The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary lies within the shallow, warm waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands and is one of the world’s most important humpback whale habitats. Hawai‘i is the only place in the United States where humpback whales mate, calve, and nurse their young. Every year, from November to May, more than half of the North Pacific humpback whale population migrates nearly 3,000 miles to the warm protected waters of Hawai‘i. During whale season it is common to see humpback whales resting near shore or performing acrobatic displays that can be seen from miles away. In the spring and summer, humpback whales return to feed in the cool, nutrient-rich waters near Alaska and other northern areas. The sanctuary helps protect Hawai‘i’s ocean wilderness through research, education, conservation and stewardship. Explore fun games and activities and learn more about humpback whales and the sanctuary online at: 
Scientists identify individual humpback whales by studying their tails, which are also known as flukes. The scalloping, color patterns, and scars on the undersides of the flukes are as unique as your fingerprints.
Match the numbered flukes on the left with the same flukes on the right.
Whales are often seen leaping from the water (breaching) or slapping the surface of the water with their pectoral fins and flukes. These behaviors may serve a number of social functions. Whales may engage in these behaviors to communicate to other whales, to check out what is going on above the surface, or to simply play. If you are ever in a boat or swimming and see a whale exhibiting these behaviors, be sure not to get closer than 100 yards. Whales are protected by law, and we should be especially careful not to disturb them in a whale sanctuary, where they have come to give birth to their young.
Find and circle the words that relate to whale behavior.
Connect the dots to complete the humpback whale.
North Pacific humpback whales feed in the cool, nutrient-rich waters near Alaska and other northern areas during the summer months and migrate south in winter to mate, calve and nurse their young. The exact route of approximately 3,000 miles is unknown. The open ocean poses many hazards such as collisions with vessels, entanglement in marine debris, and attacks by predators.
Find a migration route from the waters off Alaska to the protected waters of Hawai‘i.
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are part of a group of mammals called cetaceans. There are about 80 different species of cetaceans in the world. Humpback whales (also known by their scientific name, Megaptera novaeangliae) are one of the more easily recognized cetaceans in Hawaiian waters. Don’t forget that Hawaiian waters also provide habitat for numerous other marine species including Hawaiian monk seals, green and hawksbill turtles, many species of fish, and coral reef inhabitants. Some of these are found nowhere else in the world.
Connect the cetaceans shown below with their names to learn what other species may be found in Hawai‘i.
Humpback whales display a wide variety of behaviors while in the waters off Hawai‘i. Can you identify the various humpback whale behaviors below?
Tail Slap Head Slap Breach Peduncle Slap Spy Hop Pec Slap
Answer the following questions with true or false. Can you explain your answers?
1. Whales are fish because they live in the ocean. T or F
2. Humpback whales live in Hawaiian waters all year long. T or F
3. Pec slapping may be a way that whales communicate. T or F
4. Humpback whales come to Hawai‘i to feed. T or F
5. The flukes of every humpback look the same. T or F
6. Whales are protected by laws. T or F
7. Humpback whales have hair follicles just like other mammals. T or F
8. Whales do not play. They are very serious animals. T or F
9. You must stay at least 100 yards away from a humpback whale. T or F
10. North Pacific humpback whales migrate over 6,000 miles T or F
every year.
Page 6 Answer: 1.b, 2.e, 3.a, 4.c, 5.d
1. Breach 2. Spy Hop 3. Pec Slap Page 7 4. Peduncle Slap 5. Head Slap 6. Tail Slap
Answer: 1. False. Whales are mammals. 2. False. They migrate Page 8 to Hawaii in the winter. 3. True. As well as other social functions. 4. False. Most humpbacks feed in the colder waters off Alaska. 5. False. Humpback tail flukes are unique to each individual. 6. True. 7. True. 8. Whales, as well as humans engage in playful activity. 9. True. 10. True. Round trip from Alaska to Hawai‘i is approximately 6,000 miles.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY 
 E-mail: hihumpbackwhale@noaa.gov
Maui Headquarters Office & Sanctuary Kaua‘i Office Education Center 4370 Kukui Grove St. 726 South Kihei Rd. Suite 206 Kihei, HI 96753 Lihu‘e, HI 96766 Phone: (808) 879-2818 Phone: (808) 246-2860 Toll Free: 1-800-831-4888 Kona Office O‘ahu Office 73-4460 Queen Ka‘ahumanu Hwy. 6600 Kalaniana‘ole Hwy. Suite 112 Suite 301 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Honolulu, HI 96825 Phone: (808) 327-3697 Phone: (808) 397-2651 State of Hawai‘i DLNR Office Toll Free: 1-888-55-WHALE 1151 Punchbowl St. Suite 330 Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 587-0106
Humpback Whale Activity Book 5th Edition January 2010
