As of October 2026, we have only documented Fraser’s dolphins eleven times in our surveys. Eleven of our twelve total sightings have been off Hawai‘i Island, with just one off Kaua‘i (in August 2021). Our April 2008 sighting was the first of this species around the main Hawaiian Islands. Before that, the species had only been recorded twice in Hawaiian waters, both in November 2002 far to the northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands during a NMFS survey (the HICEAS survey, see Barlow 2006).
Fraser’s dolphins have very small dorsal fins relative to the body size, and a very short but distinct beak (rostrum). Pigmentation patterns differ between the sexes: adult males have a thick dark stripe extending posterior from the eye (visible in the photos above), although females can also have stripes of varying intensity.
Fraser’s dolphins are boat-avoidant and often actively avoid the research vessel. Such behavior may explain why this species is seen so infrequently in Hawaiian waters. However, we have documented groups of Fraser’s dolphins bowriding on two occasions, in 2020 and 2026. Of our twelve sightings, seven were of Fraser’s dolphins associating with groups of melon-headed whales, so if you encounter melon-headed whales on the water keep an eye out for a group of Fraser’s dolphins mixed in with them or nearby!
A lone Fraser’s dolphin associating with pantropical spotted dolphins
In November 2025, during an encounter with pantropical spotted dolphins off the Kona coast of Hawai‘i Island, we noticed a larger, distinctive-looking dolphin among the spotted dolphins. Using photos shared by citizen scientists and tour operators, particularly Hawaiian Adventures Kona, we determined that this Fraser’s dolphin has been associating with spotted dolphins since at least 2024.
The animal has a distinct mark on the left side of its dorsal fin, as well as a nick near the tip of the fin as of November 2025.
The individual is a male, which we confirmed from a biopsy sample collected during one of our three November 2025 encounters with it. It was seen by citizen scientists as recently as January 2026, so if you have encountered this individual before or see it in the future, please send photos to hawaii@cascadiaresearch.org.
For more information on Fraser’s dolphins see the following publications and presentations:
Barrios, D.M., Cornforth, C.J., Miller, O.M., Pease, V., and R.W. Baird. 2026. Rare near-island sightings of Fraser’s dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) in Hawai‘i, including a lone individual associating with pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata). Poster presented at the 26th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 2026. Download PDF copy of this poster
Bradford, A.L., Yano, K.M., and E. M. Oleson. 2022. Estimating the winter abundance of cetaceans around the Main Hawaiian Islands. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIfFSC-135, 46 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/801q-ke40
West, K.L., Silva-Krott, I., Landrau-Giovannetti, N. et al. 2021. Novel cetacean morbillivirus in a rare Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) stranding from Maui, Hawai‘i. Sci Rep 11, 15986. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94460-6
Bradford, A.L., Oleson, E.M., Forney, K.A., Moore, J. E., and J. Barlow. 2021. Line-transect abundance estimates of cetaceans in US waters around the Hawaiian Islands in 2002, 2010, and 2017. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-115, 52 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/daz4-kw84
Baird, R.W. 2016. The lives of Hawai‘i’s dolphins and whales: natural history and conservation. University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, J.M. Aschettino, G.S. Schorr and D.J. McSweeney. 2013. Odontocete cetaceans around the main Hawaiian Islands: habitat use and relative abundance from small-boat sighting surveys. Aquatic Mammals 39:253-269. Download PDF copy
Barlow, J. 2006. Cetacean abundance in Hawaiian waters estimated from a summer/fall survey in 2002. Marine Mammal Science, 22: 446-464. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2006.00032.x
All photos are copyrighted and should not be used without permission.
Updated October 2026.
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Got photos? We have photo-ID catalogs for several Hawaiian cetacean species! If you have photos that you would be willing to share, you can learn how to submit those to us at this link, or contact us at Hawaii@cascadiaresearch.org