Whale & Wildlife Report | August 2-8, 2026
Highlights
Melon headed whales
Pygmy killer whales
Cuvier’s beaked whale
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Whale & Wildlife Report | August 2-8, 2026
A fin-tastic start to August! Our pelagic tours kicked off the month with sightings of three different whale species, including a standout encounter with a lively and energetic pod of melon-headed whales. From exciting surface activity to more elusive encounters offshore, it was a fantastic week on the water. Keep reading to dive into our latest adventures!
While scanning through the binoculars, we happened to spot a small breach in the distance and decided to check it out. We quickly realized we had found something pretty special – a large pod of melon-headed whales! The pod was super social and active, giving us amazing looks throughout the encounter. We watched as they breached, slapped their tails, rode the bow, and showed off all kinds of energetic behaviors. With so much activity, this was an especially fun sighting!
Offshore, we also had the chance to encounter two more intriguing species: pygmy killer whales and a Cuvier’s beaked whale. The pygmy killer whales were quite social, giving us some great looks as they made nice passes and showed off with a few impressive tail slaps. As for the Cuvier’s beaked whale, it was a much more elusive encounter. We caught a brief glimpse before it disappeared beneath the surface, only to resurface once more before vanishing into the horizon. While the sighting was fleeting, it was still cool to witness one of the deepest-diving whales in the world!
Although we always love saying hello to Hawaiian spinner dolphins outside the harbor, our favorite dolphin sighting was a group of bottlenose dolphins foraging around the fish pens! We watched them zoom around the structures and even do a few leaps out of the water. Check out the photo below!
Our next 8:30 AM Pelagic Tours are coming up on August 13th and 15th.. see you there!
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.
