Until a couple of years ago, we’d only been to Hawaii during the summer months; specifically, June or July. The springtime here is very, very different. One of the most notable differences (besides the far milder weather) is the presence of the humpback whales.
There is only one way to really see the whales and that’s to get on a boat and get out in the ocean. Our benefactor and tour guide (Bigdog’s sister) will only use Captain Steve’s Rafting for this adventure. Instead of ending up on a large, clunky, typical whalewatching boat, Captain Steve takes his group out on rafts which are quick, quiet (relatively speaking), and almost like being in the water with the whales.
We got up at 6 this morning to be at Captain Steve’s launch point near old Lahaina by 7, and had one of the most amazing unimaginably magnificent whale adventures ever. We got our safety instructions and off we went. Not more than 10 minutes later and 500 or so yards out we came upon a competitive pod of eight or so whales. They surrounded the boat, circled, went under it, surfaced, slapped with their pectoral fins and tail, and were so accomodating that if one didn’t know better, you’d think they knew they were giving us the sight of a lifetime.
As if that weren’t amazing enough, Sticks and Bigdog went snorkeling this afternoon and heard them singing under the water. It’s almost religious, that sound. We heard it yesterday while kayaking just a little bit off the coast. No matter how many times I have the opportunity to hear or see them, I can’t get enough, and this week they’ve really been active.
Technorati Tags: Maui, humpback whale, whale behavior, captain steve’s whalewatching, adventure
