2. Topography
Maui's unique topography is another reason why the humpback whales spend
their winters here. Maui County is made up of a four island group; Maui,
Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe.
The islands shelter and protect the waters. As the
islands are in such close proximity, they form a shallow basin at the bottom
as compared to the deep surrounding Pacific Ocean waters at 1 to 3 miles
depths. The average depth in the area off Lahaina is only about 300
feet.
For humans, 300 feet is considered well beyond our safe diving range, but
for a 45 foot humpback whale, 300 feet is just right. Humpbacks seem to
prefer "shallow/protected" waters and spend the majority of their lives in
waters that are 300 feet or less.
3. Lack of Predators
Another reason to come to Maui is that Hawaiian waters are
virtually predator free for the humpback whales. Humpback whales have very few natural
predators. There are a few species of sharks that will feed on the sick, the injured, and
the young. Their only other predator, besides humans, are orcas, the killer whale.
In Hawaii, we rarely see orcas as they prefer colder
waters. The humpbacks encounter orcas on a regular basis in Alaska, and as such, around
20% of humpback whales bear scars from orca attacks.
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