19 Maui Ocean Adventures & Whale Watch Magazine
BEHAVIOR
hales, the gentle giants of the sea,
are some of the most fascinating
creatures on Earth, and humpback
whales in particular are real crowd
pleasers with their amazing acrobatics. They
can be seen in Hawaii's near shore waters
during winter, and their impressive athletic
displays are often visible from miles away,
making them a favorite for whale watchers.
Although whales spend 90 percent of
their lives beneath the surface of the ocean,
the small percentage of time they spend
exhibiting surface displays provides plenty of
thrills for us human observers. The question
is, why are humpbacks one of the few whales
that put on such exhibitions? Is it for fun?
A way of communicating? Are these antics
designed to catch prey, help navigate, or
W
