Whale & Wildlife Report | December 15-21, 2024
PC: Amy Aggergaard
Highlights
Humpback whales
Humpback hydrophone vocals
Short-finned pilot whales
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Hawaiian monk seals
Green sea turtles
Reef manta rays
Whale & Wildlife Report | December 15-21, 2024
Happy humpback season! The first week of our humpback whale watching tours is complete and we had so many great encounters! We found whales to the north, south, and even right in front of the harbor. Where we go and where we find humpbacks changes every trip. Whether you join us in the morning or the afternoon, it’s always a good time of day to go whale watching!
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
With so many humpback encounters, we’re excited to share our favorites in our weekly whale report. We found multiple competition pods on our tours, and we spotted one group two days in a row! A competition pod is a group of male humpbacks, often displaying competitive behavior with each other. We witnessed breaching, chin slapping, tail throwing, and even some cartwheels. When there was less surface action during our trips, we dropped our hydrophone to listen underwater. On multiple occasions we picked up humpback vocals, and our guests loved listening to their songs! Our favorite photo this week (pictured at the top of this report) was a pair of humpbacks who were synchronized tail slapping. It was such a cool sight!
PC: Olivia Miller
Even though it’s humpback season, there is still so much other wildlife on the Kona Coast. One of our trips encountered short-finned pilot whales to the south, and we got some good looks at the pod. We also had dolphins on many of our adventures. We frequently spotted Hawaiian spinner dolphins outside the harbor, and we had a larger group of around 200 near Kua Bay. We were treated to lots of spinning and bow riding! Near the fish pens we pointed out a couple hunting bottlenose who were actively on the search for their next meal.
PC: Olivia Miller
We had some interesting marine mammals in the harbor this week, Hawaiian monk seals! Hawaiian monk seals are an endangered species, and a couple seemed to be hanging around Honokohau. We even spotted a monk seal pup! We’re curious as to this new congregation, and we wish them a safe swim as they navigate the area.
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Our night manta trips were so much fun this week! We had great water conditions and awesome visibility underwater. At the northern manta site, our team estimated at least 15-20 reef manta rays! We had barrel rolling from start to finish under our light boards, and everyone had great views of the gentle giants swooping below. Winter or summer, join us for a night manta snorkel!
Interested in experiencing these 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.
