What seasonal aquatic mammal migrates to Hawaiian waters November-March? It's whale season (and it's my favorite)! Some people love spring, winter, summer or autumn- but in Hawaii (where it changes quite slightly) we wait for seasons according to the activities (fishing, plum picking, mangoes and of course whales) we love. If you haven't already gone out, here is your invitation!
Thanks to Holoholo Charters Jessica Rickard, their lovely marine biologist, we have learned some whaley cool facts (pun intended). So, if that Trivial Pursuit winning question is about whales, we have you covered....
FUN Whale FACTS:
You can tell the age of a whale (after death) by its earwax layers!
Their tails can be 18 feet across and no two are alike due to color patches from birth and acquired scars throughout their lives! They work like a fingerprint for researchers!
Despite being soooooo big, a humpback’s throat is only the size of a grapefruit (or a human fist for easy reference!) Because they don’t have teeth for chewing, it is impossible for them to eat prey that won’t fit through!
Even whales that are too young to breed will make the 3,000-mile migration to Hawaii each year. It is speculated that they are coming to learn so that when they are old enough, they are ready to join the breeding game. The males likely must learn how to complete for the ladies! It can be really hard work! They are considered mature and will usually begin to breed when they are between 4 and 10 years old (the males take a little longer than the females! 😊)
Hawaii’s humpbacks are not likely to swing through California on their way here! The whales that are seen over there are often headed to and from Mexico for breeding. Our humpbacks swim straight across the ocean from Alaska, though no one knows for sure how they know where they are going!
It only takes a couple of good pushes from their super strong tail and associated “peduncle muscle” to launch them from the water in a fantastic breach!
Hope to see you out there soon!
