Atlantis Submarines photo
A 15-foot baby humpback photographed off Waikiki.
Each winter up to 10,000 humpback whales migrate from the chilly North Pacific to the warm waters of the Hawaiian Islands to breed and nurse their young. The fifth-largest whale, humpbacks reach 50 feet in length and weigh 40 tons, and can be seen breaching, spouting, and slapping their tails. Below are some facts about Hawaii’s winter “visitors” from the north, courtesy of Atlantis Navatek 1 Cruises:
>> Up to 10,000 humpback whales migrate to the Hawaiian Islands each year, with about 1,000 calves born here each year.
>> The humpback is the fifth largest whale reaching up to 50 feet in length and weighing an average of 40 tons. Females are slightly larger than males. Calves are 12-15 feet long at birth and weigh 3,000 pounds. Humpbacks live 40 to 60 years.
>> Humpbacks have distinct imprints and characteristics making each whale identifiable, including distinguishing black and white markings on the underside of the tail (fluke) that are comparable to human fingerprints. Researchers use these prints to track the whales and discover clues about migration and social habits.
Some of the humpback’s behavior includes:
>> Breaching: A powerful acrobatic display in which the humpback uses its tail to propel itself into the air, landing on the surface with a resounding splash. Other whale species breach, but none as dramatically as the humpback.
>> Blowing or Spouting: The normal exhalation and inhalation at the surface. Air exhaled through the humpback’s blowhole expands causing the temperature to decrease, thereby condensing it into water vapor. Spouting can reach heights of 20 feet and be heard up to 800 feet away.
>> Round Out or Peduncle Arch: When preparing for a deep dive, humpbacks will arch their bodies slightly while rolling ahead at the surface. This pronounced arching of the back earned the humpback its name.
>> Spyhopping: This often results due to the humpback’s inquisitive nature. Before “spyhopping,” the humpback’s eyes are either slightly above or below the surface enabling it to see anything nearby. Positioned vertically, the humpback then rises and holds its stance partially out of the water, often exposing its entire rostrum and head.
>> Tail Slap: This consists of a humpback raising its tail out of the water and slapping it forcefully on the surface.
For more information about humpback whales, visit the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation at www.hwrf.org.
Tips for spotting whales
>> Scan the horizon. Watch for humpbacks to blow air, breach (large jumps), and show other signs of active surface behavior. Cameras should always be on the ready to catch the humpbacks’ in action.
>> Be prepared for anything. Each day is different and brings unique sightings. Guests may see humpback mothers with calves or groups of males competing for a female.
>> To photograph a humpback’s tail (fluke), look for a whale to arch its back (round out) more dramatically than usual. This indicates a deeper dive is about to occur and the tail may be lifted out of the water.
>> Study the humpbacks’ behavior to understand what may be coming. For example, if a mother and calf swim in a constant speed and direction, they may be rounding out and taking a deeper dive on every third breath of air. This may offer a fluke shot as the whales prepare to dive deeper.
>> Watch for other marine life. Hawaiian spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, flying fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and many species of sea birds are often seen on the cruises.
