Thousands of humpbacks swim down from the North Pacific every winter to breed and raise calves in warm, shallow water.
Season: November to April · Peak: January to March| Island | Notes |
|---|---|
| Maui | The Maui Nui region is part of the sanctuary, and the shallow channel to Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi suits humpbacks. |
| Hawaiʻi Island | Part of the sanctuary. |
| Oʻahu | Part of the sanctuary. |
| Kauaʻi | Kauaʻi and Niʻihau waters are part of the sanctuary. |
The sanctuary protects the humpbacks’ preferred habitat, water less than about 600 feet deep. That is why the channels between islands, like the one between Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, are so busy.
Twenty-three other whale and dolphin species have been recorded in Hawaiian waters, plus five kinds of sea turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.
Humpbacks are generally seen from November through April, with the peak from January through March.
To breed, give birth and nurse their calves. Roughly half of the North Pacific humpback population visits each winter and spring.
Maui is the usual pick. The sanctuary covers the Maui Nui region, and the channel between Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi is shallow, which is the water humpbacks prefer. You can still see whales off Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.
Where this comes from (checked November 6, 2026). Whales do not read calendars; seasons shift year to year.