and Lanai and Molokai when you are scheduled to be in Maui. The concentration of whales will not be as intense as in the weeks later in the season. Going in a smaller and faster boat will allow you to get to where the whales are and spend the most time with them. The captains of the smaller boats are in radio and cellphone contact with each other and share sighting information.
In December, there are more juvenile whales in Hawaii. "Juvies" are like teenagers. They like to hang out, act goofy, and are easily amused. They tend to breach, pec slap, tail slap, and approach boats more than adults who are more interested in mating and giving birth. There will be adult whales and even a few newborns. You may be fortunate enough to see a comp pod - a group of adult males competing for the attention of a female. Comp pod fights are thrilling, exciting, and can be a little bloody.
Sorry about butting in. I just realized that you directed your questions to Solarliving.
The Pacific Whale Foundation offers trips beginning December 1. Ultimate Whale Watch and Maui Adventure Cruises begin offering trips as soon as they are confident that they can guarantee a whale watch with high-quality sightings. Their trips usually start by December 10. Hawaii Ocean Rafting tends to begin on December 15. Companies operate a reduced schedule - not always offering trips as frequently as during peak season (January through March).
Humpback whales will be in the waters between Maui and Lanai and Molokai when you are scheduled to be in Maui. The concentration of whales will not be as intense as in the weeks later in the season. Going in a smaller and faster boat will allow you to get to where the whales are and spend the most time with them. The captains of the smaller boats are in radio and cellphone contact with each other and share sighting information.
In December, there are more juvenile whales in Hawaii. "Juvies" are like teenagers. They like to hang out, act goofy, and are easily amused. They tend to breach, pec slap, tail slap, and approach boats more than adults who are more interested in mating and giving birth. There will be adult whales and even a few newborns. You may be fortunate enough to see a comp pod - a group of adult males competing for the attention of a female. Comp pod fights are thrilling, exciting, and can be a little bloody.
Sorry about butting in. I just realized that you directed your questions to Solarliving.
Last edited by FlyForFun; May 14, 2015 at 9:10 am
Sep 21, 2015, 12:08 pm
#10
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Maui - Whale Watching
I googled "Whale Watching Maui" and there are like 23523423 companies. Suggestions would be much appreciated!
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Sep 21, 2015 at 6:43 pm Reason: moved into existing thread
Sep 21, 2015, 2:55 pm
#12
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Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Sep 21, 2015 at 6:44 pm Reason: note - linked thread is several years old. Recent posts that are Maui-specific have been moved to this thread
Sep 21, 2015, 7:35 pm
#13
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I have been whale watching in Maui for over twenty years and travel to Maui two to three times each year just to see whales. If you are interested in spending the most quality time with humpbacks, seeing them up close and within legal limits, being on a small boat with a small number of people, having a spectacular view of whales underwater next to the boat, and being with people who thoroughly enjoy whales - then please go with Ultimate Whale Watch, Hawaii Ocean Rafting, Maui Adventure Cruises, or any of the smaller boats or rafts. You will spend most of your two hours looking at whales and interacting with whales.
Sep 23, 2015, 6:42 pm
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Humpback whales travel to the Hawaiian Islands to mate and to give birth. They have a staggered migration with the first sighting in very late October; however, frequent sightings are not common until December. The Pacific Whale Foundation usually offers whale watching trips beginning the first of December. Smaller companies often wait until they can guarantee a quality whale watching experience; for example Ultimate Whale Watch not only offers a guarantee that you will see whales but a guarantee that you will have an up-close and legal experience.
The highest concentration of humpback whales in Hawaii takes place in late January to mid-March. The official season for whale watching runs from December 15 through April 15. Restrictions are in effect during that period. For example, no parasailing is allowed.
The highest concentration of humpback whales in Hawaii takes place in late January to mid-March. The official season for whale watching runs from December 15 through April 15. Restrictions are in effect during that period. For example, no parasailing is allowed.