Two humpback whales have decided to swim into Honolulu Harbor, much to the delight of tourists around Aloha Tower who are taking advantage of the photo opportunity. State officials say that the whales are not in any danger and hope that the whales will leave when they get hungry. However, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has sent out a patrol boat to make sure that other boats are at least 100 yards away from the whales and not disturbing them. Under the Endangered Species Act, vessels are required to stay at least 100 yards away from them at all times.
At one point the two whales came within 10 to 15 feet from the Aloha Tower and swam around various cruise ships. The whales are approximately 30 feet in length, and are believed to be a mother and a yearling. The depths of Honolulu Harbor are between 45 to 50 feet, so marine experts believe that the whales should have no difficulty swimming around. The last time whales swam into Honolulu Harbor was approximately 15 years ago.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-5-2012, www.staradvertiser.com Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor Global Executive Realty, LLC www.myhawaiihomesearch.com www.myhawaiicondo.com www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
