Few visitors realize that Pacific Humpback Whales are sighted as late as June in Maui County waters. During this later part of the season, watchers can view some exciting "heated up" pod action. Another thing to consider is a newborn calf may not be at the weight its mother is comfortable with the long journey north. So, the cow will hang around Maui's "bathtub" waters longer than we think, waiting for her calf to fatten up. Remember, there's a mega-amount of miles to swim before they reach Alaskan waters! Some boats are equipped with Whale-Cam, a state-of-the art monitor and video system to observe whales from above and below water. We can now assume that there are well over 4,000 humpbacks visiting Hawaiian waters during the season.
	Departures	Boats
Action Adventure Tours		Hard bottom RAIV
America II	Lahaina Harbor Slip 6	Prestigious Yacht
Blue Water Rafting	Kihei Boat Launch	Hard bottom rafts
Captain Steve's	Mala Wharf	Hard bottom RAIV
Four Winds	Maalaea Harbor	Catamaran
Friendly Charters	Maalaea Harbor	53' Doubledeck Cat
Gemini Charters	Kaanapali Beach	64' Searunner Cat
Kai Kanani	Makena/Prince	46' Sailing Catamaran
Kapalua Kai		53' Wingmasted Cat
Kaulana	Lahaina Harbor	70' Doubledeck Cat
Lahaina Princess	Lahaina Harbor	65' Luxury Yacht
Maka Kai	Maalaea Harbor	65' Power Cat
Makena Boat Partners
Maui Princess	Lahaina Harbor	118' Luxury Yacht
Molokai Princess	Lahaina Harbor	104' Luxury Yacht
Pacific Whale Foundation
Prince Kuhio	Maalaea Harbor	92' Gulf Craft Luxury Liner
Scotch Mist	Lahaina Harbor Slip 2	50' Santa Cruz Sailing Yacht
Spirit of Lahaina		65' Doubledeck Power Cat
Trilogy	Kaanapali Beach	51' Sloop Rigged Cat
Ultimate Rafting Maui	Lahaina Harbor Slip 17
The humpback whale is the fifth largest of the world's great whales. Distinct populations of humpback whales are found in each of the world's oceans. Newborn calves, weighing an average 1.5 tons, range from 10 to 16 feet in length. Males may reach 43 feet in length, while females are slightly larger, averaging 45 feet. A mature humpback weighs up to one ton per foot, or about 85,000 - 90,000 pounds. Researchers believe humpbacks live approximately 40-60 years. Grayish-black in color, humpback whales have white markings that are distinct to each individual. A whale swims by moving its tail or fins up and down (fish move their tails from side to side). The flippers or pectoral fins, located on each side of the whale, are used to turn and steer. These fins are actually modified forelimbs, with a bone structure similar to that of the human hand and arm. Humpback whales breathe through a double blowhole located on top of their head. A humpback's head has tubercles (fleshy knobs) along the upper and lower jaws. Each tubercle has a single hair and is believed to enhance sensory ability. Expandable ventral throat pleats increase the capacity of the mouth during feeding. The humpback's scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae ("Great wings of New England"), refers to its huge fifteen-foot pectoral fins. The name "hump-back", coined by whalers, probably resulted from the appearance of the arching of the caudal peduncle while diving, coupled with the prominent dorsal fin. In Hawaii, the word kohola refers to the general category of whale; there is no specific name for humpback. Pioneers in whale research, the Pacific Whale Foundation has been a leader in the fight to save humpback whales from extinction since 190. A non-profit, tax exempt 501 (c)(3) organization, the Pacific Whale Foundation actively studies whales and dolphins throughout the Pacific to explore the factors that ensure their survival and recovery. Humpback whales are still threatened by commercial whaling, as well as commercial and acoustic pollution, marine debris, destructive fishing practices and the loss of habitat through human encroachment. Pacific Whale Foundation urges you to become active in the fight to protect humpback whales and their precious ocean home.