Kealakekua bay is a large (0.8 mile diameter) bay half open to
the ocean. On the far side of the bay in the trees is a white
monument near where Captain Cook was killed. In January of 1999
we were blessed by the birth of a baby humpback whale in the bay.
My friends told me of listening to the mother slap her tail then
the baby slapping its tail well into the night. Several days
later we swam out to see what would happen. We got very lucky...
This is the view I had when I first came upon them. I was
actually looking in the water for jellyfish as I had just been
stung. I thought I was looking at a jellyfish when I realized it
was the mother whale's fin! I stopped a respectful 45 - 50 feet
away. The water was murky and the sun was low as it was about 4
in the afternoon.
The baby whale
swimming straight up by the mother's tail. We are looking at the
underside of the baby.
The mother and baby rising to the surface. They were
indescribably graceful and powerful.
The mother breathing on the surface. It was amazing to hear her
breath from so close up.
My friend Lynn on the surface after our two encounters. We were
stunned beyond words.