Humpback Whale

The HUMPBACK WHALE (called kohola) is one of the largest whales in the world, reaching 45 feet and weighing 40-45 tons. Their genus name, Megaptera, means "big wings" because of their long pectoral fins, which are 1/3 the length of their bodies. Their lifespan is 30-40 years, and they have regular migration patterns. During fall and early winter, they migrate toward the equator from their cold water feeding grounds in the Arctic and Antarctic. They tend to come to Hawaii (and other tropical islands) to mate and give birth. There is no specific time at which they arrive in the Hawaiian islands, but they tend to arrive alone, or in groups segregated by age, sex and reproductive condition.


While around the islands, they eat virtually nothing, surviving off the blubber they stored during summer months. However, newborn calves receive approximately 130 gallons of milk from their mother daily. Calves tend to stay with their mothers for a year, and by their second migration trip in the summer to cooler waters, they typically go off on their own. Around the islands, these whales are seen by whale watchers frequently and occasionally are seen by lucky divers, in water as shallow as 40 feet. They're often seen spouting, breaching, and slapping their pectoral fins. Often times while in the water, you're able to hear their songs, which vary by pods. Their songs usually last 6-18 minutes, but when they leave the islands, their singing gradually decreases and ceases completely by the time they reach Alaska.

One of the most common behaviors noted of humpback whales is their spouting on the surface. They typically dive for 10-20 minutes, and upon surfacing, they must empty their lungs, and do so in just under one second. Their air that is expelled travels at 300 mph and produces a spray, or spout, 20 feet into the air. After several breaths, the whale is able to dive again. 

The other behavior noted on the surface is breaching, when the whale propels itself completely, or almost completely, out of the water. Nobody knows the true reason behind breaching but biologists believe it's for communication and social reasons. However, biologists believe head slapping is a more aggressive behavior, frequently done when large makes are in close proximity.