Whale & Wildlife Report | January 1-17, 2023
Highlights
Humpback whales
Short-finned pilot whales
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Sea turtles
Flying fish
Whale & Wildlife Report | January 1-17, 2023
Happy New Year from Hawaiian Adventures! 2022 was an amazing year on the Big Island, packed with lots of whales & wildlife, exciting trips, rare sightings, volcano eruptions, and more! We can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store. After a great first week and some fantastic trips, it looks like this year is going to be a good one!
Our highlight encounters this week included multiple of mom & calf pairs! Sightings spread from north to south with lots of humpbacks migrating along the Kona Coast. The northern coastline off Makalwena Beach has been a hotspot for these pairs! Guests this week were excited to see lots of baby humpbacks, a few whose dorsal fins were still flopped over! New life is abundant in the waters of Hawaii, and we’re thrilled to run multiple tours every day with lots of time to explore the offshore.
Kona’s marine life surprises us every day! While we were searching for humpbacks, a group of pilot whales stole the show during one of our midweek tours. Just outside Touch of Grey dive site, we spotted about a dozen pilot whales with a few babies among the group! It’s not every day that we get to see baby pilot whales, so this was a very special experience!
A massive pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins also wowed us this week! We cruised south with over 100 dolphins spinning, jumping, and swimming right beside Those Guys! With the sun setting towards the end of our 3 PM tours, there’s a high likelihood that we’ll encounter Spinners as they head offshore for their evening hunt.
At Hawaiian Adventures, we love our whales… but we also love Kona’s resident rays! The next time you’re on a Kona night manta tour, be sure to check out our new manta ID book while onboard! With photo contributions from our incredible guides, we’ve created an ID book for some of Kona’s most sighted manta rays! Check out familiar faces like Gaby, Gita, Chole, Lafferty, Delaney, Big Bertha, and many many more. Our crew is excited to introduce you to Kona’s real nightlife!
Interested in experiencing these tours?
Join us, experts with over 25 years of experience running professional wildlife 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.
