All whales in Hawaiian waters aren't humpbacks. At least four species tend to frequent the waters off Maui, Molokai and Lanai year-round. Known as toothed whales (odontocetes), they include false killer whales, melon-headed whales, pygmy killer whales and short-finned pilot whales. While smaller than humpback whales, they are typically seen in larger pods that can include hundreds of animals. Watching them interact and swim together is an indelible experience.
During a three-month period, researchers from Pacific Whale Foundation's Wild Whale and Dolphin Project documented more than 62 sightings of odontocetes, including groups of spinner, spotted, bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphins as well as short-finned pilot whales, melon-headed whales and orcas. The sightings occurred in a study area between Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe. Some of the groups were quite large, including a group of 400 melon-headed whales.
The most frequently seen of Maui's year-round whale residents are short-finned pilot whales, which average 12 to 16 feet long, and weigh 1.5 to 2.5 tons. They are easily recognized by their rather large and bulbous heads, and their strongly curved, broad-based dorsal fins. They're primarily black or dark gray and have been seen in groups averaging 24 animals.
False killer whales average a sturdy 13 to 16 feet long at adulthood, weighing a ton or more. They are all black except for a light gray area on their bellies. Their heads are small and slender, and their mouth openings are large. Despite their name, they bear very little resemblance to the killer (orca) whale. Melon-headed whales are 7.5 feet long on average, weighing about 350 pounds. They are black on their backs and sides, with a small gray patch on the underside in the throat area. The mouthline is short and steeply angled.
Occasionally, orca whales have been sighted off the coast of Lanai. The orcas may be part of a population that has been dubbed rogue killer whales, known for their habits of traveling in small groups and feeding opportunistically on nontraditional prey species. Male killer whales average 28 feet in length; females are 23 feet long. The average weight is eight tons for males and four tons for females.
One way to learn about toothed whales is to sign on for one of Pacific Whale Foundation's Whale and Dolphin Watch cruises. The three-hour excursion promises guaranteed whale or dolphin sightings or you'll take another trip free. You can also find out about whales at Pacific Whale Foundation's Marine Resource Centers, 143 Dickenson Street, Lahaina, or at Maalaea Harbor Village, next to Maui Ocean Center.
