"Learning from the Giants: Fascinating Facts About Humpback Whales"

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) travel an astounding 6,000 miles from Alaska to Hawaii each year, seeking warm, shallow waters for breeding and calving. In Hawaii, these whales fast, relying on blubber reserves built during their summer feeding, where they consume up to 3,000 pounds of krill and fish daily using bubble-net feeding. One of their most captivating behaviors is breaching, where they leap from the water, possibly to communicate, remove parasites, or simply play. Male humpbacks are also known for their haunting songs, lasting up to 20 minutes and repeated for hours, thought to attract mates or establish dominance. Calves, born weighing 1-2 tons, rely on their mothers’ rich milk to grow quickly before migrating back to Alaska. Protected by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, these whales are revered in Hawaiian culture as sacred symbols of guidance and protection. Despite their majesty, they face threats like climate change and ocean noise, underscoring the need for continued conservation.