Whale watching sites

[Scott_S]

Does anyone have some sites on the east side that might be good for spending a couple of hours watching for whales. Thanks, Scott

wow, I fixed a year old typo

Edited by - Scott_S on 12/25/2006 13:42:26

[HADave]

Scott, Sunday's online Tribune article on Humpbacks tells of several whale watching sites around the The Island. One person counted 55 sitings from the Four Seasons Hualalai resort on the West Side, they alos say a counting spot is the Lighthouse in Kapoho. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend a vacation to me ! Enjoy!

The Tribune article will probably be available till at 5pm eastern time.

Aloha Dave

[leilaniguy]

We've stopped a few times and watched them at Ala Heiau in Paradise Park, also at Opihikao and the seawall at the hotpond(also a good place to see honu). Actually just about anywhere on the Red rd. with an ocean view is a good spot in season.

[mella l]

May I ask what or when is the season and how many do you get to see?

mella l

[leilaniguy]

The season runs from mid December to mid May, but now though March is when you can usually see the most.

[Scott_S]

Thanks, everybody. Scott

[Carolann R]

Anybody spot any yet this year?

Carrie

"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." Bono
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art/dreamhawaii.Cfm

[malolo]

I haven't heard of any humpbacks on this side yet...but that doesn't mean they're not here...and they definitely are in the islands.

First one was spotted off Maui in mid-October...a couple days before the earthquake actually.

And the first ones off Kona were spotted the weekend of November 2nd...a mom and a baby...very close to shore near Garden Eel Cove...(where they do the night-time manta-ray boat-dives). Word is they hung out there happily for over a week.

(Hope that's not the youngster that got gobbled up off Magic Sands yesterday. Eeeek!)
http://starbulletin.com/2006/11/15/news/story06.html

A great mid-way spot between here and Kona is right off Kawaihae harbor...right by the big ol green and red buoys. (Not sure what the attraction is, but I've paddled past 'em in that exact same spot regularly over the years.)

In regards to East-side spotting? Yep... when they finally do arrive, that stretch along Paradise Park is grrreat, as they come quite often very close to shore. Nice and deep there. Red Road too.

Last year there was a mom and baby and another pair that always hung out along the PuhiBay/Onekahakaha/Leleiwi/Richardson's stretch in Hilo...again very close to shore.

My goal this winter is to spot 'em underwater!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edited by - malolo on 11/15/2006 19:07:27

[Carolann R]

Oh man, that would be a cool experience for sure! I was told we might be able to spot 'em down by Kahakai Park at the end of the road (ya know - McMansion...)

I'm looking forward to my very first time spotting them. Years ago while living in Southern Calif. I went with some friends whale watching from Long Beach...we spotted a few in the distance...

Don't know which whale it was but they have two blow-holes so when they blow it forms a heart shaped mist in the air...anyone?

Carrie

"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater." Bono
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art/dreamhawaii.Cfm

[Les C]

Of the larger whales whose blows might be seen off CA, there are Gray, Humpback, Blue, Minke, Fin, Sei, and Sperm. All, except Sperm, have two nostrils; Sperm has one on the left side and blows off to the side. Blue and Fin are the largest whales and tend to blow more columnar. Minke and Sei, I've read, blows weakly in a bushy shape. Gray and Humpback blow more noticeably in a wider bushy spray. They will travel close to shore and their blows will be most visible. The blow of the Gray Whale is most likely to be a V-, or heart-, shaped, although a Humpback could appear that way, too.

A great guide to the cetaceans of the world, the Eyewitness Handbooks "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: The visual guide to all the world's cetaceans" by Mark Carwardine, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc. New York, 1995.

Oh, Orca also will travel close to shore, but usually they are very identifiable by the white saddle and taller dorsals.

Les

Edited by - Les C on 11/17/2006 11:08:53