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800-677-9461
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Fair Wind II Photo Gallery
2008 Whale Photos - 1/19/08
Photos from the Hula Kai Whale Watch - Saturday
Photos by CJ Kale Photography | visit website |
01/19/08 (Saturday)
Aloha and welcome aboard!
Today's trip went really well. It started out business as usual, leaving Keauhou Bay and heading for the lek. Once there, the wind picked up and it looked like we were going to get blown out. After an hour of looking and chasing one fluke sighting here and a spout there...we saw these monstrous breaches out on the horizon. It looked like the whale was too far out, but it kept breaching. On the way there, and 8 breaches later, we were hoping to get there and see some activity. Finally, we arrived on site farther than we've been all year. Then with no advanced warning, right next to the boat, one of the largest Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that I ever saw, launched itself skyward...then rotated in mid-air on it's long axis and slammed onto the surface of the water like a very loud belly flop! At first everyone was stunned because the whale had been quite far from the boat, but it changed direction under water and breached next to the Hula Kai. When the next breach occurred, the whale went higher in the air before landing on the surface. 20x's this whale thrilled us with each display of it's strength and flexibility. Then we realized it wasn't alone. There was another whale with it and this guy was jumping to impress a "special someone." We had no words for what we had just witnessed, all we could do was cheer! Reluctantly after more than 45minutes of this we had to break off and begin to head for home. Come join us, and see the whales do their thing...Till then, Aloha
Jonathan Opey
Director, Hawai'i Marine Research Center
| email Jonathan |
Reservations / Info:
808-345-0268
800-677-9461
------------------------------
Hula Kai Photo Gallery
