Discover the Thrill of Hawaii's Whale Watching Season with The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

The resort's prestigious Jean-Michael Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program – designed to introduce guests to the natural wonders and rich cultural traditions of the Hawaiian Islands - will be offering a new seasonal whale watching excursion where guests will get up close and personal with Maui's most famous visitor, the Humpback Whale.

Led by a Cousteau trained Ambassadors Naturalist, guests will discover why thousands of North Pacific Humpback whales travel over 3,500 miles every year to return to the warm Hawaiian waters. The naturalists provide in-depth insight into the whales' social behaviors and guide guests through different whale manners, including listening to their song with an underwater hydrophone. Guests can witness these magical creatures while traveling in a safe and comfortable boat, where every seat has front row access. The 3-hour excursion will be offered every Tuesday and Wednesday for $119.95 per person and will include transportation, digital photography, and refreshments.

“We're thrilled to be underway with whale watching season, one of the most special times of year at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua,” says Jay Heidenreich, Director of Sales & Marketing for the resort. “This year we will be launching our boats from Mala Wharf in the nearby town of Lahaina, which is not only a spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving spot, but is rich in Hawaiian history and was home to numerous whaling activities during the World War II era.”

For those who choose to view the whales by land, guests can walk along the Kapalua Coastal Trail that surrounds the 22,000-acre Kapalua Resort, or admire them from the comfort of their hotel room lanai or the resort's Beach House restaurant.

The resort is one of the select Ritz-Carlton properties that is home to the Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program, offering an environmental and cultural education center with excursions led by experts in the field. In addition to the seasonal Whale Watching experience, Ambassadors of the Environment offers a bevy of local activities including Cities Under the Seas snorkeling, rainforest hikes, and more. Through these designed excursions, Maui's ecological resources become a natural classroom and living laboratory in which adults, families and kids learn while having fun at the same time.

For more information or reservations at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, please call (800) 262-8440, the hotel directly at (808) 669-6200 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/Kapalua.