Humpback Whale Strikes Couple's Canoe off Hawaii

Last week, a humpback whale paid an unexpected visit to an Arizona couple who were vacationing in Hawaii, enjoying a canoe ride. Laurent Lebihan and his girlfriend decided to go whale-watching off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Maui, but little did they dream that their vacation would turn into an unforgettable experience.  They were surprised when a humpback whale leaped out of the water and bumped into their canoe.

Fortunately, the couple remained safe, as it was an adolescent whale. The incredible sight of the humpback whale capsizing the canoe was videotaped by Laurent Lebihan, and was later uploaded on YouTube with the caption 'Humpback gives our canoe a love tap'. The video that was posted Feb. 3 on YouTube has had more than 394,528 viewers.

Lebihan was quoted in Daily Mail stating, "Actually, it all happened so quick that shock factor wasn't immediate. I'm surprised I held onto the camera and followed him."

After this incident, marine officials have cautioned boaters and paddlers.

"Go low and keep a lookout, those are the messages. We are in peak whale season January, February, March; there are a lot of whales out there. Most of these strikes have happened off of Maui. We had one in Kona that I think everyone has heard about," Elia Herman, National Marine Sanctuary, was quoted as saying in Khon2.

Every year, about 1,000 humpback whales visit the Hawaiian waters for breeding, especially between January and April. They migrate from the Gulf of Alaska, reports Go Hawaii.com.

Click here to watch how the whale lands on the canoe.