Big Island Whale Watching Tours

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So all of the island of Hawaii have whale watching and the Big Island is no different. The whales of course are primarily the humpback whales and they come from Alaska and Canada every year to visit, like a tourist. They travel thousands of miles all the way from Alaska to come to the islands of Hawaii. They come to all of them, and they just hang out here. They come to calve and to mate and presumably just enjoy life. They hang out in pods and cruise all day long around the islands and just seemingly have a great time.

They don't eat while they're here. They somehow are able to live off their body fat for months at a time and it's not until they return home that they have their next meal. So it's kind of a hibernation without being buried in the snow like a bear. They're actually active during their hibernation if you want to call it that. It's a fast, I guess, is what you would say.

Anyway, they are really exciting to watch. They're here during the months, whale season is primarily mid-December to mid-May but really the biggest part of it is going to be January, February, March. That's the heart of it. We do have whales that come earlier in October and even September, just a few scouts I guess on their way, and then some that leave in May. But really the majority of what we've got going is going to be happening in the January, February and March area.

These are neat. The whales are wonderful because any time you get on the water, you're going on a snorkel trip or you're going on a dive trip or whatever you may be doing, you have an extremely high likelihood of seeing whales, so that just adds to anything you do that time of year. But we actually have what we refer to as whale watches that are trips that go out specifically for the purpose to see the whales. On these vessels you're going out, everybody's going, "Where's the whales? Where are they?" Everybody looks. When you first make a sighting, then you start heading over to them and the idea is to get fairly close. You're not allowed to get right up on them. You have to stay 100 yards or so away and let the whales come over to you if they want to, but it's not to intrude on their territory. It's just for us to be able to see them and to get a sense of them, to enjoy them, to appreciate the whales. They really are fun.

Sometimes they do get close. These whales obviously were right up to the boat. Sometimes they'll come right up to the boat and go underneath you. That is an experience you probably won't forget especially if you're on a really small boat, which brings me to the fact that we've got a number of boats that go out to do these. We have large boats, large power boats, the double-deckers. They're a little bit more stable in the water. If it's a double-deck, from on top you really have a little bit more of a vantage point to look down to see whales and to see them on the horizon a little bit better than the boats that are just on the water.

But the advantage of being on one of the smaller boats is that you are actually right there with the whales. It is an overwhelming experience at times to be that close to whales when it happens. I say that only happens when they choose it to happen. It's luck of the draw. The Zodiac boats, the real small ones like that, are really nice for the right person. Some people may not be that comfortable on a small boat but it's great to be on a boat where you can ask questions because you'll have a bunch of the captain and he may be able to answer questions with more rapidity.

On the larger boats it's more of whale researchers on board and naturalists and there's people around that know stuff but they're giving you a little description of what's happening and that sort of thing, less of the back-and-forth. But they're wonderful any way you do it to get out to see the whales.

If you're here January, February and March, you want to make sure you get out on one of the whale watches if you can. They're also one of the more affordable tours that we have to get you out on the water.

So if you have any questions about tours or activities in Hawaii, just give us a call or check out tombarefoot.com.

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