Keepers of the Wisdom

ABOUT hawaii whalesonG

Aloha from Maui!

I’ve been listening to and recording the songs of Humpback whales from my kayak for years.

I am passionate about whales!

When the Humpbacks return to Maui each winter, I am out on the water in my kayak every chance I get to be with these majestic creatures. I love the way they swim gracefully, with giant flippers and tail, sometimes breaching joyfully, high out of the water and landing with a big splash!

Most of all, I love their song.

The Humpbacks sing a haunting song, that you can hear when you're swimming under the water in Hawaii during whale season.

I built my first rudimentary hydrophone (in order to listen to the whales) with a stereo microphone inside a condom, wrapped with duct tape and shoo goo.  I have long since purchased a professional quality hydrophone from Aqauarian Audio.  

I am out on the water for hours listening to their song and singing along with them.  The whales all sing the same song, at different places in the song, over and over again.  The song changes slightly over the season and over the years. Researchers have begun studying and comparing the song from Humpback populations all over the Northern Pacific.  I even traveled to Tonga to compare the Southern Humpback song with their Hawaiian cousins and found it very similar (only with a Kiwi accent...)

I have made recordings of the Hawaiian humpback whale songs every year since 2001.

To get a good recording you need a combination of factors:

1. Good equipment that is properly working.

2. A day with light winds so that the hydrophone doesn't drag through the water.

3. No boat engine sounds within a 3-4 mile radius.

4. And a singing whale within a half a mile.

These past few seasons, I’ve had that perfect combination!

Having been a massage therapist and educator for the past 30+ years, I have listened to a lot of relaxation music.  I have always wanted to combine relaxing, healing music with the beautiful vibrations of the Humpback whale song.  The Hawaii Whalesong Project is the fulfillment of this vision. I went into the studio and recorded with several Maui, whale loving musicians and produced “Hawaii Whalesong One.” Click the link below and enjoy.

Raphiell Nolin