Whale & Wildlife Report | April 5-11, 2026
Highlights
Short-Finned Pilot Whales
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Pantropical Spotted Dolphins
Schooling Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
Oceanic White Tip Shark
Whale & Wildlife Report | April 5-11, 2026
You’ve seen a humpback whale, but how many can say they’ve watched short-finned pilot whales, sperm whales, or pantropical spotted dolphins? That’s just what our tours are for! Finding the unique year-round marine life in Kona’s deeper waters. If you’re a true wildlife enthusiast, our pelagic dolphin and whale watch tours are for you!
Short-finned pilot whales are one of the coolest blackfish to watch! They’re incredibly curious, social, and are often in large pods. We’re always keeping an eye out for their iconic curved dorsal fins, and this week we were lucky enough to come across several groups.
Every encounter with short-finned pilot whales is different, and we can potentially witness a wide variety of behaviors including logging, socializing, teaching, probe diving, spyhopping, vocalizing, and traveling! While watching one pod, we were happy to spot a sneaky oceanic white tip shark trailing behind.
Hammer time! We were treated to calm conditions, sunny skies, and schooling hammerhead sharks. Witnessing our schooling hammers is a dream for many, and their shy, subsurface nature makes them a more elusive species to encounter. Luckily, our crew knows exactly what to look for when scouting for these sharks, and we located our schooling hammers multiple times in the week!
Kona’s coastline is home to multiple dolphin species found both nearshore and offshore, and oftentimes their spunk and energy makes them a tour highlight! This week we got great views of our Hawaiian spinner dolphins as well as incredibly energetic bottlenose dolphins performing some truly jaw dropping acrobatic leaps– impressive even for our crew who spend every day out on the water! Additionally, we also spotted a few pantropical spotted dolphins, a rarer species to spot and an absolute delight to spend time with.
Our vessel, Artemis, provides the perfect platform for offshore exploration. Our comfortable shaded seating, soft foam SeaDek flooring, and onboard restroom let you cruise in comfort. With our second deck, our crew can spot further for the countless pelagic species that inhabit Kona’s waters.
Don’t miss out, explore the offshore with us on Artemis this spring and summer!
Interested in experiencing our tours?
Hawaiian Adventure’s tours provide the best opportunity to explore the Kona Coast and the wildlife beneath the waves.
If you’ve been on other tours, you’ll appreciate the Hawaiian Adventures difference.
