Whale season is here! Beginning this month, Hawaii will see its faithful winter visitors once again, the Pacific humpback whales. More than 10,000 of these majestic mammals migrate here each year all the way from the waters off southeastern Alaska, a two-month journey of more than 3,000 miles.

The whales swim to the Hawaiian Islands to breed, birth and raise their young. There are a few lookout points on all the islands from where one can observe the whales. On Oahu, for example, the Diamond Head lookout is a great spot to see whales, as well as the lookout at Hanauma Bay. On Maui, anywhere along the island’s south shore is good.

The ‘Au’au Channel between Maui and Lanai is actually the favorite hangout spot for the whales. They feel the most protected here because the channel is framed by four islands – Maui to the east, Lanai to the west, Molokai to the north and Kahoolawe to the south. The channel is also not too deep, reaching around 108 feet (33 m). In the Hawaiian language, “’Au’au” means “to take a bath.” This name refers to the channel’s usually calm conditions.

Besides observing the whales from one of the many lookout points, whale watching boat tours are being offered, beginning now until the end of the whale season in mid-April.