Watch as a golden retriever meets a whale off Hawaii. ‘Her wish came true’
A “smart and curious” 11-year-old golden retriever named Macy got to meet a humpback whale off Hawaii, a video shows.
The moment was caught on camera March 29 and shared to Instagram by Capt. Chrissy Lovitt.
“After years and years of trying to bark whales over to see her, she finally caught the attention of a juvenile male whale,” Lovitt said in the post.
The boat was about 2 miles from Lahaina, which is on the island of Maui, when Macy was seen with her golden hair hanging over the side of a whale-watching boat operated by Maui Ocean Adventures.
She is seen barking as the male whale turns its head toward her, then briefly comes to the surface for air, the video shows.
The whale lingers for a moment, and the video ends. But Lovitt said the whale “hung out” with Macy for more than 45 minutes.
“To see her finally bark at a whale and it genuinely take an interest in her nearly brought me to tears,” Lovitt told McClatchy News on Instagram.
Macy has encountered whales in the past, but she hasn’t had an experience like this.
“For 11 years she has been on the lookout for them every time she’s on a boat. Her excitement level went to a ten when it got closer to her and then finally approached her,” Lovitt said.
“She is very smart and curious, and she loves whales more than anyone I know,” Lovitt said.
Lovitt said the group followed all marine life viewing guidelines, including staying at least 100 yards away from whales and not using the engine if one approaches the boat.
“I’m sooo happy for Macy!! She’s been asking for one to be her friend forever it seems like and finally her wish came true,” one person commented on Instagram.
“Yay for Macy! Persistence pays off!! how absolutely gorgeous,” another person wrote.
Macy isn’t a stranger to boats. She was born in Lahaina and would join her mom when she was a captain on the Molokai Ferry, according to the whale-watching group’s website.
The business is women-owned and founded by survivors of the devastating Lahaina Fire, which happened in August 2023 and killed 102 people.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 9:27 AM with the headline "Watch as a golden retriever meets a whale off Hawaii. ‘Her wish came true’."
