Whale & Wildlife Report | April 13-19, 2025
PC: Olivia Miller
Highlights
Short-Finned Pilot Whales
Pygmy Killer Whales
Rough-Toothed Dolphins
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Oceanic White Tip Sharks
Whale & Wildlife Report | April 13-19, 2025
Is whale watching in Kona year-round? YES! The Kona Coast boasts beautiful shallow areas and deeper waters that we refer to as the pelagic zone. In these deeper zones we have the ability to encounter over a dozen species of whales and dolphins throughout the year! This week we spent time with multiple pelagic species on our whale watching adventures.
PC: Olivia Miller
Our whale watching tours found a number of short-finned pilot whales. Down south we had a pod that was split into multiple subgroups. One group was composed of females and juveniles, with the bulls cruising together nearby. There were a couple massive boys in the pod as well as a spunky pair of oceanic white tip sharks! During another encounter the juveniles were especially active and we witnessed a couple tail slaps at the surface. Our favorite moment was when they turned the tables to come check us out and do a little people watching!
PC: Olivia Miller
While making our way over to what we thought was a group of pilot whales, our team quickly realized that they were pygmy killer whales!! Pygmy killer whales are a small toothed whale and one of the many exotic species that we have the opportunity to see in Kona. We do have a resident population of these whales off the Big Island, and with 30-40 individuals during our encounter, there may have been some interisland whales in the mix. We were lucky to get lots of surface time and everyone was thrilled to see such a rare species!
PC: Olivia Miller
Our tours encountered lots of dolphins this week! We had active Hawaiian spinner dolphins outside the marina which is always a great way to start the day. We were fortunate to spot some bottlenose dolphins hunting around the fish pens as well as down south near Keauhou. One group rode our bow for quite some time and surfed the larger waves that the ocean provided that day. In deeper waters we found one of our favorite species, rough-toothed dolphins! With our current 3-4 hr tours, we get to have amazing encounters with wildlife that inhabit Kona’s pelagic zone. It’s going to be an amazing spring on the water!
PC: Olivia Miller
Interested in experiencing our tours?
Hawaiian Adventure’s tours provide the best opportunity to explore Kona’s coast and the wildlife beneath the waves. Our top-notch vessels, experienced crew, and oceanic expertise will make your Big Island adventure unforgettable.
If you’ve been on other tours, you’ll appreciate the Hawaiian Adventures difference.
