Rare Sighting of a North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in Hawai'i

Abstract

On 2 April 1996, a North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was sighted in the company of three humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off the western coast of Maui, Hawai'i (200 56' N, 1560 46' W). The right whale appeared to initiate social interactions with the humpback whales. The right whale was estimated to be 13 m in length. Its sex was undetermined. This represents the first confirmed sighting of a right whale in Hawaiian waters since 1979. The 1996 sighting was similar to those in 1979 in that a solitary right whale was observed interacting with humpback whales during a l7-day period in late March and early April. In all but one instance, there were three or more humpbacks present.