Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHALE WATCHING IN MAUI
It's not just honeymooners that converge here - turns out humpback whales prefer
Maui too. In winter they can be spotted throughout Hawaii, but the waters off west-
ern Maui are the favored haunt for mating and birthing.
Fortunately, humpbacks are coast-huggers, preferring shallow waters to protect
their newborn calves. This makes for terrific whale-watching opportunities whether
you're on land or on water.
Whale-watching cruises are the easiest way to get close to the action, as the
boats know all the best spots and offer a close-up view of humpbacks demonstrat-
ing their hulking presence in leaps and bounds. You can readily join a cruise from a
green operator like Pacific Whale Foundation (
Click here
) from either Lahaina or
Maʻalaea Harbor.
Not that you need a whale-watching cruise to see these 40-ton leviathans. If
you're taking the Lanaʻi ferry in winter, a glimpse of breaching whales is a common
bonus; snorkeling tours to Molokini sometimes have sightings en route; and ocean
kayaking in south Maui packs good odds of seeing these colossals up close.
From the shore, whale spotting abounds - cliffside lookouts, west-facing
beaches, the lanai of your oceanfront condo, most anywhere from Kapalua in the
north to Makena in the south. Two particularly rewarding lookouts are Papawai
Point, about three miles northwest west of Ma'alaea on the way to Lahaina, and the
Wailea Beach walk in Wailea.
Of course, binoculars will bring the action closer. If you're not carrying a pair,
stop by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
headquarters in Kihei where there's a seaside scope. While you're at it, check out
the whale displays and discover the difference between a full breach, a spy hop and
a peduncle slap. From mid-December through April, the Pacific Whale Foundation
posts volunteers at Papawai Point (8am to 2pm daily) to share binoculars and
point out whales.
The Whalesong Project maintains an underwater hydrophone off Kihei - visit
www.whalesong.net
and listen to whales singing in real time. Lucky snorkelers and
divers who are in the water at the right time can hear them singing as well - Ulua
Beach in Wailea is a top spot for eavesdropping on their haunting music.
World Whale Day festivities are held the third Saturday of February in Kihei
LAHAINA
POP 11,700
The hustle and bustle of Lahaina is tempered by the proximity of the sea, which stretches
lazily west from Front St toward Lanaʻi. This one-time whaling village becomes down-
