Highlights
Short-finned pilot whales
Pantropical spotted dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Hawaiian monk seal
Oceanic white tip sharks
Green sea turtle
Jumping ahi & mahi mahi
Whale & Wildlife Report | October 18-24, 2026
We’re loving October offshore! This week we found a large group of pilot whales just off the Old Airport area. We noted multiple pods with around 25 whales present!! As we frequently see, they were curious and came over to check us out.
Two other pilot whale pods were accompanied by oceanic whitetip sharks, but one particularly massive bull stole the show! We watched as he and other members of the pod spy-hopped, popping their heads above the surface for some amazing looks.
Spinner dolphins made several appearances throughout the week, from sleepy spinners on our way offshore to more energetic groups on the ride back in. One trip kicked off with an unforgettable surprise before we even reached the farms: a bottlenose dolphin launched into several massive leaps, soaring around 15 feet into the air! After its impressive aerial display, we spotted more bottlenose dolphins hunting alongside a Hawaiian monk seal.
Further offshore, we found a pod of pantropical spotted dolphins that started out small, with a few little ones in the mix, but quickly turned into a much larger group once we spotted the rest of the pod. They were bow-riding and dramatically surfing our wake!
We also enjoyed some fantastic bonus wildlife sightings this week! Ahi were spotted leaping out of the water, and a stop at a FAD revealed a mahi-mahi and several smaller fish, with a group of noddies perched on the buoy. One trip even began with a green sea turtle who swam right by our boat.
What a week for marine life!
Upcoming Tours
10/28 - 8:30 AM Pelagic Dolphin/Whale Watch Tour
10/30 - 8:30 AM Pelagic Dolphin/Whale Watch Tour
11/1 - 8:30 AM Pelagic Dolphin/Whale Watch Tour
11/4 - 8:30 AM Pelagic Dolphin/Whale Watch Tour
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.
