Posted on: Wednesday, September 5, 2001

Killer whales make rare appearance off Lana'i

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

KIHEI, Maui — Marine researchers reported seeing a group of orcas, or killer whales, about 14 miles west of Lana'i during the weekend, a rare sight in Hawaiian waters.

For nearly two hours, researchers with the Pacific Whale Foundation observed six orcas — three adults, two subadults and one calf.

"They appeared to be curious to our presence and came up right under the boat three or four times, and a few times were under the boat, belly up," said Mandy Migura, a Pacific Whale Foundation research associate.

Migura said the whales appeared to be feeding, diving down 10 to 12 minutes at a time, then surfacing and floating near the other whales. On several occasions, she said, the researchers saw partially chewed squid and some intestines that may have been from large fish.

Although known as killer whales, orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family. They are usually found in cold coastal waters, where they feed on fish, squid, seals, sea lions, birds, dolphins and whales.

Greg Kaufman, president of the Pacific Whale Foundation, said the last orca sighting in Maui waters was reported in 1997 by a fisherman who said he saw four adults and a calf about two miles west of La Perouse. It is not known if the 1997 group includes the same orcas that were seen Saturday, but researchers will be comparing photos to find out.

In 1998, orcas were reported off the Kona coast, and in March, tourists on a boat tour near Ni'ihau watched a pod of killer whales attacking and eating a small whale or large dolphin.