Whale & Wildlife Report | Feb 9-15, 2025
PC: Olivia Miller
Highlights
Humpback Whales
False Killer Whales
Bottlenose Dolphins
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Pantropical Spotted Dolphins
Hawaiian Monk Seal
Green Sea Turtles
Whale & Wildlife Report | Feb 9-15, 2025
One of our favorite joys of running tours is sharing in the excitement with our guests! After hundreds of trips, every one is still special. We had some energetic whales this week and a couple encounters that made our jaws drop! Humpback competition pods are so interesting to watch, and we were treated to a bunch of tail slaps, pec slaps, and cartwheels! Humpback whales are incredibly powerful and we love watching them make a scene at the surface. We had multiple grand finales this week with big breaches, reaffirming how the search is never over until we're tied up at the dock!
PC: Olivia Miller
Whales are wild animals, and we had some wild encounters with a couple curious humpbacks. When a whale decides to check us out, we shut down with engines off and enjoy the moment! On one of our whale watching tours, a few whales approached us and we got some insane views and passes. They crossed beneath Artemis several times and surfaced around us. A few guests even made some cool eye contact! What a remarkable experience!
PC: Olivia Miller
We enjoyed lots of heartwarming humpback calves on our adventures. Not far from the harbor, we found mom, calf, and escort trios. A few of the calves looked especially small, and based on her size, one of the mom’s also appeared to be a younger whale! While other calves were showing off with lots of breaches and chin slaps, one baby was taking it easy and resting right on top of their mom’s head. The male escorts followed in tow, and our naturalists were able to ID a male as “Draco”, a humpback seen in the Salish Sea by our sister company Island Adventures!
PC: Olivia Miller
While searching for humpback whales and dolphins, two of our tours also found false killer whales! We saw cluster 1 earlier this month, and we were stoked to see them again this week. On both occasions, they were on the move and spread out, but we got some good looks and passes. This species is listed as critically endangered for our insular population, and they are one of the more rare pelagic whales that we see on the Kona Coast. We’re glad our guests were able to meet these fascinating whales.
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
When our team is looking for whales, we often find dolphins as well. Outside of the harbor there were both sleepy and lively pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins! Near the fish pens we saw bottlenose dolphins hunting, and we found a few offshore who rode our bow and wake. Our favorite encounter included humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, and Pantropical spotted dolphins. We always enjoy watching multiple species together!
PC: Olivia Miller
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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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