| Hawaii whale-watching is truly a
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| | Whale watching requires patience. Scan
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| memorable experience. In this article,
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| | the horizon for a cloud of spewing water
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| we will focus on whale-watching off the
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| | that rises from 10 to 20 feet above the
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| island of Maui. Whale-watching season
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| | ocean's surface. Watch for a good
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| starts as early as November, but the
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| | half-hour or so; whales need to breath
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| largest number of whales travel through
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| | every 7 to 20 minutes, and their spray is
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| Hawaii waters from mid-December to
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| | simply water vapor that they exhale from
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| mid-April.
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| | their blow hole. So once you locate that
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| Each year during this time, approximately
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| | tell-tale spray of water, focus your eyes
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| 1,500 to 2,000 humpback whales migrate
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| | on the area for another one. Here
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| south from their summer feeding grounds
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| | binoculars are especially helpful.
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| in the Arctic. Scientists estimate that
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| | But the best way to see humpback whales
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| this 3,000 mile swimming trip takes them
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| | is out in their domain--and you can book
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| from 80 to 100 days.
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| | a whale-watching cruise for that. Maui
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| The whales seem to favor the calmer bays
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| | is the home of the Pacific Whale
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| and wide bank areas between the islands
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| | Foundation. A non-profit whale research
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| of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. With their
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| | organization, it supports its research by
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| bulky heads and two blow-holes, they can
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| | offering whale-watching tours.
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| often be seen cavorting in the warm
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| | In addition, almost every snorkel and
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| waters, breaching and slapping the
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| | dive-boat in the area becomes a
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| surface of the water. Here they mate, or
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| | whale-watching vessel in winter. Maui
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| bear their "calves" conceived the
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| | whale-watching tours leave Lahaina and
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| previous winter.
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| | Maalaea harbors daily during the winter
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| A mature humpback whale is about 45 feet
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| | months. In addition to humpbacks, sperm
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| in lenth and can weigh up to 80,000
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| | whales, pilot whales, pygmy killer
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| pounds. Their calves weigh around 3,000
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| | whales, beaked whales, melon-headed
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| pounds at birth and feed off their
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| | whales and "false" killer whales can
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| mother's high-fat milk for six to eight
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| | often be seen there. You can also view
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| months, consuming 100 to 130 gallons per
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| | the whales on a rafting expedition.
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| day.
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| | These excursions also leave daily from
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| Strangely enough, the adult whales do not
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| | Lahaina harbor.
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| eat while in Hawaii, since they are
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| | The whale may play a little game with you
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| "seasonal" feeders. However, when they
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| | -- he will poke his head just above the
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| return to their Arctic habitat an average
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| | water's surface to "scope out the scene."
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| humpback whale will consume 4,500 to
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| | That kind of behavior is actually called
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| 5,000 pounds of plankton, krill (small,
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| | a "spy hop," meaning it's his way of
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| shrimp-like creatures), and fish per day!
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| | showing off (if he feels so inclined).
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| On Maui, the opportunities for
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| | He'll then leap completely out of the
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| whale-watching from land are extensive. A
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| | water. If he's only in the mood to
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| good vantage point for seeing whales from
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| | exchange nods, he'll slap his tail or
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| land is basically anywhere you get a
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| | wave his side fins at you -- that's the
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| pretty a wide ocean view. McGregor
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| | humpback whale's way of saying "Hi!"
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| Point, at mile marker 9, as you head from
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| | Whales communicate underwater through
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| Maalaea, toward Lahaina, is a well-known
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| | mysterious "songs," forming a perplexing
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| whale watching place. Continuing toward
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| | series of sounds. Most whale-watching
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| Lahaina, whales can also be seen off the
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| | charters on Maui have a hydrophone on
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| Olowalu Reef--between McGregor Point and
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| | board, which will enable you to hear and
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| the town of Olowalu.
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| | enjoy the complex sounds of these
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| When you head south on the Wailea coast,
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| | majestic creatures.
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| the Outrigger Wailea Resort provides
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| | Remember that humpback whales are
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| another excellent viewing spot, with a
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| | protected by the Marine Mammals
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| telescope installed by the Hawaiian
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| | Protection Act, and you may come no
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| Islands Humpback Whale National Marine
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| | closer than 100 yards. Even at that
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| Sanctuary. South from Wailea, Puu Olai
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| | distance you will sense the power and
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| overlooking Makeena Beach is considered
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| | beauty of these creatures, and you will
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| Maui's best spot for whale-watching.
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| | come away with memories of a lifetime.
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