Like sensible tourists, from one - half to two - thirds of the northern Pacific herd of
humpback whales migrate from the chilly waters off Alaska each year to spend the winter
in Hawaii. Here, these long - flippered and highly acrobatic mammals mate and give birth
to their young in successive years.

The whales seem particularly fond of the waters of Maui's calm Maalaea Bay as a birthing
ground. A few weeks after birth, small groups of baby whales and adults can be seen
cavorting in the waters off Maui, Molokai, and other islands. Boatloads of whale - watchers
find the creatures most spectacular when they breach, or leap partly out of the water and
fall back with a great splash. I late April, the whales begin the swim to their Alaskan
home.