Two unexpected guests wound up being the highlight of Katherine Allen’s birthday in December. The 70-year-old visitor from Norfolk, Va., was aboard the Pacific Whale Foundation’s sunset dinner cruise with her family when a pair of humpback whales glided alongside the boat right before dessert.

“My mother was thrilled,” said Alison Stewart, PWF’s communications manager. “That was her first dining experience at sea, and seeing whales up close was the icing on the cake for her.”

According to Stewart, the ‘Au‘au Channel off Lahaina Harbor is known as “whale soup” because of the amount of humpback activity that can be seen there during the winter. That’s when the humpbacks migrate from Alaska to Hawaii’s warm waters to mate, give birth and nurse their calves. This is the peak of whale-watching season, and the humpbacks are competing with sunset for star billing on PWF’s two-hour dinner cruises.

It’s not uncommon for passengers aboard the double-deck catamarans Ocean Discovery and Ocean Quest to spot the magnificent mammals playing in the ocean. Certified marine naturalists are onboard to share tidbits about Hawaii’s most famous winter visitors and answer questions about them.

“Humpbacks can be curious; they like to check out what’s going on in their environment,” Stewart said. “Federal law prohibits swimmers and any vessels, even small one-person kayaks, from approaching within 100 yards of the whales, but the whales can come to them. The ocean is their home, after all.”

A “MUGGING” occurs when whales linger close to a vessel or dive under it. When that happens, the captain is required to turn off the engine and not move the boat until the whales leave.

Dinner cruise guests keep their eyes peeled for appearances by the humpbacks, which could happen anytime, anywhere. The route varies, depending on weather and sea conditions, and spectacular panoramas usually encompass Lanai, Molokai and the west coast of Maui, from Olowalu to Kaanapali. All guests are guaranteed outdoor seating, and the captain maneuvers the boat to ensure they enjoy prime views during the evening no matter where they’re sitting.

The four-course supper features fresh, locally grown and sustainably sourced ingredients and a choice of entrees: lemongrass- and curry-marinated shrimp with lilikoi butter sauce, boneless teriyaki chicken breast with papaya salsa or chimichurri flatiron steak with wild mushroom demi-glace, all grilled to order onboard. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available upon request.

“Our sunset dinner cruise is a great way to relax, have a wonderful meal and appreciate the beauty of nature,” Stewart said. “Even better, this time of the year, it’s possible to do it in the company of whales!”

About the Pacific Whale Foundation

The Pacific Whale Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Makena, Maui, in 1980 to save whales from extinction. Since then it has extended its reach around the world, conducting studies in Hawaii, Chile, Australia and Ecuador to protect not only whales, but all undersea life.

PWF offers Maui-based eco-ocean adventures; beach cleanups; field trips and classes for preschool through high school students; professional development training for marine naturalists and others in the marine tourism industry; and free talks, slide shows and other programs for the public. Net proceeds from its tours help fund its research and educational and conservation programs.

To volunteer, become a member and/or make a donation, go to the You Can Help link at pacificwhale.org. Tax-deductible contributions can also be mailed to PWF at 300 Maalaea Road, Suite 211, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.