Understanding a little about humpback whale biology enriches the whale watching experience on Kaanapali Ocean Adventures seasonal tours. The whales that winter in Maui Nui waters are not just spectacular wildlife. They are fascinating animals with complex behavior patterns that Captain Dan\'s 45 years of observation have given him exceptional insight into. North Pacific humpback whales are the largest animals that winter in Hawaiian waters, reaching lengths of 45 to 50 feet and weights of 40 tons. The enormous pectoral fins, which can reach 15 feet in length, are proportionally the largest pectoral fins of any cetacean and give the species its scientific name Megaptera novaeangliae, meaning big-winged New Englander. Humpbacks migrate annually between summer feeding grounds in Alaska and the North Pacific and winter breeding and calving grounds in Hawaii. This migration, covering thousands of miles each way, is undertaken without feeding. The whales live off fat reserves accumulated during the Alaskan summer throughout their time in Hawaiian waters.
Kaanapali Ocean Adventures | 2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, HI 96761 | +1 808-633-3138
