Hawaii’s Back yard
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
Whale counts promise
big thrills
Vacation with the whalesOne of the best birthday presents Barbara Billand ever received was a set of specialty license plates from her husband, Robert, that read "HUMPBK." Winter is her favorite season because that's when the humpbacks migrate 3,500 miles to Hawaii from chilly Alaska waters to breed and give birth to their young.
The 53-year-old Maili housewife is crazy about whales. "I watch for them every day, every chance I get," she says. "It's cute -- my family and friends call me whenever they see a whale, and if I'm not stuck doing something, I'll rush there in a flash."
Billand and her husband have participated in whale counts on Oahu's leeward coast with the federally funded Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary since 1995. "Last year," she recalls, "we counted 43 whales in February. It was awesome, amazing, exhilarating!"
HAWAIIAN ISLAND HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES
Members of the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuaries will be assisting the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach in its whale count and celebration Friday.
The whales have connected them with people from all walks of life. "We've met as total strangers sharing the joy of counting whales, and at the end we've become friends," Billand says. "Each year, I can't wait for the whales to arrive. I never get tired of them. My husband knows there's no need to take me out for an expensive meal -- just take me to see the whales!"
Participate in a whale count yourself, and Billand promises you'll share her enthusiasm. HIHWNMS will be conducting counts at 60 sites on Oahu, the Big Island and Kauai on Jan. 25, Feb. 22 and March 29 (call toll-free 888-55-WHALE for details). Depending on such factors as ocean conditions and elevation of the site, whales normally can be seen within three miles from shore. Last year, more than 2,000 volunteers participated in HIHWNMS's counts.
FOR THE FIRST time, the organization also will be overseeing a special whale count on Friday, in conjunction with Celebration of Whales Day at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach (whose name will change tomorrow to Waikoloa Beach Marriott, An Outrigger Resort). Now through April is peak whale season, and the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, where the hotel is located, is a prime place to spot the frolicking humpbacks.
Place: Outrigger Waikoloa Beach, 69-275 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa Celebration of Whales Day
When: Whale count starts at 7:30 a.m. Friday. Meet at the Ocean Sports beach hut at Anaehoomalu Bay fronting the resort. Telescopes will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. Don't forget to apply a liberal dose of sunscreen and wear a hat and comfortable walking shoes. Related activities will take place in the hotel lobby from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
Call: 808-886-6789 on the Big Island, 800-922-5533 from the other islands
Web site: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, www.hihwnms.nos.noaa.gov
The three-hour whale count kicks off the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach's daylong festivities honoring Hawaii's state mammal. Whale watchers will meet on the beach hugging pretty Anaehoomalu Bay for a briefing, during which everyone will be given a Humpback Whale Data Sheet to record the time period, number of adults and calves, and different types of behaviors observed from two points at the north end of the bay. Hopefully, the whales will be in a playful mood and participants will see them breaching (jumping out of the water), blowing (taking a breath at the surface), slapping their tails and more.
Information will be transmitted to the Keiki Kohala research vessel cruising offshore, and the completed data sheets will be submitted to HIHWNMS to further its goal of protecting the humpback and its habitat.
"The warm waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands constitute one of the world's most important habitats for the endangered humpback whale," notes Naomi McIntosh, HIHWNMS's acting director.
"Scientists estimate that two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale population -- roughly 5,000 of the 7,000 humpback whales -- migrate to Hawaii each winter."
Refreshments will be served on the beach, and a marine naturalist will be on hand to share and discuss the meanings of recently recorded whale songs.
Back in the Outrigger Waikoloa lobby, you can view a HIHWNMS whale display. Kids are invited to dive into activities such as making whale hats and crab masks. Everyone will receive a complimentary activity book full of fascinating tidbits about the magnificent humpback.
Witnessing their power and grace is an experience avid whale watcher Barbara Billand insists you shouldn't miss. "If you have never seen a whale breach, just imagine a city bus jumping out of the water. It's something that will stay with you forever!
"I get chicken skin; I cry and cheer. It's an incredible, inspiring sight all of us can enjoy if we just take the time to sit on the shores of our beautiful islands and gaze at the ocean."
BACK TO TOP |
HAWAIIAN ISLAND HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES
The humpback got its name from its practice of arching its back and raising its tail flukes above water in preparation for a deep dive.
From now through April 15, you can have a whale of a time at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach. Its Celebration of Whales program treats one guest per room to a free whale-watching cruise with every stay of four nights or more. Vacation with the whales
Book an oceanfront room, and the resort will gift you with high-powered Bushnell binoculars (one set per room). Even better, passengers are guaranteed to spot a whale, or they can return the next day for a complimentary cruise.
Ocean Sports' two-hour whale-watching cruises depart at 7:30 and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily from the beach fronting the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach. Beverages, snacks and commentary by a marine naturalist are included in the price of the tour, which is $59 for adults and $39 for children ages 3 through 12 (kamaainas receive a 20 percent discount). Children 2 and under are free.
Reservations are required 24 hours in advance by visiting the resort's Aloha Services Desk or calling 808-886-6666 on the Big Island or toll-free 888-724-5234 from the other islands.
Kamaaina rates at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach begin at $145 per night. Call 800-OUTRIGGER.
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based free-lance writer
and Society of American Travel Writers award winner.
