Whale & Wildlife Report | December 22-28, 2024
PC: Olivia Miller
Highlights
Humpback whales
Humpback hydrophone vocals
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Reef manta rays
Monk seals
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Green sea turtles
Whale & Wildlife Report | December 22-28, 2024
In the second week of humpback season Mother Nature brought us lots of action! We saw some spectacular breaches with one whale launching completely out of the water. There’s nothing like watching a 50,000+ lb whale jump in the air! Some humpbacks were in travel mode with a few surface intervals, while others were pec slapping and tail slapping making a scene. Our highlight this week was our first mugging of the season! We were watching two whales, an adult and a sub adult, when they approached our vessel and came to check us out. Our guests got some jaw dropping looks and a couple close spy hops. It’s not every day that the whales come over to people watch!
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Whales are always on the move, meaning that at any moment they could surface nearby! During longer downtimes, we have the opportunity to use one of our favorite tools: our hydrophone! The underwater songs of the humpbacks are enchanting, and we love when our guests get to listen in. Every year, male humpbacks vocalize underwater and they all sing the same song. It’s one of the most impressive coordinated efforts of any marine species! We were thrilled to get some good vocals on many of our tours, and needless to say it was mesmerizing!
PC: Amy Aggergaard
Some of the most heart-warming sights of the humpback season are mom and calf pairs. The Hawaiian Islands are the breeding and birthing grounds for thousands of whales, and every year we get a glimpse of the newest generation to join the world. This week we spotted a tiny baby accompanied by their mom and a male escort. The little whale was swimming in tight formation right above mom’s back. We encountered a couple other babies on our trips, and even a few looks at the surface are special moments.
PC: Amy Aggergaard
We enjoyed multiple dolphin species on our whale watching tours. Bottlenose dolphins were spotted near the fish pens, outside the harbor, and along the coastline. We also had some larger active pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins and we were able to lower our bow ramp on a couple trips for cool views of the dolphins riding our bow! We watched lots of impressive jumps and spins from these acrobatic animals. While searching for dolphins, one of our guests found a solo scalloped hammerhead shark! The shark spent a good amount of time at the surface and it swam right alongside Artemis. What a great week!
PC: Olivia Miller
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.
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