Thar She Blows!

Whale season came early this year to Hawaii Island, with the first sightings of the long-distance vacationing leviathans in early October, about a month earlier than usual.

Every year humpback whales – one of the largest mammals on the planet – make the trip from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska to the boudoirs and birthing bays of Hawaii. This year, pregnant moms and their hopeful suitors checked in early, and one of the best places to see them, say oceanographers, is just offshore of Hawaii Island.

Where exactly?

“Though the whales can be seen from any of the major Hawaiian islands, the leeward coast of the Big Island, particularly North and South Kohala, provides protected waters where whales are likely to be spotted during the 3-month high season, January to March,” said Justin Viezbicke, Hawaii Island coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in an article in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

For optimal viewing, find a spot “near the shoreline and slightly above sea level,” said National Marine Sanctuary Co-manager Jeff Walters in the article. He noted that the whales “seem to be more active in the morning, and their activity will be easier to see on days with less wind.”

There’s also often great whale watching right outside of Hilo Bay. Contact Lava Ocean Adventures for a close look.

Want to help count this year’s population of humpbacks in Hawaii waters? A census will be taken Jan. through March. To take part, call 1-888-55-Whale.