Honolulu, HI

This past March, my wife and I decided to take advantage of a well-known natural phenomenon: the annual appearance of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters following their long migration from Alaska. Every year from December through April, with February and March being the peak months, thousands of Humpback Whales can be seen around Hawaii. We went for a whale watching cruise aboard the Navatek, a state-of-the-art catamaran. We left from Ala Moana small boat harbor.

I should say that it is not necessary to go out on a boat to see the whales. There are certain points on land that are known to be good lookouts from which to see whales. Once I even saw one from the lanai (balcony) of our Waikiki high-rise! But if you want to see whales for sure—and see them close up—then a boat is the way to go.

We left on the Navatek at about 10:00 A.M., and soon after we left the harbor we were underway at cruising speed. The boat itself is large—multi-decked, with breakfast served inside, and even a full-service bar. As we motored out to the whale-watching grounds, the Navatek’s crew gave an informational presentation about Humpback Whales, their various behaviors (e.g. blows, breaches, tail slaps), and the fact that they are endangered mammals protected by law from harassment (e.g. getting too close). In about fifteen minutes we heard the first excited shouts.
 
Whales! We were about three miles offshore from Waikiki Beach—the pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel was visible as a small dot in the distance. Outside on deck, people were pointing toward shore. A Humpback mother and her calf cavorted not far from our boat. Then the mother slapped her huge tail (called a fluke) against the water, before diving beneath the surface. Cameras were clicking like crazy. Suddenly the mother Humpback erupted from the water—a full breach—leaping into the air! People screamed, and I was lucky enough to point my camcorder just in time to catch it.
 
We saw a few more whales after that, and even some dolphins that liked to surf the boat’s wake. After a couple of hours, somewhere near Diamond Head, the Navatek turned back around and headed back to port.

This trip was both exciting and relaxing. It was fun just to sit out on deck on the ride back to the harbor and breath the fresh sea air and take in the view of Waikiki and Honolulu.
So, the next time you find yourself in Hawaii during the winter or early spring—make sure to set aside time to see the whales!

Tips & info:

-Out on the water it can be very sunny: sunglasses, hat and sunscreen recommended
-Even when sunny, it can also be breezy, so a light jacket such as a windbreaker may come in handy (dress in layers)
-bring a camera and/or camcorder; zoom or telephoto lens recommended for good whale shots
-Navatek Cruises: (808) 973-9800
www.atlantisadventures.com