Dolphins in Hawaii in July

Yes, July is a good month to see dolphins in Hawaii. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 106 of the 1,259 sightings logged across the year (8.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Good month for dolphins in Hawaii

8.4%

of yearly sightings

106

records in July

#6

busiest month of 12

1,259

verified records a year

June 8.7%, July 8.4%, August 6.9%. Busiest month is January at 10.7%.

Best months: January, March, April

1,259 verified observations of dolphins in Hawaii, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dolphins are recorded in Hawaii

Peak month

January

135 records (10.7% of the year)

Quietest month

November

86 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak13510.7%
February1098.7%
Marchpeak1259.9%
Aprilpeak1209.5%
May876.9%
June1108.7%
July1068.4%
August876.9%
September987.8%
October957.5%
November866.8%
December1018%

Dolphins you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Spinner Dolphin996
Common Bottlenose Dolphin112
Short-finned Pilot Whale44
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin36
Pygmy Killer Whale10
Rough-toothed Dolphin7
False Killer Whale5
Melon-headed Whale3

In Hawaii, July carries 8.4% of the year's dolphins sightings, about 0.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between June and July, and it heads toward August (6.9%) after. The busiest month is January (10.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The dolphins most often recorded in Hawaii are Spinner Dolphin, Common Bottlenose Dolphin and Short-finned Pilot Whale. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which dolphins you are most likely to see

  • Spinner Dolphin996 records
  • Common Bottlenose Dolphin112 records
  • Short-finned Pilot Whale44 records
  • Pantropical Spotted Dolphin36 records
  • Pygmy Killer Whale10 records
  • Rough-toothed Dolphin7 records
Plan your tripAla Kahakai National Historic Trail

Plan your dolphin trip in Hawaii

Start with live tours near Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see dolphins in Hawaii in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 106 of the 1,259 verified dolphins sightings logged in Hawaii across the year, which is 8.4% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see dolphins in Hawaii?+

July is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though January and March is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for dolphins in Hawaii?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, March and April, based on 1,259 verified observations.

Which dolphins are you most likely to see in Hawaii?+

The most-recorded species in Hawaii are Spinner Dolphin, Common Bottlenose Dolphin and Short-finned Pilot Whale, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.