The first humpback whale sightings of the season were reported this week
by a Lahaina tour boat.
Crew members aboard the 52-foot Lanakila, owned by Safari Boat
Excursions, spotted a single whale Sunday and again yesterday.
"It was pretty exciting to see one," said first mate Sean Paul Keanini.
"I was surprised because it was so early in the season. But I was happy
because whales tend to bring a lot of people out."
An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 humpback whales migrate to Hawai'i annually
from summer feedings grounds near Alaska . While here, they mate, calve
and socialize.
The endangered humpbacks are protected by state and federal laws.
Vessels, kayakers and other ocean users are required to maintain a
distance of 100 yards from whales.
Last year's first whale sighting was Oct. 11 off Ka'anapali. Whales have
been seen around Maui as early as Sept. 16, although the peak of the
whale season generally occurs in February and March.
The Lanakila, which operates out of Lahaina Harbor, was on a circle-Lana'i
snorkeling cruise Sunday when Keanini looked toward Moloka'i shortly
after 8 a.m. and spotted a breaching whale about two miles west of
Lahaina.
"It was pretty neat stuff," said Keanini, who was the only one to see
the marine mammal.
Then about 12:15 p.m. yesterday on another Lana'i cruise with 24
passengers, a blow from a single whale was spotted while the Lanakila
was stopped at a snorkeling spot about a mile southwest of the Lana'i
lighthouse, said Capt. David Larsen.
"We got everybody out of the water to go look. It's so rare to see them
this time of the year," he said.
"The whale popped up about 200 yards away and swam toward us. It
breathed three times and then did a tail-up dive."
About 12 minutes later, the 35-foot whale surfaced only 20 yards from
the boat, took three breaths and disappeared into the deep, Larsen said.
Spinner dolphins were swimming nearby.
"It was crazy," he said.
Keanini said all the passengers grabbed their cameras "and were shooting
like you've never seen."
"It's really exciting. The buzz is going around the harbor," he said.
The buzz is because it has been estimated the whale-watching industry is
worth close to $30 million annually to Hawai'i 's economy.
The first humpback whale sightings of the season were reported this week
by a Lahaina tour boat.