Hawaii’s wildlife spectacular

It's spring and the north Pacific humpback whales are key residents in the warm waters of Hawaii.

With 6,000 to 8,000 whales making the migration each year to breed and give birth, Hawaii is the world's hotspot to see these enormous, yet graceful creatures in all their glory.

Weighing up to 45 tons, the humpback whale is one of the largest whales in the world. Guided tours by boat and from land allow visitors to get up close and personal, even though regulations forbid boats from approaching within 100 yards of a whale. Visitors can whale-watch from every island, however the calm, clear waters of the Auau Channel between the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai is one of the best places to see Hawaii's humpbacks from late November until the beginning of April.

In the 1800s, Lahaina in Maui was the centre of whaling in Hawaii and whales were hunted to the point of near extinction. Today, Lahaina harbor is whale-friendly and home to a wide variety of whale watching tours; from charter boats to passenger rafts. Tours last two to four hours and some offer early-bird specials.

For more information, please visit: gohawaii.com/uk