Pantropical Spotted Dolphins

This social species commonly socializes with Hawaiian spinner dolphins whose similar appearance can make them tricky to tell apart. Key features to look for include spotted patterns on mature individuals and a white-tipped rostrum. Like their spinner dolphin cousins, most feeding takes place at night where they seek out small fish and squid. During the day they have been seen chasing flying fish and encircling schools of small baitfish. In Hawaii, they are typically found in larger groups, averaging sixty individuals, though as many as four hundred have been sighted off the Big Island. A genetically distinct population has been found off the Big Island, where sighting rates peak between 1,500-3,500m depths

Dolphin Stats

Scientific Name: Stenella attenuata
Length: 6-7 feet
Weight: 250 lbs
Diet: fish, squid
Lifespan: 46 years
Season: Year-round

More Whales, Dolphins, and Wildlife of the Kona Coast

The Kona coast boasts an incredibly diverse array of marine life. Venture with us out into the blue in search of graceful mantas, massive mola mola, schooling sharks, or one of more than a dozen species of toothed whales that traverse these island waters. 

At Hawaiian Adventures Kona, our expert guides offer the Big Island’s ultimate small-group wildlife experience. Our year-round whale watching, night manta snorkels, and private charters are the best opportunity for a true Hawaiian Adventure.

Whale watching in Kona is year-round! Hawaiian Adventures Kona has access to both near-shore and pelagic zones, which gives you the opportunity to see humpback whales during the winter months, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, flying fish, surface-feeding mantas, pilot whales, beaked whales, sperm whales, spotted dolphins, whale sharks, and more!


Experience the real Kona nightlife and meet the mantas! Our Kona Night Manta tours depart strategically out of Honokohau Harbor, giving us the ability to head where there’s better conditions, fewer people, and more manta rays. This small-group tour is the best way to experience the #1 activity on the Big Island.


Explore the Kona Coast at your own speed. Private tours are the best choice for small or large groups that value exclusivity and a personalized experience. Whether you’re looking for a family adventure, school trip, memorial service, or something entirely different, our team will work with you to create your custom adventure.