HAWAII - Whales

We went out on two whale-watching trips with Captain Steve .. the craft was an inflatable, grey with orange sides, and held about 24 passengers ... Cpt Steve is extremely knowledgeable and the inflatable allows us to really get close to the whales ... This first photo is a mother humpback who came to say hello and her baby was beneath her. She stayed alongside for a little while then went under the craft, and away. You can see her dark body and the lighter fins.

Here's one of the humpbacks breaching .. it looks like so much fun, flying up out of the water and twisting over to make an almighty splash on re-entry.





My sister took this photo but I love it because the tail looks like a huge bird, wings outstretched, skimming over the ocean.






The whales come to Hawaii from Alaska to give birth in the warmer waters and allow the calfs time to grow strong enough for the journey back. The females pick up an 'escort' in Hawaii who will mate with her and escort her back to Alaska (to keep other males from mating with her). Of course, if a larger escort comes along, he'll take over the 'escort' duties.