Discover the World of Whales in Hawaii
September 28, 2008 by writer
Filed under Attractions, Hawaii Eco, Hawaii activities, Oahu Tours
Hawaii, being famous for its beaches, is also a seasonal home for whales. In fact, whale watching is a favorite activity of tourists and locals alike once the winter season rolls by in the state. There exist roughly 10,000 up to 15,000 humpback whales throughout the world and more than a thousand of these adorable animals stay at the warm waters of the Hawaiian Islands each year, during the latter part of November. The whales remain in the state until April and there are even some who are spotted until May before making their way back to their other home, which is Alaska. Hawaii photographers
Tourists would be able to see whales in the tropical waters of each of the Hawaiian Islands. There are plenty of tour providers that arrange either day or sunset whale watching cruises on both small and huge boats. Majority of these tours assure guests of some whale sightings, and if some visitors were not able to view any whales, they would be given a complimentary whale watching tour. Normally, the charge for the tour also incorporates a snack, a drink, some comprehensive narration, and there are also those who offer hydrophones on board the ship. These hydrophones would allow the passengers to listen to the sounds that whales make to communicate with each other.
Immersing one’s self into the world of whales with the help of a submarine is a fascinating way to observe and discover more facts about the humpback whales. In the Aloha State, Atlantis Submarines is the only submarine provider throughout Hawaii and it operates on Maui, Oahu, as well as the Big Island. Not only would the guests be able to see the whales in their natural environment, but since humpback whales are naturally curious about their surroundings, there are some of them who would even approach the water vessel.
Even if whale watching in the state could be done in any Hawaiian Island, the protected Auau Channel as well as the shallow tropical waters farther down Maui’s west coast are among the greatest places to observe whales. There are also boat tours available here from November until April and it departs from the Lahaina Harbor plenty of times each day during the season for watching whales. On the island of Kauai and on the Big Island, there are also abundant whale-watching opportunities and the boat tours are offered by experienced and expert guides.
If one is not comfortable on board a boat, humpback whales could also be seen from dry land. On Kauai, some great sites to start looking for whales are the Kealia Lookout, the Kilauea Lighthouse, and other elevated points of land, particularly in the coastal regions.
In the state of Hawaii, watching whales is a preferred pursuit, and similar with other outdoor activities, there are also rules in whale watching. Observers of these animals should not approach them either by swimming or via a boat within a hundred yards of a whale. But then, since whales are innately inquisitive, they could approach people and there is no law against that. Come to Hawaii to listen to the sounds of the whales as they “sing” and have an amazing experience like no other. Hawaii beach weddings
Take a Swim with the Adorable Dolphins of Hawaii
September 21, 2008 by writer
Filed under Hawaii activities
A favorite tourist activity in Hawaii is to swim with some lovable dolphins. The warm waters of this tropical oasis serve as a home for several species of dolphins. These graceful mammals like playing around and having some fun in the waters all throughout the year. This adventure is great for travelers who want to watch these fabulous dolphins in their natural environment, particularly if they are able to actually swim next to the animals.
When guests are swimming next to the dolphins in the Hawaiian Islands, they would get to observe various kinds of these mammals. Some of the most commonly seen dolphins in Hawaii consist of the bottlenose, the roughtooth, and the spinner. Other species that could also be observed, although not as frequent as the others, are the false killer whales and the pilot of the dolphin variety. The most practical method to have the opportunity to swim with these endearing dolphins is to sign up for a tour.
There are several tours that could arrange for travelers to actually swim with dolphins in Hawaii. These excursions would teach tourists the things that they need to remember while they are swimming close to the dolphins for them to feel the greatest experience possible. Some recommendations consist of swimming gently and gracefully. One should never chase the dolphins. But one could still swim alongside the dolphins and guests should show respect to the animals’ personal space.
Certainly, the tour guides would not be able to promise that all guests would get to swim next to the dolphins during the tour. There are times when these charming mammals actually get scared of the behavior of the visitors who are in the water close to them. However, the possibility of the guests seeing some dolphins is really strong.
There are existing companies found on the Big Island as well as Oahu that provide visitors with an actual swim with the dolphins in the wild. On the other hand, there are also plenty of companies on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island who present some dolphin watching tours on board a boat. This type of tours normally goes in conjunction with scuba diving, snorkeling, or other water sports.
For those seeking a dolphin adventure in Hawaii, they should check out Oahu’s Sea Life Park. This park has some exceptional dolphin programs that would let guests literally swim, pet, hug, or even kiss these amazing dolphins. They would get to learn more about these animals. At Oahu’s Sea Life Park, visitors would not only be able to interact with dolphins but they would also have the chance to get close to other sea life in Hawaii like penguins, sea turtles, and sea lions, among others. This park also offers a combination dolphin and luau package. It merges a unique dolphin escapade together with a bona fide Hawaiian luau that would also be held in this park.
Another Hawaiian dolphin adventure is to be found at the Dolphin Quest. This is situated at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental in Oahu and the Hilton Waikoloa Village in the Big Island. The Dolphin Quest presents unspoiled lagoons and a natural environment for the dolphins. Visitors would get to feed, play, and touch the dolphins in any of its several dolphin programs, perfect for families and couples alike.
If travelers would be able to swim with the dolphins, it would be their greatest adventure in their Hawaii escapade. Being able to experience that would make any tourists’ Hawaiian dolphin wedding holiday a truly unforgettable one.

