The ship sails and as the deck underfoot now shaking becomes a vast ocean wave. Suddenly, water goes flying. A hump-back whale launches itself skyward, the over-ample tail cutting through salty air. These opportunities, you would find if you went on a whale-watching trip in Lahaina, visit us.
“Look here,” say those who partake of Hawaiian ponderloin, “no two loaves are the same; each piece you slice is packed with surprises.” You could be watching a mother who teaches her calf something of the sea’s etiquette A light slap by a diffident youngster turns into a general drenching as mother sets an example. The deep, melodious calls of adult males occasionally fill the ocean, captivating audiences near and far alike.
Captain Joe, tan to the point of polished bronze, describes in vibrant color a whale once showering his deck generously with its splashing. “Nature’s high-five!” he calls it. So cheerful and loquacious is the conversation that this feeling continues to be pervasive throughout town long after the last man has landed.
Layer up, man. The weather in Lahaina fluctuates like a roller coaster; you’re cruising along and suddenly it’s as if you’ve skidded onto ice. Sunglasses are indispensable, not only because the light here is nearly blinding but from a style sense too. Of course you’ll want a camera. There are certain moments just for the mind’s eye, attended by shared laughter. But for the sake of having it, to actually grab this delightful and valuable experience is well worth the effort.
The beginning of trips is usually gentle. But as excitement mounts, they grab that state of ecstasy and hang onto it almost until it all feels as though it could break loose throughout the boat. Just at this big moment when nature enters the stage, there unfolds a scene grand and thrilling.
Nor should we forget that Lahaina’s waters hold more than whales alone. One might see a pod of leaping dolphins, or a wily turtle lurks with only its eyes out. Alertness is next to piety; in the ocean there are many other fine points worth seeing beyond the whale’s great leap.
For those whose spirit of adventure and inquiry knows no bounds, some trips offer the chance to eavesdrop on underwater conversations with hydrophones. It’s like being an audience to a symphony orchestra down where the water is.
When the sun slips behind the ridgelines, Lahaina suddenly comes to life. On this trip the whales are more than just an object for observation — they are actors, who not only leave a legacy of enjoyment unparalleled for everyone present at such an awesome performance.