Sometimes people just get lucky. A man named Mason Cogle was vacationing in Hawaii and decided to take a whale-watching tour off the coast of Lahaina in Maui. At this time of year, it’s mating season there, so it’s pretty much a guarantee you’ll spot a whale or two, and if you’re lucky, you might even see one breach.
Now imagine the stars aligning and being in the right place at the right time to witness something truly rare: three whales breaching at the exact same time! You can hear the shock and excitement in Mason and the other tourists’ voices as they watch the spectacular scene unfold right in front of them. And we’re not at all ashamed to admit we’re a little jealous!
Accuweather described it as a once-in-a-lifetime event in the caption. We’re sure that nobody there will ever forget it!
Viewers also enjoyed watching the beautiful sight. @Destructo Dog called it a “flipping good time!” Another commenter added, “They’re like, watch this!”
@Noonie P had our favorite comment when they joked, “I wonder if whales enjoy hearing us yell in awe?”
Related: Golden Retriever and Dolphin Share Cryptic Convo and Everyone Wants the Inside Scoop
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More About the Rare Sighting of Three Breaching Whales
Mr. Cogle spoke with Storyful, and they shared more details about the whale-watching adventure.
“Boaters off the coast of Lahaina, Hawaii, witnessed an incredible sight as a pod of whales breached the waters right near their vessel on February 19. Mason Cogle said he was on a Maui family vacation with Hawaii Ocean Rafting when he captured “an incredible amount of activity.”
“The absolute highlight was this rare, simultaneous triple breach. Even our guides were in disbelief. I was lucky to have my camera rolling for this once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Cogle said.
Whales are strictly protected in Hawaii. Cogle said their guide followed all safety protocols and maintained a legal distance, and that the whales actually approached the tour boat, making the encounter incredibly rare and special.”
This story was originally published by PawNation on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add PawNation as a Preferred Source by clicking here.