Many think you can only watch whales in Hawaii during the winter months. Captain Dan McSweeney has been professionally finding whales on the Kona Coast of Hawaii for over 25 years. Humpbacks are recognized by their long white flippers and knobby heads. Sperm whales are usually found further offshore and in deeper waters than the humpbacks. These friendly whales inhabit the warm Hawaiian waters year-round, and are most often seen in groups of 20 or more.
Pilot whales eat squid and are often accompanied by oceanic white-tipped sharks.
The sharks may benefit by scavenging left over food scraps. At first glance the false killer whale appears similar to the pilot whale. The leading edge of the false killer whale's flipper has a noticeable hump which is unique to this species. Pygmy Killer whales are often seen, and groups of several hundred have been reported. The Melon Headed whale is similar in size and markings to the Pygmy Killer whale, but its pectoral flippers and head profile are pointed, whereas those of the Pygmy Killer whale are rounded.