Things to do in Kauai Whale Watching

A BREACH is exciting, and is probably the most hoped-for behavior among whale watchers. Breach refers to the fact that the whale is breaching, or breaking through, the surface and into the air. A full breach brings the humpback completely out of the water, while a partial breach is anything less than that, perhaps only half of the whale rising out of the water.

The approach, or rise to the surface, precedes the breach. The whale gains speed underwater and swims toward the surface at full speed, straight up. Since the approach is underwater and not seen, a breach is usually unanticipated. Remarkably, only three or four pumps of its flukes are required to accelerate an adult humpback whale to full speed, and the approach may begin in water as shallow as 60 to 80 feet. At some point the whale usually begins twisting, a corkscrew motion that may start underwater during its approach and continue in the air until it lands. The twisting motion causes the whale pectoral fins to be flung wide. Sometimes a series of breaches will be performed, by a whale that has just become active (after apparently resting), has just left a social group, or is excited or irritates. Usually the first breach in the series is the fullest, with breaches becoming successively "lazier". We have observed calves that performed repeated breaches, up to 50 or more in a row that, as the animal presumably grew tired, gradually came to appear more like spyhops or head lunges than full breaches. We have even observed repeated breaches by a mother / calf / escort pod as a small group of sharks swam near. Why? Breaching is often interpreted as a show of playfulness by a whale. Such an interpretation is likely incorrect and an example of anthropomorphism, where human characteristics are attributed to animals. In fact, while we do not know why a breach is performed, it may signal that the whale is anything but playful. For years, Dr. Salden has closely observed breaching among socializing whales, paying close attention to the circumstances amid which the breaching occurs. Breaching can take place with solitary whales or whales in groups. With groups of whales, breaching often occurs when a humpback affiliates (joins) or disaffiliates. In addition to the possibility that whales are visually scanning their environment while breaching, Dr. Salden feels the breach has a communication function as well, an opinion shared by other researchers and formulated from years of anecdotal observations. An expert in nonverbal communication, Dr. Salden suspects breaching is the humpback's way of announcing "It is I!," with any surrounding activities forming a context in which the breach must be interpreted. It may be an aggressive signal from a whale joining a competitive group, saying "It is I, watch out!" or a parting shot from a disaffiliating whale ("Remember me!"). When accompanied by a breach, whatever the whale is communicating is "said" with emphasis.

Hawaii is the winter home, and a place to give birth. The Kohola, the Hawaiian Humpback whale. Humpbacks are mammals belonging to the order Cetacean, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The common name Humpback refers to the high arch of their backs when the whales dive. Humpbacks weigh about 40 tons and can be up to 50 feet in length; females are slightly larger than the males. The average life span of a Humpback is between 30 and 40 years, with the oldest whale on record estimated to be 48 years old.

If you would like to go Whale Watching on the ocean here is a list of

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The special habitat we visit is the summer home to such species as the Humpback whales.

The opportunistic research collected on Kauai includes identification of different marine mammal species, including the humpback whales; individual whale behavior and identification, as well as associated environmental and oceanographic data.

This information is shared with research institutions, as well as conservation groups and resource managers. By whale watching on Kauai, you will effectively be taking part in a scientific expedition as well as helping to support vital research on endangered whales.

Depending on the season, whales and dolphins that are frequently observed include Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, Common Dolphins, and Dall's Porpoise. We occasionally spot Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Harbor Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphins, and Beaked Whales.

We hold the Killer Whale catalog for California and continue to photo-identify all Killer Whales we see in Kauai as well as document their predatory behavior and social structure.

We also have compiled catalogs of individually distinct Pacific White-Sided Dolphins and Risso's Dolphins, and we continue to photo-identify each species.

The information collected on these trips is combined with our Oceanic Society research project on whales and dolphins in Monterey Bay.

The Humpback Whale is an endangered species, occurring in all the world's oceans. The central California population of Humpback Whales migrates from their winter calving and mating areas off Mexico to their summer and fall feeding areas off coastal California. Humpback Whales occur in Kauai from late April to early December. During this period the whales are here to feed on anchovies, sardines, and krill.

Humpback Whales reach lengths of 50 to 55', are dark in color with distinctive nodules on their rostrum, and have pectoral flippers that are nearly a third of their body length. Current population estimates for Humpback Whales off California conducted by Cascadia Research Collective indicate there are about 800 whales in this population. All whales have been photo-identified by natural markings and coloration on the underside of the tail fluke. From this photo-identification work, the migratory movements, calving intervals, association patterns, and population estimates can be determined for these whales.

Humpback Whales are in Kauai to feed and they often shift to various feeding locations depending on prey density. Humpbacks are often observed lunge feeding near the surface or deep diving for prey that is concentrated several hundred feet deep. This whale is the most animated of all the baleen whales, and in the Bay they are often seen breaching, spyhopping, pectoral fin slapping, and tail lobbing.

In recent years, many different Humpback Whales in this population often approach our boat for "friendly" encounters. When engaging in this "friendly" behavior, a whale will often circle our boat, rub up against it, spyhop within several feet of the boat, roll on its side and extend its pectoral flipper toward the boat, and often tilt its head with an eye open, appearing to look up at the boat and people on board. This phenomenon has been increasing each year, probably because this new generation of whales that have never known whaling are becoming curious about boats, and they often stay for several hours investigating our boat. This contact is totally initiated by the whales.

Kauai is one of the best places to observe humpbacks on a day's whale watch because the submarine canyon approaches very close to shore here. The whales are frequently found along the edges of the canyon where prey tends to concentrate. At times, the whales come even closer to shore while feeding on anchovies and can also be found 8-20 miles from shore where concentrations of krill occur in relation to thermal fronts. We attempt to photo-identify all Humpback Whales sighted on Kauai Whale Watch trips and contribute these photos to Cascadia Research.

Minke Whales do not have a visible blow and usually exhibit erratic surfacing patterns. However, they are easily sighted by their relatively large dorsal fin and dark body. There appear to be some resident Minke Whales that feed in southern Kauai and along the Big Sur coast. They usually are found as singles