Spinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostris
Sighting evidence at Coral Gardens, Maui
Photo: martinmoscovich · CC BY-NC
Hawaiian spinner dolphins use Honolua Bay as a daytime resting and socialising area after spending the night hunting in the open ocean, making Coral Gardens one of the most reliable dolphin encounter sites in the state. Their iconic aerial spins are believed to serve communicative and parasite-removal functions rather than simply play, and groups at rest exhibit synchronised breathing patterns that facilitate deep relaxation.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Spinner Dolphin is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.