Giant Humpback Whales Blow Bubbles & Sideways Breach Off the Coast of Maui

Two adult humpback whales display high-energy surface behavior off the coast of Maui, including forceful bubble blasts from their mouths and dramatic sideways breaches. Bubble-blowing at the surface is often associated with social interaction, communication, or heightened activity during competitive encounters. The sideways breach—where a whale twists and lands laterally—demonstrates both power and agility. These behaviors are most frequently observed during Hawaiʻi’s winter breeding season, when adult humpbacks gather in Maui’s warm, shallow waters. The waters surrounding Maui are a critical seasonal habitat for North Pacific humpback whales, offering rare opportunities to observe complex social and surface displays close to shore. ----- Maui Sands Unit 4B offers a true oceanfront vantage point—an ideal whale-watching home base where you can experience humpback activity directly from your ground-floor lanai. This fully equipped, carbon-neutral, eco-friendly two-bedroom condo blends modern comfort with the authentic character of one of West Maui’s original resort properties. Built in the 1960s, Maui Sands retains its vintage Hawaiʻi charm from before the large hotel boom, offering a quieter, more intimate coastal setting. If you would like to experience this view in person, visit https://www.mauisands.com to learn more and check availability.