More Marine Life Fun Facts
By Captain Dave
Did you know . . .
There are a number of key reasons humpback whales choose Hawaiian waters to migrate to every year:
- Blubber (or lack thereof) - Newborn humpback whales are born sans their insulating, protective layer of blubber!
- Without this cozy layer of insulation, newborn whales thrive most in warm waters (of which Hawaii has an abundance.)
- Maui, and the surrounding islands of Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe, create a protected, "shallow" basin which is perfect for humpbacks (and great for whale watching on Maui!)
- Just as it is for humans, Hawaii is a laid back place to relax for humpback whales as well, thanks to virtually zero whale predators in our waters.
- One such predator absent from our waters, is the Orca (or "Killer Whale.") A surprising fact to many, orcas and humpback whales come to blows regularly in colder waters. Some of these altercations are so fierce, that they leave physical scars on some humpback whales.
That's all for this installment, subscribe today to keep current with the latest Marine life news, trivia, and tour updates from Hawaii Ocean Project!
Enjoy The Shores Of Maui With Our Fantastic Tours
By Captain Dave
Want to get the most out of your next vacation on Maui? Then you'll want to consider booking one (or more) of these fantastic Hawaii Boat Cruises & Tours offered by the Hawaii Ocean Project:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise
Dinner and dancing on the high seas as you enjoy an evening of wonderful food and music under the stars, aboard the 120 foot Maui Princess.
- Sunset Cocktail Cruise
Enjoy an intimate cruise along Maui's coastline as the beautiful Maui sun sets beneath the horizon. A variety of cocktails and appetizers are on offer throughout your 2 hour sunset sail, as is complementary shuttle service to/from most West Maui vacation accommodations.
- Maui Whale Watch Cruise
From late November through early May, marvel at one of Maui's most treasured marine guests: Humpback whales. Watch in awe as they float, jump, and play in our warm coastal waters. AS one of our most popular adventures, passengers aboard our Maui whale watch trips feature GUARANTEED WHALE SIGHTINGS; or go on another of our Maui whale watches for free!
- Snorkel Lanai
Our Lanai snorkel trips get you up close and personal with some of Hawaii's most treasures sea life, just off the coast of Hawaii's "private island" of Lanai.
- Molokai Ferry & Tour
Take a trip to the "Friendly Isle" of Molokai and discover why this magical island is considered not just the friendliest, but also the "most Hawaiian" island in the Hawaii chain.
- Private Boat Tours
Charter your own private tour aboard any of our fleets' large luxury cruisers with our exclusive Hawaii Ocean Project Private Maui Charters.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule your next Maui cruise. Mahalo!
Hawaii Marine Research With Dr Robin Baird
By Captain Dave
Hawaii Ocean Project Marine Research Update: Here's what one of our favorite researchers, Dr. Robin Baird, will be up to in the coming weeks:
- During the latter half of July, starting July 17th, Dr. Baird and his team will embark on a 12 day field project off of the Big Island of Hawaii with the following goals:
- Attempt to deploy "LIMPET" satellite tags onto dwarf sperm whales - a feat which, if successful, will be the first time it has ever been completed due to their notorious reputation of being difficult to approach and tag.
- Once tagged; obtain movement and diving behavior from these dwarf sperm whales as they enjoy the warm Hawaiian waters.
- Continue research work with false killer whales and pantropical spotted dolphins.
- Deploy a small number of "LIMPET" satellite tags on other marine species (including beaked whales, sperm whales, melon-headed whales, pygmy killer whales, rough-toothed dolphins and/or bottlenose dolphins) to help further our understanding of their habitat use and movements.
- Gather biopsy and photo documentation to identify and learn more about the population structure and abundance of Hawaiian odontocetes.
Updates to follow as the field project gets further underway.
By Captain Dave
Did you know . . .
- Humpback whales spend most of their life beneath the ocean: many times only coming to the surface briefly to catch a breath of fresh air for their next deep dive.
- Humpback whales have the ability hold their breath underwater for more than 45 minutes!
- Aiding in their impressive dive times are special substances in the whales' bloodstream and muscle tissue which hold and release oxygen as needed.
- The humpbacks you spot on your Maui whale watch do not have teeth, but a hair like substance called baleen which is used to filter food and water into their digestive system.
- Using their baleen plates, humpbacks can easily consume thousands of pounds of food every day.
- However, Hawaiian waters contain virtually no food for humpbacks to eat; causing the whales to fast for their entire four to six month stay here.
- While in Hawaiian waters, humpbacks live off the nutrients stored in their fat/blubber, making sure they stay healthy even without any solid meals.
Watch this space for more great marine life trivia brought to you by the Hawaiian Ocean Project!
Enjoy The Fourth Off The Coast Of Maui
By Captain Dave
Ready to have an awesome Fourth of July on Maui? This coming Friday, Lahaina will light up as it plays host to an impressive display of pyrotechnics just off the shores of Lahaina's famous Front Street! While there will certainly be many good places to catch the fireworks on and around Front Street, the Hawaii Ocean Project has an alternative which you may just want to consider: a completely new, OFFSHORE view!
Instead of fighting the sure to be massive crowds on Front Street, or hoping to get a "good enough" sightseeing spot somewhere down the road, Hawaii Ocean Project will be having a special cruise from which to enjoy your Fourth of July Fireworks celebration! Book a trip on the Maui Princess, Kaulana, or Island Princess and enjoy the show from what could best be described as the best seats on the island. Stretch your legs on deck and enjoy an abundance of space while you and your friends enjoy this fabulous fireworks show amongst the cool breeze and gentle sway of the Pacific Ocean!
Seats are going fast so call 1-808-667-6165 today to reserve yours today. Mahalo!