Ahh, the iconic tail shot, that majestic moment when a whale raises its flukes skyward before gracefully sinking beneath the waves. It’s the moment every whale photographer hopes for, and they’re not alone! When it comes to humpback whales, researchers and naturalists strive to capture that fleeting moment when the underside of the flukes are visible, exposing the markings that set each individual apart. We recently posted about the power of photo identification, using distinct characteristics on a cetacean’s body to differentiate between individuals over time. Today, we want to share how YOU can contribute to ongoing cetacean research, all you need is a camera!

Ever wonder how naturalists and researchers know the stories of individual whales? How some can tell you where a whale has traveled, how old it is, how many calves it’s given birth to? A key tool in piecing together the chapters of a whale’s life is photo-identification. What’s that you ask? Let’s break it down…

Humpback season isn’t over yet! Today’s private charter had a mission to see whales and boy did they get their wish… The trip started with a large pod of spinner dolphins just outside of the marina, a perfect start to an early morning wake-up with the wildlife. We turned our engines off and drifted with the dolphins while watching the sun rise over Hualalai.

Between getting Those Guys back on the water and beginning our season, it has been a whirlwind of activity here at Hawaiian Adventures Kona. Our crew spent the past week on the water with wonderful guests, both island locals and visitors from afar. Some were whale watching veterans in search of their next oceanic adventure, while others were new to whale watching and saw their very first cetaceans with Those Guys!

The Aggergaard family, owners of Island Adventures Whale Watching and Hawaiian Adventures Kona, have been running guaranteed whale watch tours for over 25 years, and pride themselves in offering educational experiences to respectfully visit with whales in their natural habitat.