Whale & Wildlife Report | April 26-May 2, 2026
Highlights
Melon-Headed Whales
Cuvier’s Beaked Whales
Short-Finned Pilot Whales
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Whale & Wildlife Report | April 26- May 2, 2026
Spring has sprung and the pelagic season is thriving! Each trip has been filled with a range of unique encounters with our residential whales and wildlife. In April, we saw 12 different cetaceans and 3 types of sharks!!
The pelagic magic continued this week with beautiful conditions and a great variety of whales and dolphins.
While searching Kona’s offshore waters, our team was excited to spot a lively little pod of melon-headed whales! These oceanic speedsters are usually seen in massive pods of 100+ animals, so discovering this intimate group was a fun find. Playful, social, and full of energy they kept treating us to fantastic views every time they surfaced!
Whales can appear at any moment during our tours, and on one outing we were lucky to spot short-finned pilot whales almost immediately. It turned into a beautiful encounter as the group moved gracefully through the water. While observing one pod, another surfaced nearby, and both groups slowed down to rest together in a peaceful logging display by our boat. With calm, glassy ocean conditions, the scene was nothing short of breathtaking.
Have you ever seen a Cuvier’s beaked whale? Guests who joined us this week got some of our best views yet of this remarkable pelagic species. We encountered an unusually large group of six to seven individuals—the biggest pod we’ve ever seen. As their curiosity grew, they began making small half-breaches and lunges at the surface. It was an incredible experience, especially given how elusive these whales are known to be.
The week wouldn’t be complete without some dolphins! Outside the downtown area, we enjoyed a small pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins in glassy water. The real treat however came from a mom and calf pair of bottlenose! The duo rode our bow, and after disappearing on a dive, mom resurfaced with a fish. She passed it to her calf and we watched the calf practice prey sharing!! Judging by its size, the calf may still be nursing, as it passed the fish back to mom to eat. What a special sight!
Pod of short-finned pilot whales | PC: Olivia Miller
Join one of our upcoming 8:30 AM Pelagic Dolphin/Whale Watch Tours on May 5th, 6th, and 9th!
