Whale & Wildlife Report | Sept 27-Oct 3, 2026
Highlights
Short-finned pilot whales
Melon headed whales
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins
Lots of pelagic birds
Oceanic white tip shark
Dead Sperm Whale with Tiger Sharks feeding!
Whale & Wildlife Report | Sept 27-Oct 3, 2026
This week on the water brought a fantastic mix of wildlife encounters, from playful dolphins and energetic whales, to one of those unforgettable moments that reminds us just how wild the ocean can be.
We were thrilled to find one of our favorite species: melon-headed whales! The whales were super energetic with lots of breaching and other fun surface behavior. We spent a good chunk of time enjoying all the action and watching different groups within the pod.
Offshore, we said hello to a pod of short-finned pilot whales. There were a couple curious littles in the group who came over to check us out! We also briefly spotted an oceanic white tip shark in the mix - a species we always keep an eye out for when watching pilot whales.
Our highlight of the week came from an unexpected find… a sperm whale carcass. The impressive mass attracted several tiger sharks, and we watched with amazement as they came up to feed. It was incredible getting to see this natural process unfold right before our eyes!
And, of course, dolphins brought the action as well! We had a couple beautiful bottlenose dolphins surface next to us, and another duo who were hunting around the area. We also enjoyed some charming Hawaiian spinner dolphins on our way out of the harbor!
Are you celebrating the Ironman World Championship this week? Add whale watching to the agenda and hop on one of our upcoming 8:30 AM Pelagic Tours this Monday 10/5 and Thursday 10/8!
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.
