Whale & Wildlife Report | April 12-18, 2026
Highlights
Pygmy Killer Whales
Blainville’s Beaked Whales
Short Finned Pilot Whales
Humpback Whales
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Oceanic White Tip Shark
Schooling Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
Whale & Wildlife Report | April 12-18, 2026
This week on the Kona Coast delivered another unforgettable lineup of pelagic adventures. From rare deep-water species to playful surface action, every tour brought something special. No two trips are ever the same — and this week reminded us exactly why we love what we do.
One of the most exciting moments was spotting a tiny trio of pygmy killer whales. These elusive and typically shy animals gave us an incredible amount of surface time. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we encountered an even larger pod! We were treated to multiple breaches and powerful tail slaps — wild behavior from a species that doesn’t often show off like that.
On another tour, we came across a large pod of Blainville’s beaked whales. After initial distant views, they surprised us by surfacing right beside our boat, Artemis. We cruised alongside them for a wonderful encounter before they disappeared on their next deep dive. These incredible mammals are among the deepest and longest-diving animals on Earth. Their unique mottled coloration and scarring make them truly striking — check out the beautiful photo from one of our naturalists below!
Leaving Honokohau Harbor, the seafloor drops sharply into deep pelagic waters — prime habitat for over a dozen species of whales. This week, short-finned pilot whales were out in force. We encountered multiple pods, some relaxed and curious, others traveling with purpose. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a spy hop and locking eyes with these intelligent animals.
Trailing behind the pilot whales, we spotted several oceanic white tip sharks finning at the surface. Our shark luck continued with multiple groups of schooling hammerhead sharks! We’re loving hammerhead season, and it’s been fantastic watching these impressive predators glide through the water.
The cherry on top of an already amazing week? A pair of late-season humpback whales heading north. Even though humpback season has passed, these stragglers treated us to a big tail slap and beautiful fluke displays before continuing on their journey.
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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.
