The vigorous activity of this competition pod combined with windy, choppy surface conditions difficult whale watching, let alone getting a decent photograph of these cowboys!

28 February 2013
Never say "Whoa!" at a horse race: five whales (including one hidden behind the trailing whale) in an energetic competition pod race each other to the "pole position" next to the female swimming just ahead of them.

28 February 2013
The whale in the middle of this shot is combining jaw claps (note the gaping jaws) with head thrusts in an effort to discourage the other contenders in this dynamic competition pod.

28 February 2013
The members of this surface-active competition pod exhibited every kind of whale behavior in the book as it led my boat a merry chase for several miles.

 28 February 2013
A competition pod heading into the wind and oblivious to Ma'alaea Bay's choppy surface conditions offshore from Wailea.

28 February 2013
The Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's chase boat keeping pace with a fast-moving and VERY dynamic competition pod. I counted at least eight whales in the pod.

28 February 2013
The Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's chase boat keeping pace with a fast-moving and VERY dynamic competition pod. I counted at least eight whales in the pod.

28 February 2013
The Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's chase boat keeping pace with a fast-moving and VERY dynamic competition pod. I counted at least eight whales in the pod.

28 February 2013
The Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's chase boat keeping pace with a fast-moving and VERY dynamic competition pod. I counted at least eight whales in the pod.

28 February 2013
The vigorous activity of this competition pod combined with windy, choppy surface conditions difficult whale watching, let alone getting a decent photograph of these cowboys!

28 February 2013
The vigorous activity of this competition pod combined with windy, choppy surface conditions difficult whale watching, let alone getting a decent photograph of these cowboys!

28 February 2013
The vigorous activity of this competition pod combined with windy, choppy surface conditions difficult whale watching, let alone getting a decent photograph of these cowboys!

28 February 2013
See photo in original gallery.