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 Tourists trying to escape nasty
weather aren’t the only ones flocking to the islands in the winter months. HUMPBACK WHALES can be seen around the islands each December-April when they migrate from Alaska to give birth
in the warm waters of Hawaii. They can be seen by boat or from shore on all islands.
Although whales are enormous creatures, they can be hard to spot. You can identify a whale
by the spray as the whale breathes. Whales can submerge for up to 20 minutes but are
often seen flipping their fins, slapping their tails, and even breaching (leaping out of
the ocean). Binoculars will improve the quality of whale watching.
See the cloud of water that was vaporized as the whale exhaled and part of the whales back
and head just above the surface.
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See the two whales just below the surface. The white of the pectoral fins of the whale on
the right are clearly visible through the water. |
Over
the years we have had amazing whale sighting experiences from shore at MAKAPU'U POINT on Oahu. (Pronounced Ma-ka-poo-oo) Our most
treasured experience at Makapuu Point was when we and 4 other hikers witnessed a mother
and calf surface within only a hundred yards off shore. We were standing at a sea cliff
lookout where the cliffs plunge into the deep ocean. The whales were so close we could
actually hear them breathing. We saw the arches of their backs as they dove down and we
thought that was it…. but then the calf leapt out of the ocean and breached! We all
just looked at each other in amazement at what we had just seen. That was awesome.
The backs of two whales
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Back of one whale
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Our latest adventure
to Makapuu Point was on Sunday January 17, 1999. We normally recommend arriving before
noon, but we got off to a late start and started down on the trail at 12:30pm. The sun was
bright and hot so we made sure to put on plenty of sunscreen
as well as wear a hat and sunglasses. The Makapuu area is usually very dry
and covered in cactus and gnarly, thorny Kiawe trees. As we looked around we noticed how
green the surrounding mountains were, evidence of a good supply of rain in the area over
the last few weeks. The trail quickly inclines to the first lookout. As we ascended to the
lookout we glanced to the right for a birds eye perspective of the coastline where the
volcano shapes of Koko Head Crater and Hanauma Bay stand out in the landscape.
Belly of a whale just below the surface
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When we were nearing
the first lookout a fellow hiker on her way down let us know there were some whales active
up there. We began to walk more briskly to make sure not to miss them. Usually the best
sightings are in the morning so we were very happy to hear there were some still in the
area! As soon as we came over the horizon to the lookout we saw a huge spray arise out of
the ocean. Mike yelled "There she blows!" Once we got our binoculars out we were
able to discover there were two whales swimming in the channel. They were moderately
active, every 10 minutes, and we were able to see them spout
and slap their tail and flippers. We hung out at the first lookout for
about 40 minutes where the pair of whales surfaced and were active for a few minutes then
submerged in four sessions. Visibility was very clear and we were able to scan the waters
for whale spouts very easily. We also were able to see Molokai and Lanai very
clearly off on the Horizon. On really clear days you can see Maui and even the slopes of
Mauna Loa on the Big Island! (About 150 miles.)
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| You get a good look at a whales tail when it is
diving down deep. Typically once you see its tail the whale won't surface again for 3-5
minute and can stay down as long as 45 minutes |
We
decided to head up the trail to get another perspective. When we got to the sea cliff
lookout we spotted a huge splash just below the horizon, and with the help of the
binoculars discovered it was another whale breaching!
We watched it breach several times then decided to go back to the first lookout for a
slightly closer look. It remained quite active. We also discovered the original two whales
we were watching were now joined by another. The three were active with the spouts and
arching their backs out of the water, and we could see their tails as they dove. We were
having a great time, but after an hour and fifteen minutes in the direct sun we decided to
call it a day to prevent getting a sunburn. We really enjoy the beauty of the landscape
and the majestic animals we have the pleasure of catching a glimpse of each and every time
we hike the Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail. We know you will enjoy all this trail has to offer,
too. It is perfect for those young and old. If you have children you can even bring the
stroller.
Whales can be seen in groups called "pods" of two to twenty whales. A mother and
her calf will stay together but other whales will join and leave the pod as they travel.
Above you can see two whale tails!
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Whales tails have distinct markings like fingerprints that help to identify specific
individuals. This whale has two big white patches on either side of it's tail underside.
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The Makapu'u Point
Lighthouse Trail is two-miles round trip. This is a very popular hiking trail for local
families. On the weekends the highway is lined with cars making the trailhead easy to
find. There is a gate that blocks the trailhead to prevent vehicles from accessing the
trail. The paved access road that serves as the trail has eroded over time and there are
some "pot holes", so watch your step. Not too long after you start down the
trail you will notice a grassy trail branching off the main paved trail. That trail is
what is left of an ancient Hawaiian path around the island called the "Kings
Highway". It leads out to a rock formation called Pele’s Chair and a lookout
that is close to sea level. There is a second gate about 1/5th mile in to prevents
vehicular access to the dunes below.
FIRST LOOKOUT ON MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL
DRIVING
INSTRUCTIONS: From Waikiki head down Kalakaua Avenue going past Kapiolani
Park. Turn right onto Diamond Head Road. Near the end of this road there will be a sign
directing you to turn left to get to Route 72 East and Hanauma Bay. Stay on Route 72,
Kalanianeole Highway, for several miles, you will pass Hanauma Bay’s Park entrance
and Sandy Beach on the right. Once you pass Hawaii Kai Golf Course about a half mile down
the road on the right look for the gate with a sign that says NO VEHICLES ALLOWED,
that is the trail entrance. There are usually several cars from other trail users.
This is a popular public trail for locals, especially during whale season. Do not leave
any valuables in your car.
ALL whale photos shown on this page were taken by
us at Makapu'u lookout!
 PLEASE
NOTE: Prices for island activities featured within our
site are NOT guaranteed. Since we are not
affiliated with any of the activity providers we are not notified if services or prices
change. You will need to contact the activity
provider directly for a current price quote and for availability information.
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