Where
the Wild Things are
The rural Waianae Coast of Oahu, Hawaii, offers many
different kinds of marine life including the best watching of dolphins,
whales, turtles, tropical fish, spotted eagle rays, sponges, and coral
reef inhabitants to name a few. The Waianae Range is on the west coast
of Oahu, Hawaii. It is largely shielded from the rains brought into
the islands by the Northeasterly bearing trade winds by its neighbor,
Koolau Volcano. This makes Waianae much drier than the Koolaus, particularly
on its westward (leeward) slopes. This dryness keeps runoff to a minimum
and thus, some of the clearest water in Hawaii is found at the beaches
of the Waianae coast. This area is also reputed to have the most extensive
coral reefs and marine life in the Hawaiian Islands.
It's not
surprising then that there is fascinating marine life all along the
Leeward Coast. The Northwestern tip, at Ka'ena Point appears to be
a magnet for marine mammals. We are currently conducting research
to determine the extent of this phenomenon. Click on the links below
to learn more about some of the creatures we have become quite friendly
with.
Dolphins l Whales l
Sea Turtles l Monk
Seals l Albatross l Coral Spawning l Manta
and Spotted Eagle Rays l Sharks
of Hawaii | Dolphin Documentary l
Take Action l
Whale and Dolphin Research
l About the Wild Dolphin Foundation l Dolphin
Watching | Photos l Other Resources
l Internships