The Pacific Whale Foundation provided snorkeling gear and flotation devices for all sizes of guests. Even Katarina, only 22 months, got to see a turtle in the wild as she peered through a Plexiglas window inserted into a Boogie board. Powered by grandparents, with one pushing from behind and another pulling, Katarina easily kept up with the green sea turtle swimming 20 feet below. Meanwhile, my husband and I took turns helping Sammy test her new snorkeling skills. We knew she was still breathing thanks to her excited giggles coming from the tube.
Cetacean families seem to love Maui vacations, too.
The closely clustered islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai form a cradle of calm, warm waters that are protected as part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Each winter, from November to May, nearly 3,500 of the endangered whales gather here to breed, give birth and nurse their calves, having traveled from as far as Alaska. We saw at least five mothers with calves, often accompanied by a male escort who, the on-board marine naturalist explained, may be vying for the next round of breeding rights. Although our closest view was from the catamaran, the whales' distinctive salty exhalations and tail-waving salutations were also constant companions throughout our trip. One frisky humpback put on a great breaching show for us during an oceanside lunch in Lahaina.