Whale & Wildlife Report | Dec 29- Jan 4, 2025
PC: Olivia Miller
Highlights
Humpback whales
Sperm whales
Short-finned pilot whales
Bottlenose dolphins
Pantropical spotted dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Green sea turtles
Tiger shark
Reef manta rays
Whale & Wildlife Report | Dec 29- Jan 4, 2025
2025 is here and we are in the thick of the humpback season! We had some great encounters in December, and we’re seeing a surge of sightings in January! This week there were so many whales in the area, and with the vog, we had some beautiful sunrises and sunsets during our tours. Although the winter brings a mix of weather and water conditions, our boat Artemis is the perfect vessel for adventure on the Kona Coast.
PC: Olivia Miller
Our private and public whale watching trips had an impressive number of sightings. On a few tours we found ourselves surrounded by blows in all directions! We encountered mom and calf pairs, rowdy competition pods, and some charming individuals. One of our wilder sightings was a male escort defending a mom and calf from a challenging male! This is the breeding season, and at times we get to witness more heated interactions between these ocean giants.
PC: Amy Aggergaard
We enjoyed many active whales and guests were excited to see multiple breaches, tail slaps, and pec slaps. Humpback whales’ pec fins measure around ⅓ their total body length, and humpbacks are highly maneuverable in their aquatic environment. We marveled at all the surface action and had some memorable moments with a few curious individuals. Our hydrophone also picked up their underwater vocalizations, a listening experience that never gets old even for the seasoned whale watcher.
PC: Olivia Miller
The winter welcomes humpbacks in addition to Kona’s year-round whales. While searching in deeper waters, we found a group of around 50 sperm whales! There were blows all around and we got some nice surfacings and flukes. We also dropped our hydrophone and picked up their loud clicking; sounds so powerful they can travel miles underwater and reach around 230 decibels! We also found two pods of short-finned pilot whales who were spread out and on the move. It was so much fun to introduce our guests to these year-round species!
PC: Olivia Miller
Our tours encountered a number of playful dolphin pods. We watched bottlenose hunting around the fish pens, and one adorable mom and calf pair came to check us out spyhopping and weaving around Artemis. We also had some huge pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins with lots of spinning and bow riding. With lots of whales in the area, on occasion we were treated to watching both species at the same time! We had a blast in 2024, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store!
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.
