Whale & Wildlife Report | February 18-24, 2024
Highlights
Sperm whales
Humpback whales
Hawaiian spinner dolphins (including Ghost)
Tiger sharks
Bottlenose dolphins
Reef manta rays
Pantropical spotted dolphins
Whale & Wildlife Report | February 18-24, 2024
Departing from Honokohau Harbor, the wildlife search begins before we pass the breakwater! As we cruised in and out of the harbor, we passed a few tiger sharks and some turtles sunning on the rocks. It’s not uncommon to see tiger sharks in Honokohau, especially with so many fishing vessels and potential snack scraps! This week the humpbacks continued to impress with lots of activity and some adorable calf encounters. We spent time with a few mom and calf pairings, and one displayed her skill of balancing baby on the tip of her rostrum! At this point in the season, we are noticing some larger looking babies. The newest members of the population are growing every day and nursing on mom’s nutrient-rich milk. The journey ahead includes thousands of miles of travel, so they are fueling up for their first migration!
The competition between male humpbacks in the area has been steady, and this week was no different. One heated encounter included two males who chased each other, trumpeted at the surface, and blew lots of bubbles. We had the opportunity to use our hydrophone on a few tours; always a great tool when the whales are less surface active! We listened to some loud vocals from whales that seemed to be nearby. Whale watching is for all the senses, and we’ve loved using our hydrophone this season!
We found lots of pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins on our trips, including a few encounters with Ghost! Ghost, a nickname coined by one of our naturalists, is a leucistic Hawaiian spinner dolphin. Their coloration appears largely white and they stand out amongst their fellow dolphins! We spotted Ghost and others near the mouth of Honokohau Harbor. Hawaiian spinner dolphins are likely the species of dolphin that we encounter the most on our tours, and they are a fan favorite for their acrobatic spins and displays! We also spent time with pods of bottlenose dolphins and a few pods of pantropical spotted dolphins. We always try to find as much wildlife as we can on every trip, and more often than not that includes both whales and dolphins!
With the weather calming, we’re enjoying more night manta snorkel tours! We understand that this activity is a bucket-list experience, and Kona offers the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with reef manta rays. We always assess conditions to make sure they are safe and favorable before departing on our trips, and this week Mother Nature was in our corner! We had some phenomenal encounters with 15+ mantas on our excursions. Guests enjoyed lots of barrel rolling, fly-bys, and close passes from Kona’s massive mantas. We enjoyed the light from our light boards as well as a beautiful full moon on one night. We’re looking forward to running more manta tours come the spring and summer season, so make sure to plan and book early to reserve your spot on our adventures!
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