Kona Whale Watching

Our friends Paul and Liza have been inviting their friends on a whale watching trip each year in early March to celebrate their birthdays. Since we are on island at this time, we signed up to come along for the ride. The morning starts out cool and cloudy and we hope the day will turn out better as we get on the water.

The Na Pali Kai - our boat for today

Liza and Sheoli check the passenger list

 

Paul and Peter catch up while waiting to board

We're off!

Although we know some of their friends, we have never met most of the people on this trip. Liza took several of these portrait photos.

Paul

Me sharing a laugh with Jas

Liza

First mate

Friend's daughter with baby

Hani gives Jas a kiss

Most people watch from the stern

There's a humpback!

She has a shy calf with her and moves on

We only see this one whale and her calf on the trip and they are not interested in hanging out with us. We watch as both Mom and calf move on.  After passing some tourists in an outrigger canoe, we find ourselves in a huge pod of spinner dolphins.  They are amazing creatures as they make huge spinning leaps out of the water. I ask the captain about how many are in this pod and he estimates around 350 dolphins. He stops the boat in the middle of the pod and asks if anyone wants to swim with the dolphins?  Of course, most people do. I hesitate as I have brand new equipment and am nervous about testing it out in this deep of water.  Next time, I'm definitely getting in. The following underwater photos are by Paul MacIsaac.

Tourists in an outrigger

Look there's a dolphin

Paul and Peter are among the first to get in

Hani and Jas swimming

First mate is a fish

She can swim under 20+ feet without weights

Paul's underwater shots of the dolphins are truly wonderful.

Spinners come to check us out

Curious

Swimming with dolphins

Peter swims back towards the boat

Paul surfaces with camera

Boat welcomes swimmers back aboard

Everyone talks excitedly about their swim as we head back to the harbor.

Hani wants to play

Full speed back to the harbor

Liza serves birthday cupcakes

Evening's sunset at Puako as the light turns clouds pink over Kohala Mountain

 

Hōkūleʻa (Hawaiian voyaging canoe) sails off into the sunset