Winter whale season is in full swing here in Kona, and what a season it has been! They say a photo is worth a thousand words, so let’s let some pictures do the talking:

This year has been quite the journey for us here at Hawaiian Adventures. We started 2021 out in the boat yard, working hard to transform the fishing vessel once known as the “Sea Wife II” into our dream adventure boat. She went through a full makeover, with the installation of new engines, new electronics, boat-wide speakers, new built-in seating and cubbies, custom-designed swim ladder and railings, a shiny new paint job and more. A lot of love, labor and one new name later and “Those Guys” was ready for some Hawaiian adventures!

Breaching babies, nursing mothers, fired-up males competing for the chance to mingle with some ladies…You haven’t fully experienced humpbacks in the wild until you’ve spent time with them in the breeding grounds. It’s an entirely different level of whale activity!

There is a reason manta night snorkels are one of Hawaii’s biggest draws. There are very few places around the world where you can reliably view these gentle giants in the wild and witness the graceful dance of a feeding ray.  But not all manta night tours are the same, and we firmly believe ours stand apart from the rest. Here’s what to expect…

Let us paint you a picture… You wake up to bird song, a symphony of species rustling in the treetops waking with the first hint of dawn. You look outside to catch the brilliant golden hour light, the sky painted a million shades of vibrant, warm colors. Today is the day. You’ve booked a Signature Snorkel with Hawaiian Adventures, and you know that adventure awaits you. Yes, it’s early, but you’ve traveled from the mainland and have jet lag on your side. Plus, you know that this early start means that you will be one of the first boats on the water with the wildlife this morning, a worthwhile tradeoff.

Recently, while out exploring the blue, our crew encountered a group of 20-30 short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus. Their wide inky-black dorsal fins stood out against the brilliant blues of Kona’s coastal waters. These toothed whales, odontocetes, were cruising along when we arrived on scene, mothers and their young swimming side-by-side. We traveled with them, slowly cruising parallel to the pod while maintaining a respectful buffer of space. Then the pod stopped, and the most magical encounter ensued.

It’s no secret that the health of our oceans is at risk due to a myriad of anthropogenic stressors. Some days these stressors are more apparent than others. The photos above were taken on one of our afternoon snorkels. Our crew noticed something odd floating about a foot beneath the surface, and upon investigation discovered a tangle of ghost nets. They were able to retrieve it and properly dispose of it back on land, but not before returning as much of the marine life that had made home on the net back to the sea as possible. Several frog fish were amongst the individuals found camouflaged amongst the weave.

We might be biased, but we can’t think of any better way to cool off during the heat of summer than to dive in beneath the waves. Snorkeling is prime at this time of the year here in Kona, since calmer seas and warmer waters typically accompany the summer sun. Avoid the crowds that flock to the beaches, step onboard, and let our crew show you their favorite coastal reefs during our midday family snorkel.

As we transition to our summer season here in Kona, we bid farewell to our winter humpback whale visitors who are embarking on their migration back to the Pacific Northwest. We’ve heard from our sister crew at Island Adventures Whale Watching that the first humpbacks of the season have started returning to the Salish Sea for their summer feeding season! Safe travels friends, and we look forward to seeing you back in Hawaiian waters next winter.

Ahh, the iconic tail shot, that majestic moment when a whale raises its flukes skyward before gracefully sinking beneath the waves. It’s the moment every whale photographer hopes for, and they’re not alone! When it comes to humpback whales, researchers and naturalists strive to capture that fleeting moment when the underside of the flukes are visible, exposing the markings that set each individual apart. We recently posted about the power of photo identification, using distinct characteristics on a cetacean’s body to differentiate between individuals over time. Today, we want to share how YOU can contribute to ongoing cetacean research, all you need is a camera!

Ever wonder how naturalists and researchers know the stories of individual whales? How some can tell you where a whale has traveled, how old it is, how many calves it’s given birth to? A key tool in piecing together the chapters of a whale’s life is photo-identification. What’s that you ask? Let’s break it down…

Humpback season isn’t over yet! Today’s private charter had a mission to see whales and boy did they get their wish… The trip started with a large pod of spinner dolphins just outside of the marina, a perfect start to an early morning wake-up with the wildlife. We turned our engines off and drifted with the dolphins while watching the sun rise over Hualalai.

Between getting Those Guys back on the water and beginning our season, it has been a whirlwind of activity here at Hawaiian Adventures Kona. Our crew spent the past week on the water with wonderful guests, both island locals and visitors from afar. Some were whale watching veterans in search of their next oceanic adventure, while others were new to whale watching and saw their very first cetaceans with Those Guys!

The Aggergaard family, owners of Island Adventures Whale Watching and Hawaiian Adventures Kona, have been running guaranteed whale watch tours for over 25 years, and pride themselves in offering educational experiences to respectfully visit with whales in their natural habitat.