The humpback whales are here in force right now. Maui is the epicenter of the humpback migration. It where many of the North Pacific humpback population comes to mate and have their babies. My kayak team got an amazing look at this surfacing whale.
I've had some pretty amazing weeks aboard the Safari Explorer, here in the Hawaiian Islands, but this past week may have taken the cake. We had manta rays show up during our night snorkel on the Big Island, we had sunrise humpback whales swimming under our small boats at Maui, we discovered rare nudibranchs while snorkeling in Lana'i, and hiked to secret waterfall pools through the rainforest of Molokai. Our guests were able to meet interesting and passionate locals on the different islands, helping to immerse into these amazing locations. We are only expedition ship that sails between the Hawaiian Islands, so we are able to provide a very unique adventure. Most people stay in Waikiki, and don't make it far from the hotel pool. They will never get to experience these wild corners of the islands that we can take people to on the Safari Explorer.
Take a look at these photos from the week and enjoy coming along for the ride.
A rare sighting of a Fellow's nudibranch on a snorkel off the coast of Lana'i.
Shortly after I gave a presentation on the Truth of Sharks, we were lucky enough to swim with two of these beautiful white tip reef sharks.
The turtle cleaning station was busy today, off the coast of Maui. These three Green Sea Turtles were enjoying a day at the spa, getting cleaned by these gold ring surgeonfish.
We don't often see spotted eagle rays on our snorkels, so this was quite exciting.
This shark was about four feet long, and was swimming through some beautiful coral reef.
Spinner dolphin, doing its thing. They are the only dolphin species that can leap out of the water spinning like a spiraling football.
We had beautiful sunrises and sunsets this week, as we traveled between the Hawaiian islands.
One adventure this week took us to the far reaches of Lana'i on off-road mountain ebikes. This was the view looking back towards the tallest part of the island.
Two red-footed boobies gave us a close fly-by as we passed the bird sanctuary of Molokini Island.
Two whales coming up between our kayak group.
Team kayak, shooting the anchor chain, as we start our morning kayak in south Maui.
Our head chef, Rachel, getting stoked on a delivery of fresh Onaga, or long-tailed red snapper.
Our early morning whale watch was a hit. The sky was beautiful and the whales put on a show.
I sent my drone up a few times to get a better look at what the whales were doing under the water.
Spinner dolphins catching a ride in our bow wave.
This photo is a little blurry, thanks to the darkness, but it still shows a whale with our boat in the background.
A backlit blow with our whale watching skiff in the background. Early morning whale watch magic.
This whale surprised us as we kayaked through the calm morning waters.
Waterfalls at the back of Halawa Valley on Molokai. Part of our group hiked to the waterfall and swam in its secluded pool.
We hiked 6,000ft up the side of Hualalai Volcano, into a native Hawaiian landscape, and were lucky enough to see some endemic honeycreepers like this Hawaiian Amakihi.
This mom was doing a strange behavior, sticking her nose strait up. I flew my drone, just to double check that she wasn't entangled, but it was just a resting behavior.
I had our wonderful galley utility, Harry, pose in front of our first night's sunset. He doesn't often get outside the galley to soak these things up so I was pretty pumped.
Hawaiian Time Hours.
Here is our hard charging off-road e-biking group, exploring the farther reaches of Lana'i, with Molokai in the background.
After dropping off Maria, our guests presenter, I was greeted with this view of our mobile adventure platform, the Safari Explorer.
It really felt like a rainforest as we entered the hallowed ground of Halawa Valley on Molokai. This is Devak, who walked us through the ancient entry protocal.
Inside a lava tube, nearly 6,000ft up a volcano, we found a tiny nest of a honeycreeper.
Drone shot of where it all started. Our guests embarked on the Safari Explorer here in downtown Kona, for their seven day adventure through the Hawaiian Islands.
Shot of the coastline from above.
Having a little fun as we begin our guided kayak in Maui.
In between showers, the mist hung to the cliffs of Halawa Valley on Molokai.
Justin and Dai Mar, with the tall cliffs of Lana'i behind us.
One of my favorite views on Molokai, looking back into Halawa Valley from the coast.
A big group of spinner dolphins riding our bow.
Early morning bliss in Maui.
This was one of the calmest crossings between Lana'i and Maui ever.
Natalie and Brie, taking advantage of the calm crossing conditions to offer a top-deck happy hour to the guests.
Kayaking in these conditions almost felt like a dry snorkel.
A skill, nailed to the tree, doesn't look quite so ominous when you do this to it.
Our hard charging volcano hikers at just over 6,000ft on our trail through Koloko.
Guiding team, ready to rock and roll!
Miniature ponies at the Lana'i Ranch.
More beautiful kayaking conditions.
Here come the rains down in Molokai.
Shelby and Greg, performing the 'Honi', the traditional Hawaiian greeting.
The river winding its way past a picturesque palm tree in Halawa Valley, Molokai.
This part of our volcano hike felt a bit like Indiana Jones. We climbed down into a lava tube with the help of a rope.
Beautiful Olowalu Valley, behind two of our kayakers. Maui.
As always, keep posting and keep traveling!
