Everyone remembers the first time they saw a whale.
For me, it happened in the most unexpected way—through the window of a taxi. My husband and I were winding our way along the coastal road from Kihei to Lahaina, heading off to volunteer with a University of Hawai‘i research project. It was late in the season, and we hadn’t seen a whale yet—but we were in Maui, and hope was high.
Then it happened.
Out in the distance, offshore from the road, I saw a whale breach. A full-bodied arc out of the water, silhouetted against the ocean. I let out an involuntary squeal, and our lovely taxi driver—clearly amused—pulled over safely so we could take it in.
We stood there for a few magic minutes, watching the whale breach again and again. Then it was back into the taxi and on to Lahaina. But the feeling lingered.
💙 “When a whale looks right back at you. Hooked from this moment on
Still, it was what came next that truly changed things for me.
We joined the research project as eco-volunteers and found ourselves aboard a small Boston Whaler boat called Kohola. One of our first encounters was with a “competitive pod”: one female, the nuclear adult, a male primary escort, and about 20 male secondary escorts all jostling and charging to win her attention. It was wild—chaotic, fast-paced, loud. And I was completely captivated.
I’ve seen many whales since then. But that sense of awe? It never fades.
And pardon the pun—but once you’re hooked, you’re hooked. That experience in Hawaii all those years ago, changed my life.
Where was your first whale experience and what impact did it have on you?
Dr Sue Mason
Scientist | Educator | Mentor