Whale & Wildlife Report | May 24-30, 2026
Highlights
Short Finned Pilot Whales
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphins
Oceanic White Tip Shark
Pelagic Manta Ray!!
Whale & Wildlife Report | May 24-30, 2026
The summer fun continued this week with lots of wildlife sightings on our tours! While whales are always our main focus, we were stoked to spot something far less common – a massive pelagic manta ray. Calling this animal “huge” hardly does it justice. Every day on the water brings something expected, and this sighting was a perfect reminder of the ocean’s endless surprises!
This week, we were able to spot a pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins resting just outside the marina. Oftentimes we’ll be able to see Hawaiian spinner dolphins cruising along the coast during the day as they rest up after a long night of hunting. Their small size can make them elusive, so it’s always a treat when we see them!
Around the fish pen areas, we also found a trio of very playful bottlenose dolphins. With lots of dolphin-enthusiasts onboard, this was such a fun encounter! They rode our bow and we got great looks as they charged through Kona’s crystal blue waters.
We were also able to spot several groups of short-finned pilot whales! These groups were spread out and resting at the surface, with one pod including some impressively large bulls. After a bit of investigation during one of these encounters, we spotted more fins in the distance and slowly approached what turned out to be a large nursery group!
Short-finned pilot whales live in incredibly social family groups, and seeing complex social responsibilities, like individuals crafting nursery groups for calf safety and prosperity, is such an interesting part of these interactions.
During one encounter with our short-finned pilot whales this week, we were lucky enough to spot a large oceanic white tip shark that circled our boat! Not to fear, although oceanic white tips are inherently bold and curious, guests were more than safe above the surface and got to marvel at this shark's striking white coloration on its dorsal and pectoral fins.
Our next available tours are June 1st and 3rd with limited availability remaining. Book now to get out on the water and beat the summer heat!
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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.
