Whale & Wildlife Report | May 31- June 6, 2026
Highlights
Short Finned Pilot Whales
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Oceanic White Tip Shark
Iwa birds and Ahi hunting flying fish
11 bird species total! Full species list breakdown below.
Whale & Wildlife Report | May 31- June 6, 2026
The offshore activity continues! This week we were treated to 3 different cetacean species, an oceanic white tip shark, and 11 different bird species. Offshore Kona is truly the place to be this summer!
We had several encounters with dolphins this week, with one memorable moment taking place in Kealakekua Bay. This beautiful area, framed by sheer cliffs and a deep crescent shaped drop off from the reefs along the shoreline, is often used as a resting habitat for our Hawaiian spinner dolphins.
While visiting Kealakekua Bay, we were able to spot a large group of these dolphins, though they weren’t in a very restful mood. Instead, we got to witness a flurry of socialization among individuals as well as a few impressive leaps and spins! Considering Hawaiian spinner dolphins are usually fairly relaxed during the day, this was such an exciting experience.
We also got to spend time with a larger dolphin species that calls the Kona coast home– our bottlenose dolphins. Shortly after our spinner dolphin encounter, we spotted a large group of bottles, around 10 individuals, socializing off Keahau. This group was in a very playful mood and we got to see lots of bowriding, rolls, spyhops, and even a few leaps to celebrate a recent successful hunt! Later in the week, we caught up with a different group of bottlenose dolphins hunting up north near the Blue Ocean Mariculture fish farms. One of these dolphins was also a little curious, and circled out around the farm towards us to get a better look at our guests. What an extra special treat!
While venturing to the north this week, we spotted a massive pod of pilot whales traveling fast and spread out wide, most likely scouting for food far below the surface. All of the sudden, this group took a unified dive which we believed was a deep hunting dive, however we wanted to wait a few more minutes just in case. Lucky for us, this pod rearranged their formation below the surface and popped up in a tight knit swimming formation– the first time they’d been seen all together in one unified group since we’d gotten on scene. We got some amazing looks as this group surfaced all together for a few surface intervals. What a spectacular finale!
So many pelagic sea birds this week! For any birders visiting the island, our tours provide access to a pelagic zone teeming with birds. We were able to spot 11 species on our tours this week, including a predation event of Iwa birds and ahi hunting flying fish together!
Here’s a species breakdown of our bird sightings:
Sooty Tern
Band-Rumped Storm Petrel
Bulwer’s Petrel
Hawaiian Petrel
White-Tailed Tropics Bird
Red-tailed Tropics Bird
Great Frigate Bird
Brown Booby
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Black Noddy
Brown Noddy
Looking to book a tour and get out on the water? Our next 8:30 AM pelagic tours are on June 10th & 12th. Don’t wait, book your adventure now!
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.
