KAHANA, Maui — A pod of humpback whales was spotted Tuesday morning off the west coast of Maui, the first reported sighting in the state, marking the beginning of whale season, according to an official with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

John Reilly, 52, of Bend, Ore., said he saw a pod of about four whales while he was visiting the Kahana Ridge residence of friend Jim Troughton. After calling The Maui News, he reported the sighting to whale sanctuary officials.

Other reports of whale sightings also came in Tuesday.

Mahinahina resident Erin What was home for lunch at his Pacific Shores condominium when he saw "white foam splash remnants, spouts and a couple of tail slappings."

He said he couldn't determine the number of whales, but that they were about one to two miles offshore, heading toward Lahaina.

Honokowai resident Kim Claus said she saw a whale much closer, about 150 to 200 yards offshore around noon on Tuesday.

"There was a huge breach," she said. "So we got out our binoculars, and we watched for about five minutes."

Enjoying a day off from her job as an office manager at Teralani Sailing, Claus said she called the company's boat captains and told them, "Heads up!"

She said she and a companion joked that the whale they saw was a male who had come early to Maui waters to prepare for mating season.

"We teased that that was the bachelor coming to set up the bachelor pad," Claus said.

She said she was excited to be among the first to see the early whale arrivals.

"Every year, it's a big thing to see them first," she said.

Last year, the first whale was spotted on Oct. 12, Miller said. Whales have been seen as early as September.

Humpback whales winter in Hawaiian waters from about the end of October and early November to the end of April and early May. The whales feed in Alaskan waters, and swim to Hawaii to spend the winter months mating, giving birth and caring for their young.