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Migration of Whales From Hawaii to Alaska

Whales migrate annually from Hawaii to Alaska during the summer beginning in June or July as part of a lifestyle pattern that is essential to their survival. Waters in the northern end of the Pacific Ocean are much busier than the warmer, more tranquil waters in the southern Hawaiian end. The Alaskan water's aquatic activity provides abundant krill, herring and mackerel for feeding and fattening. Adequate blubber is necessary for later travels back to Hawaii, a trip that usually begins around November or December.

Cycle of Life
- The benefit of Alaskan waters is evident in the green color reflective of the abundant plant life. Humpback whales don't just swim to Alaska during summer months because the water is colder. According to the Island Marine Institute, Alaskan summer days are long. Extended sunshine periods allow for the development of more profuse plant life due to photosynthesis. Aquatic plants provide food for fish to feed on. The humpback whales have a dominant role in the oceanic food chain, feeding on the fish that live off the plant life. Time spent off the shores of Alaska allows the whales to build up their fat stores.
Alaskan Whale Watching
- In Alaska, the whales stay closer to the floor of the ocean eating plankton and fish, but in Hawaii they are busy mating. For these reasons, whales don't show as much as activity on the surface of the ocean water in Alaska as they do in Hawaii. Whale watchers, however, still check for sightings. University of Alaska Southeast scholar, Jan Straley, comments that Alaskan residents and visitors watch whales in Sitka Sound, Juneau, Ketchikan and Petersburg.
Journey Specifics
- Marine biologists speculate that whales know when to travel from one end of the Pacific Ocean to the other based on temperature changes in the water. They navigate their trips by following ocean currents and using the earth's magnetic field. They usually travel in groups and listen for acoustic cues. The distance between Hawaii and Alaska is approximately 3,500 miles. Whale schools are able to make the distance in less than 40 days but travels can take up to eight weeks.
Important Fact
- Whales migrate to Alaska from Hawaii in greater numbers than when they migrated from Alaska to Hawaii. Whales use the warm Hawaiian waters to mate. Stored blubber from eating in Alaska provides the female whales energy to breed and nurse their calves. Also, warmer waters are more suitable for breeding because newborn calves don't have enough blubber to withstand the colder Alaskan water temperatures. Eight weeks of nursing is usually enough to fatten calves for travel back to Alaska.

Animals & Science