Whale & Wildlife Report | May 12-18, 2024
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Highlights
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Pygmy killer whales
Pantropical spotted dolphins
Mom & calf humpback whales
Rough-toothed dolphins
Lots of bird action
Large bait balls
Whale & Wildlife Report | May 12-18, 2024
We spent time with some familiar and less familiar species this week! Hawaiian spinner dolphins are a favorite for many guests, and we often see them outside the harbor near the green navigational buoy. We said aloha to some sleepy spinners and more active pods near Honokohau as we departed on our tours. One of our trips also encountered a lively group near Kealakekua Bay! The playful pod approached Artemis and dazzled us with some spins. Hawaiian spinner dolphins are known for their acrobatic movements, and they can twirl up to 7 times in the air!
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
Our dolphin/whale watching tours focus more on Kona’s offshore areas where we can find many year-round species! The offshore action was great this week and we were treated to some cool encounters on our trips. Near F buoy we spotted tons of birds, bait balls, and group of rough-toothed dolphins! The buoys are what we call “FADs”, or fish aggregation devices. These buoys provide shelter for small creatures and often attract larger ones. When we search around a FAD, we are looking for dolphins, sharks, large fish, toothed whales and more. It’s always worth a stop during our adventures, and we're often rewarded with encounters like we had this week!
A bit further north of F buoy, we found a massive pod of Pantropical spotted dolphins. Although these dolphins look somewhat similar to Hawaiian spinner dolphins from a distance, they are larger in size and and have spotting along their bodies and rostrum. Pantropical spotted dolphins can travel in pods of 100+ individuals, and this group was likely near that amount. They were super interactive, riding our bow and surfing our surrounding wake. Everyone got some great looks, but that’s not where our offshore excitement ended…
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
We encountered a very interesting whale this week: pygmy killer whales! Despite their common name, pygmy killer whales do not bare resemblance to killer whales in coloration or size, but they do have a few similar physical characteristics. Very little is known about this species, and according to NOAA, the first live animal was encountered in 1956. We have only seen this species a handful of times at most on our trips, so this sighting was very exciting! Our naturalist noticed a tiny calf in the group who still had fetal folds and was nearly white in color. We took photos and captured some drone footage to document the new addition to the population. Pygmy killer whales are seen less frequently in Kona than other whales, and our guests were equally thrilled to spend time with such a mysterious species!
Never say never, we had another late season humpback mom and calf pair! Everyone onboard was shocked at the encounter, and we ended up being able to spend a good amount of time with the duo during one of our tours. To make it even sweeter, this mom and baby were spotted on Mother’s Day! Thank you Mother Nature and thank you to all the mom’s that joined us on our adventures this past weekend!
PC: Andrew Aggergaard
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.
