Having a whale of a time in Maui with humpback whales
Written by Lauren
This post contains affiliate links.
Maui—it’s the place to be in winter if you’re a humpback whale!
Or a whale lovin’ human hoping to catch a glimpse of one of those majestic beasts catapulting themselves through the waves!
Seriously, it really is a spectacular sight to behold.
Every winter (December – April), nearly 10,000 (!!) humpback whales make their way to Maui and it’s all about the babes—making ‘em and having ‘em.
(There are an estimated 84,000 humpbacks in the world, in case you were wondering. They are under protection and their numbers are increasing!)
This makes the waters off the leeward side of Maui the seasonal home to the densest population of humpbacks on the globe!
Side note: in fifth grade I had to write a report on humpback whales during our The Voyage of the Mimi unit, so me and those gentle giants go way back. This is also where I first learned about hypothermia and what to do about it (important life lessons!). Another fun fact, Ben Affleck is the star of the show as a wee lil lad. Now back to our regularly scheduled program …
While official humpback season in Maui is December through March, first whale sightings happen as early as October and November.
February being the peak time to catch a glimpse of our flippered friends, and an absolute must to add to your perfect 12 Day Maui itinerary (for February)!
Jump right to it …
Why do humpbacks migrate to Maui for the winter?
Fun Facts about humpback whales
Best places to see whales in Maui
Best time of day to see whales in Maui
Whale watching tours
Whale behaviors to watch for on your tour
How can I help humpback whales?
Watch List: Documentaries about Humpback Whales
Pocket guide to whales in Maui
FAQs
Why do humpbacks migrate to Maui for the winter?
It’s the sunshine, beaches, and aloha way of life for me.
For humpback whales, it’s warm and it’s safe (free from those pesky killer whales looking to make a snack out of baby humpbacks). With a sandy bottom and a depth of about 200 feet, the ‘Au’au Channel between the islands of Maui, Moloka’i, and Lana’i make the perfect kiddie pool for those new babes trying out their breaching moves.
Fun facts about humpback whales
Adult humpback whales do not eat the entire time they are in Maui. Why? There’s simply nothing for them to eat there at that time.
After wintering in Maui, most whales will head up to Alaska for the summer to wine and dine on the abundant buffet of krill and small fish found there.
Full grown adult humpback whales are the size of a school bus—that’s about 60 feet long and anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 pounds.
Humpback babes (or calves if we’re getting technical here) are the size of a small truck or minivan and weigh around 1 ton (2,000 pounds) and grow about 100 pounds (and one inch) a day.
Humpback whales have been known to protect other baby whales, seals, and even people from other predators (looking at you killer whales and sharks)!
Humpback babes (calves) stay by their momma’s side for an entire year. And that’s after a twelve month gestation period. Can you imagine? An entire year with no alone time. Those poor momma’s!
Other whales may sometimes accompany a mother and calf as a nanny. This can be a hopeful male suitor, or another female learning the ropes of motherhood.
Koholā is the Hawaiian word for humpback whale
Speaking of male humpback whales, we often think of them as gentle giants, but the truth is, the competition for mates can get quite violent between these guys.
A full grown adult humpback whale can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes. Calves can hold their breath for 5-10 minutes.
The average lifespan for humpback whales is 50 years! (Though there have been some that have lived up to 90!)
A whale’s tale
Only lone male humpback whales sing and they are the only whales that sing underwater.Serenading from a depth of 60 feet below the surface, their tunes can go on for forty minutes and be heard up to 12 miles away. (Though lower frequencies may be able to travel much, much farther, like 10,000 miles longer)
Whale Watching Maui: Best places to see humpback whales
With so many humpback whales chillin in Maui’s kiddie pool waters, you really have to go out of your way not to see them.
Seriously, you can catch them breaching and spouting out in the distance from your beach chair or while driving along the coastal Honoapiilani Highway (just don’t avert your eyes from the road for too long unless you want to join the whales, as it’s quite the drop off).
The best places to look are off the leeward side in the ‘Au’au Channel—namely, Black Rock Beach, Lahaina Harbor, and Maalaea Bay.
X marks the spot
Best time of day to see humpback whales in Maui
While humpbacks are active at all hours, the best times to see them are during the day.
Whale Watching Tours
Like I said before, it’s hard not to see humpback whales off the coast of Maui in February, even if you’re not trying. But I highly recommend you get out on the water to go check out these momma’s up close and personal!
Set Sail with the Classic Whalewatch tour with PacWhale Eco Adventures
Hop aboard PacWhale Eco Adventures and sail Maalaea Bay and the ‘Au’au Channel with certified Marine Naturalists at the helm!
My friend Heather and I took the morning cruise. We grabbed a spot along the rail on the top deck.
What’s great about this tour is the captain is so on top of turning the boat around to make sure everyone on board gets a good look at the whales. So no matter where you are on the boat, don’t worry—the captain will make sure you lay sights on them.
That being said, whale spotting is a group effort. So keep those eyes peeled on the horizon and don’t be surprised when the words, “Oh my god, I see one! Over there!” comes out of your mouth without your permission. It’s an involuntary reaction 🙂
As for the actual whale watching, nothing short of breath-taking!
Well first, there is the absolute delight at being out on the open sea (you never lose sight of land, I promise) with that balmy, sea-salty Maui breeze in your hair.
And then, there’s the awe-inducing experience of seeing our whale friends and their little babes up close and personal. They are HUGE! The momma’s. Well, the babes too, if we’re being honest. It’s hard to really comprehend how big they are, even from the boat, because they’re mostly underwater. It’s not until one breeches fully do you really grasp just how large and in charge these mammals are.
But to also hear them! Something about being able to hear them slapping their fins and spouting water from their blowholes gives the whole experience a depth and realness that just seeing them from afar doesn’t give you. To just see them out there, doing their thing, and to get to witness it! Gives me chills just thinking about it!
For a good twenty minutes, we watched as one calf attempted breaching again and again and again (and again) as a patient momma watched on.
You could practically hear them, “Mom! Mom! Did you see that? Did you see that? How about that one? I really got some air on that one!”
“Yes, honey. I saw. Great job!”
“Mom! Watch! Watch this! Are you watching?!”
As a collector of facts, I love a tour with good tidbits thrown in throughout the ride. I loved learning all the things about humpback whales on our tour. You’ll learn about all the different whale behaviors, what they mean, and why they do them. You’ll know what to look for and how to interpret what you’re seeing, as you’re seeing it!
Trust me, you’ll feel like a real whale pro after a few hours out with these guys.
I asked one of our guides to listen to my GoPro footage, and she did, in fact, confirm that those are humpback whales singing on there!
Apart from watching the little guy practice his breaching, the most memorable moments was when one fully grown whale breached RIGHT IN FRONT OF the boat. We got a front-row seat to a full-throat and belly exposure as he arced up out of the water and back down on his side. It was a real main character, Disney moment for me, (and I’m sure for everyone else on board, as well). The word that comes to mind is mesmerizing. It brought tears to my eyes.
As I stated above, the guys and gals at PacWhale Eco Adventures are real professionals who adhere to strict guidelines about maintaining safe distances from the whales and not overstaying our welcome, as to not cause undue harm or stress to the whales.
We love whales & their well-being come first!
100 yards distance
Federal law requires boats to keep a distance of 100 yards from Humpback Whales in Hawaiian waters (though if they approach you, that’s their business)
It’s also great because you can take part in some citizen science when you’re on board and you learn so much from individuals who’s made studying these whales their lives work.
The deets:
◦ Cost: $75 per adult / $45 per child (with 20% online booking discount)
◦ Morning tours: 9am + 11am / Afternoon tours: 2pm & 4:30pm
◦ Duration: 2 hours long
◦ We booked our tour online the day before
◦ We departed from Lahaina Harbor, but they’re currently only operating out of Ma’alaea Harbor now.
◦ Water is offered free on board. Snacks and drinks (including alcohol) are available for purchase.
◦ All vessels are cashless—credit, debit, and digital payments accepted.
◦ ADA compliant boarding and restroom access available. Please call (808) 201-4014 to ensure you are booked on the correct vessel for this accommodation.
◦ Wear sunscreen and flat shoes!
◦ Cameras and binoculars available for rental
PacWhale Eco Adventures have an impressive 97% sighting success rate. Whale sights are guaranteed or you get to go again free (within the next year).
Don’t forget your dramamine!
Humpback Whale behaviors to watch for on your tour
Breaching: this is when the whale launches themselves out of the water and creates a huge splash when they land back down in the water.
You can’t miss it, it is unmistakable!
A half breach is when less than half of the whale’s body appears above the water’s surface.
And when more than half of the humpback’s body makes it above the surface, then you’ve caught yourself a full breach.
Breaching can take many forms.
Look for: the front slam (where the whale jets out of the water at an angle and lands with a throat-jarring slam down), the picturesque mermaid arc, the back slam, and, the real crowd pleaser, the spin!
“And wait! What do we see here?
We’ve got one rotation. Two. Three! A triple axel!
And would you look at that, she just nailed it with absolute perfection!”
*The crowd goes wild*
“The judges have weighed in: 10’s across the board!”
Scientists speculate as to why whales breach. Is it to make noise? Attract mates? Scare away predators? Get some of those pesky crustaceans off their backs? Personally, I think they just do it because it’s fun.
Spouting: according to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (say that three times fast), “A spout (or blow) is the cloud of air and condensed outer vapor that forms when a whale exhales. A humpback spout is bushy and 10-16 feet get high.”
Other behaviors you might see are:
◦ Diving (they’ll stay under for four to six minutes)
Look for: “footprints” that look like slick circular spots on the surface of the water
◦ Flipper slapping / flippering
◦ Spy hopping or pocking its head of the water like a periscope to take a peek around
◦ Lobtailing or tail slapping
Learn more at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center in Kīhei
How can I help humpback whales?
Thankfully, since the 1970s the humpback whale has been under national and international protection. Over 180 countries have come together to conserve and protect humpback whales!
(Cause everybody loves whales and a world without humpback whales is simply not one I want to live in!)
There are many non-profit organizations working to further the protection and conservation of humpback whales.
One we particularly love is the Pacific Whale Foundation.
They’ve identified the 5 Major Threats facing humpback whales today: bycatch, climate change, marine plastic pollution, unsustainable tourism, and vessel collisions with marine animals.
Ways you can help
◦ Go on a tour
◦ Make a donation
◦ Become a member
◦ Adopt a humpback whale
◦ Name a humpback whale
◦ Sponsor a local keiki to participate in Ocean Camp or Keiki Whale Watch
◦ Volunteer
◦ Become an ocean ambassador
◦ Clean up marine debris on beaches
◦ Adopt a beach
◦ Share your photos for whale identification
◦ Submit marine sightings into the Whale & Dolphin Tracker app
◦ Take part in the Great Whale Count
◦ Take the pledge to combat the 5 Major Threats
Watch List
Documentaries about Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
The Fascinating World of Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Danger
Humpback Whales
Fellowship of the Whales
The Toxic Wastes that are Hurting Humpback Whales
Fathom
Secrets of the Whales
Whale Warriors: Saving Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales: A Detective Story (BBC)
Whale Nation
A Life Among Whales
The tale of humans and whales as told by whale biologist and activist Dr. Roger Payne
Stream on Prime Video
Footprints on the Water
Follow biologist and passionate whale lover Nan Hauser as she hunts for the sound of the humpback whale
Stream on Prime Video
Earth
Follow along in a year in the life of a humpback family
The Voyage of the Mimi
Ocean Guardians
A Voice For Whales
Return to K’gari
Pocket Guide to Humpback Whales in Maui
Humpback Whales in Maui
When
December-April
February is peak time
Where
Leeward side
Black Rock Beach
‘Au’au Channel
Maalaea Bay
Tour
PacWhale Eco Adventures
Hawaiian Islands Humpback National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center
Watch for
◦ Breaching
◦ Full breach
◦ Half breach
◦ Front Slam
◦ Mermaid Arc
◦ Back Slam
◦ Spin
◦ Spouting
◦ Diving
◦ Flipper slapping
◦ Lobtailing
◦ Spy hopping
Frequently Asked Questions
The winter months of December through April
February is peak time
During the day, early morning into the evening
Off the leeward side in the ‘Au’au Channel
Black Rock Beach, Lahaina Harbor, ‘Au’au Channel, Maalaea Bay
While you can see humpback whales from the shore, the best way to whale watch is to get out on a boat tour
Absolutely!
Whale watching tours are the best way to get up close and personal with these gentle giants.
Plus, you’ll learn lots of fun facts and can even take part of citizen science for whale conservation while on board.
Comfortably with light linen or cotton layers: shorts, shirt with light button up shirt over top for extra sun protection, flat shoes or sandals, and a hat. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring your sunnies.
Whether you happen to find yourself in Maui at the perfect time to catch sight of these majestic marine mammals or you venture there with the specific goal of seeing humpback whales, you do not want to miss out on experiencing these incredible creatures out in the wild!
Listen for whale song under the water, watch for spouts from your beach chair, and absolutely get out on the water for an up close encounter with a whale watching boat tour.
Don’t forget to look for breaches, mermaid arcs, spins, diving, flipper slapping, lobtailing, and spy hopping while aboard.
I hope your marine wildlife encounter is as awe-inducing as mine was!
Mahalo!
The Maui Collection
About Lauren
Reader, writer, traveller, itinerary-creator & mapmaker extraordinaire
Detroit-born, Nashville-bent, everywhere-bound, some of her favorite things include drinking coffee, eating in roadside diners frequented by locals and truckers alike, reading entire guidebooks front to back, visiting local bookshops, spirit questing in New Mexico, watching wildlife documentaries, listening to unapologetic amounts of Taylor Swift, and sitting in aisle seats. To name a few.
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