Most common ocean life seen during our tourz:

SEA TURTLES

HAWAIIAN GREEN SEA TURTLE

The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle is named for its green fat underneath the shell and is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle.   The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle was nearly extinct not too long ago, thanks to Federal and State protection laws and conservation efforts these turtles are becoming a common sight again. The turtles typically nest in the French Frigate Shoals.  The turtles are air breathers therefore, it is extremely important not to disturb them, especially when they are surfacing for air.  The turtles are herbivorous and typically feed on sea grasses and algae.  If you come across the turtles playing in the surf, typically they are eating algae growing on the rocks of the shoreline.  Did you know there is a World Turtle Day on May 23rd?

How often do we see Honu?  ON EVERY TOUR!  We love our Honu.

Hawaiian Name - Honu

Avg length - 3 ft

Avg weight - 300 lb

Life Span - 20 to 30 yrs

OTHER TURTLES IN HAWAII ARE:

HAWKS BILL SEA TURTLE

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE

SEALS

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL

Monachus schauinslandi

The Hawaiian monk seal may be named for its solitary nature, bald appearance and for the rolls of skin around its neck, similar to a monk's hood.  This species is endemic to Hawaii and the most endangered seal species in the U.S., with only an estimated 1,300-1,400 seals remaining.  This seal is primarily found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, however a relatively small number of seals live in the waters off the the main Hawaiian islands including Kauai.  Prey includes bottom-dwelling and reef fish, eels, octopus, squid, and crustaceans.  While visiting Kauai you may come across a seal on the beach, they sleep during the day on the beach and hunt at night.  Therefore,  it is important not to disturb the if you come across them laying on the beach. Z Tourz participates in the Kauai Monk Seal Conservation Hui , another site to visit is www.monkseal.org.

Max length - 8 ft

Max weight - 600 lb

Life Span - 20 to 30 yrs

DOLPHINS

SPINNER DOLPHIN

Stenella longirostris longrirostris

The spinner dolphin is named for its unique habit of leaping out of the water and spinning in mid-air.  They  tend to travel in large pods between 10 and 100+.  In Hawaiian waters, spinner dolphins feed at night in the open ocean on organisms that rise to the surface such as small squid, lantern fish, and small hake.  Spinners are the most commonly seen near-shore dolphin and are found throughout the Hawaiian archipelago. They are an extremely social dolphin. We are extremely fortunate to have pods frequently visiting the south shore.

Hawaiian name: Naia

Maximum length - 7 ft

Maximum weight - 170 lbs

Life Span - 20 yrs

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

Tursiops truncatus

The bottlenose dolphin, whose scientific name means "cut off face", is one of the most commonly know dolphins.  This Dolphin is found in the main Hawaiian Islands in both shallow inshore waters and deeper channels between the islands.  They are also found in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands mainly in the shallow inshore waters.  These dolphins eat a wide variety of foods including fish, squid and crustaceans.  The bottlenose are observed mainly December through May, often swimming with the Humpback Whales.  they are often regarded as the most intelligent and fastest dolphin, clocked at speeds approaching 40 knots (50 mph).

Hawaiian name:

Maximum length - 12 ft

Maximum weight - 570 lbs

Life span - 50 yrs

SPOTTED DOLPHINS

Stenella attenuata

The Pantropical spotted dolphins occur in all tropical to warm-temperature waters.  One subspecies of this dolphin inhabits the near shore waters around Hawaii.  The spotted dolphin is much less frequently seen than the other species of dolphins and sometime are seen with a pod of spinner dolphins. they feed on small pelagic fish, cephalopods and crustaceans on the surface of the water or in the water column.  These dolphins are know as "leapers" by Hawaiian fisherman.  In the eastern tropical Pacific the spotted dolphin swims with the yellowfin tuna.  During the 60's, millions of these dolphins were lost in the tuna purse seines.  Luckily, in the 1980's we saw the rise of "dolphin -friendly" tuna capture methods in order to save millions of the dolphins.  However, a recent study still shows these dolphins are suffering negative impacts from the tuna fishing.  

Hawaiian name: 

Maximum length - 7-8 ft

Maximum weight - 180 lbs

Life span - 58 yrs

OTHER DOLPHINS IN HAWAII ARE:

STRIPPED DOLPHIN

ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN

KILLER WHALE / ORCA

WHALES

There are 5 species of baleen and 19 species of toothed whales presently known to live in or migrate to the waters surrounding Hawaii.  The most commonly seen whale is the Humpback and visits November through May.

HUMPBACK WHALE

Megaptera novaeangliae

The humpback whale, best know for its acrobatic displays and its beautiful songs, is found worldwide.  Thier long pectorial fins, the longest of any cetacean, give this whale its scientific name, which means "great wings of New England".  Humbacks are commonly sighted during the winter in Hawaii where they bredd, calf, and nurse.  They are a baleen whale and feed on krill and small schooling fish, such as capelin and herring, in colder waters.

Hawaiian name: 

Maximum length - 56 ft

Maximum weight - 90,000 lbs

Life span - 50 yrs

OTHER WHALES IN HAWAII AND SOMETIMES SEEN ARE:

FIN WHALE

SPERM WHALE

PYGMY SPERM WHALE

DWARF SPERM WHALE

CUVIERS BEAKED WHALE

BLAINVILLE'S BEAKED WHALE

SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE

MELON HEADED WHALE

FALSE KILLER WHALE

PYGMY KILLER WHALE

RAYS

SPOTTED EAGLE RAYS

STING RAYS