I’ve just returned from Hawaii, where whale season is in full effect (it lasts from December to April). As it is right now, the whales spend half the year feeding in the nutrient-rich waters of Alaska, and then migrate down to Hawaii in the winter months to breed, give birth, and nurse their calves.
This trip, I participated in an island-wide whale census which was sponsored by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). On the morning of January 31, on the island of Oahu, several volunteers took to dozens of look-out posts to count the big critters from 8am until noon. I joined the volunteers atop Diamond Head, near Waikiki, and it wasn’t long before I heard one of the other volunteers yell “blow, three o’clock,” and sure enough, when I looked to the right, there was the telltale sign of a whale blowing out from the top of the water.
The blows look like little plumes, almost like mini-waterfalls, which distinguishes them from the white caps around them. If you spot one of these blows, then it means you’re looking in the right spot to see more exciting actions like tail flops, breaches, and even occasionally whales that jump out of the water. We spotted a mama whale and her calf, for example, who were clearly playing in the waves. Calves are good for whale watchers because they come up for air more often than the adults; usually once every three to five minutes. Adults, on the other hand, can stay submerged for more than 40 minutes at a time!
If you want to go to Hawaii right now, airfares are low and many of the hotels are offering Hawaii vacation deals like free nights, free breakfast, and much more. If you act fast, you could even get there right in time for the Pro Bowl--it's the last year it will be held in Hawaii before it moves on to Florida. Aloha!
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