Whale & Wildlife Report | June 28- July 4, 2026
Highlights
Short-finned pilot whales
Rough-toothed dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Whale & Wildlife Report | June 28- July 4, 2026
Summer spotting conditions are hard to beat! We enjoyed glassy calm waters, lots of sunshine, and some great encounters with year-round whales and dolphins this week.
Our 46-foot catamaran, Artemis, provides the perfect platform for exploring Kona’s beautiful offshore waters in comfort. During our cruise, we encountered a small pod of about six short-finned pilot whales weaving gracefully through the deep blue. They zig-zagged around and we got some great looks!
To the south, we encountered a massive pod of short-finned pilot whales spread across two large groups. To our surprise, they were joined by a pod of rough-toothed dolphins. It was the first time we've witnessed these two species interacting together! The rough-toothed dolphins were so fun to watch, playfully riding our bow and breaching multiple times. It was an energetic, action-packed encounter!
Check out this amazing photo of a bottlenose mom and calf by Naturalist Olivia! We found a large pod of bottlenose dolphins cruising through the shallow coastal waters during one of our trips. In the mix were two tiny calves, full of energy and absolutely adorable!
We also encountered pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins outside Honokohau and along the coast. One larger pod was zooming around the area and doing spins right off our bow!
To wrap up the week, our crew had an exciting encounter with a new species—striped dolphins! While scouting far offshore, we spotted a small pod racing across the water at nearly 25 mph. Even though the group was small, their incredible speed was unforgettable. It was an amazing way to end the week and a thrilling opportunity to observe another remarkable pelagic species!
Hop on our next pelagic dolphin/whale watching tours on July 10th & 12th!
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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.
