Whale & Wildlife Report | Jan 12-18, 2025
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Highlights
Humpback whales
False killer whales
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Reef manta rays
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Green sea turtles
Whale & Wildlife Report | Jan 12-18, 2024
We had a mix of ocean conditions this week but no shortage of wildlife! We spent time with lots of humpback whales and dolphins on our whale watching tours, and had guests from all around the world. The humpback season in Hawaii is a can’t miss event and we are in the thick of their migration window. No two adventures with us are alike, and we’ve loved welcoming guests back for multiple trips!
PC: Juliann Wiersum
We found some active groups of humpbacks and witnessed lots of surface action. A few whales were making a statement with big pec slaps, tail throws, and breaches. We were humbled by one mom and calf duo and watched as mom skillfully warned off two males. Her caudal peduncle throws were so powerful that we felt them from onboard Artemis! There were quite a few adorable breaching babies as well, and it’s always heartwarming to watch them learn the ropes. One calf had to have breached for almost 30 min straight! Practice makes perfect and they’ll grow up to be big strong whales someday.
PC: Olivia Miller
Oftentimes during our trips we see blows in many directions. It’s great to watch the action at the surface, but just as cool to listen to what's happening underwater. We picked up some awesome hydrophone vocals this week and our guests enjoyed hearing the songs! Male humpbacks are the singers and this year’s song is a melodic one. Other highlights included getting photos of a good amount of humpback flukes! Through Happywhale’s database, we were able to ID some of the individuals during our tours. It’s so interesting to learn about these whales’ patterns and previous sightings!
PC: Olivia Miller
We can see other species of pelagic whales year-round on the Kona Coast, and this week we were thrilled to find false killer whales! We had two sightings of this unique group which we believe was cluster one. Their overall population has been in decline, so these were impactful encounters. During both times there were also bottlenose dolphins interacting with them and the whales were bow riding and surfing our wake which was a wild sight. Everyone was thrilled to spend time with these whales in addition to humpbacks!
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
We enjoyed dolphins on our adventures with Hawaiian spinner dolphins right outside Honokohau and further up the coast. Guests enjoyed lots of spinning action and we spotted some teeny tiny calves in the pods. When born, Hawaiian spinner dolphin calves are only about the size of a football! We also found a couple bottlenose dolphins hunting around the fish pens, and groups both inshore and offshore. We were treated to bow riding and some impressive leaps in our boat wake.
PC: Olivia Miller
Kona’s waters have so much diversity and we’re always on the search for other creatures in addition to whales! We didn’t see Hawaiian monk seals in the harbor this week, but we did spot green sea turtles sunning on the rocks. With our tropical clear waters, we always encourage our guests to look down as we cruise out of Honokohau as we often see bright reef fish and the occasional tiger shark. Not too long into one excursion, we did find a single scalloped hammerhead shark! It was cruising with its dorsal fin out of the water and everyone got great looks.
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.
