Swimming with dolphins in Hawaii? (Hilo: law, beach, pool)

[Roma]

Swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, Do you know of a place that offers this or have you ever done it?

I was thinking that the next time we go to Hawaii we should find a place that wevcan swim with the dolphins. We usually go to Maui (I have family there) and it would be great if they have something like that on Maui but we are open to the other islands as well.

[Sweetbeet]

There is a place on the Big Island (west side, I think it's up near Kohala but I'm not sure) where they have a program for kids. They have a briefing first, learn about the dolphins and what not to do with them, then they get into a pool and can swim and play with them a little bit, with good supervision. My son and niece did it a few years ago, they were like 9 and 12 at the time, I think. I do think they have other programs for adults, where you get to do more - maybe it's a half-day or whole-day program. The name is "Dolphin Quest" if I remember correctly (you can try googling it), they may have programs on some of the other islands (Oahu, I think, and maybe Maui, not sure).

It was relatively expensive, and we left with the feeling that it was kind of a ripoff. Part of that may have been that we had to drive over from Hilo, and it was a very long drive for a relatively short program (which was our fault, in poor planning, not their fault!), and part may be that we did SO many cool things on that vacation - the 2 hour "canned" dolphin program paled in comparison with hiking out to look at - and poke at - real flowing lava!). It was fun for the kids, but there was a lot more 'learning about dolphins' than actually swimming or interacting with them. But, that was probably good for the dolphins! And, as I said, the kids did kind of enjoy it, especially the 12-year-old girl, who is very bright and was just fascinated by dolphins to no end. She ate up the science and the coolness of swimming and cavorting with these amazing creatures.

Some people think that this sort of thing is bad for the dolphins, that it exploits them and it's not good to keep them 'locked up' out of the big blue ocean just so we can study them and 'play' with them. I'm not expressing a view on that, I can see it both ways.

I had more fun when we took a boat up the Na Pali coast on Kauai, and the dolphins hung out around the boat, cavorting in the wake. I liked that because it was their choice, they could swim away if they wanted to, and we got to see the in their natural habitat.

[Brav989]

I've seen places where dolphins normally tend to gather around. Though read a sign that it's illegal under federal law to be within 150 feet of them.

[Jungjohann]

There's a pod that hangs out off Manele Bay on Lanai, they've been there for years, must be really good fishing!! I've been out paddling and seen them plenty of times, once had a pod of spinner dolphins follow me all the way from Kamaole Beach 1 to Elua Beach down at Wailea. You DON'T want to be in the water with them if it's a bunch of males after a female who's ready to mate, they kind of get the wrong impression. And it is against the law to approach them, whales, monk seals and sea turtles.

Aloha and okolemaluna

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by Roma

Swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, Do you know of a place that offers this or have you ever done it?

If you Google
Swim with Dolphins Hawaii
you will find many places, including Sea Life Park on Oahu where we did it for a grandchild a few years back.

Memorable.

Hank