Do All Humpback Whales
Come to Hawaii?

Well, not all of them do, but it is estimated that over 50% of the North Pacific humpback whale population comes to Hawaii in the winter, with the number being around 12,000! The North Pacific population of humpback whales is known to migrate to three different mating and birthing grounds during the winter.

Every year, humpback whale populations migrate from cooler feeding grounds to warmer breeding grounds. Marine biologists who study whale migration to Hawaii have determined that the warm, tropical climate is perfect for mating and giving birth. Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between four and 10 years old, after which females birth a calf once every couple of years. Calves are between 13 and 16 feet long when they’re born and they double in length after just one year!

Humpback whales are found in oceans throughout the world. However, they only come to Hawaii after the summer winds down in Alaska. Towards the end of summer, the whales will leave the chilly Alaskan waters and swim south for six to eight weeks straight. For the whales to get from Alaska to Hawaii, it is about a 6,000-mile journey.

• The North Pacific Humpback Whale population has grown from approximately
• 1,400 in 1966 to 21,000 in 2014
• An average of 8,000-10,000 Humpback Whales visit Hawaii every year
• They are the 5th largest whale species in the world (weigh 50-80k lbs and up to 60 feet in length)
• The humpback life span is about 50 years
• A single adult whale consumes up to 3,000 lbs of food daily, but they never feed in Hawaii’s oceans

While visiting Maui in the winter, you won’t want to miss these charismatic animals. Take a snorkeling and whale-watching tour, or enjoy a sunset luau cruise on the Pride of Maui. Your trip to Maui will be even more memorable once you’ve experienced these magnificent animals on the water.