Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Viewing “Code Of Conduct”

  1. Please observe turtles from a distance and allow them a clear escape route to deeper water.
  2. Never entice marine wildlife to approach you.
  3. Do NOT attempt to touch, ride or FEED turtles.
  4. Remain at least 100 yards from humpback whales, and at least 50 yards from other marine mammals (dolphins, other whale species, and Hawaiian monk seals.)
  5. Please keep your distance. Disturbing wildlife interrupts their ability to perform critical functions such as feeding, breeding, nursing, resting or socializing.
  6. Do NOT swim with wild spinner dolphins.
  7. Please do NOT chase, surround or closely approach marine mammals.
  8. Be careful not to surprise marine wildlife. Loud noises and abrupt movements can startle and stress wildlife, which can react unpredictably, harming themselves or you.
  9. Dispose of trash properly. Monofilament fishing lines and other plastic items can entangle and kill marine wildlife. Animals can mistake plastic debris for food, which can be deadly.

Marine Stewardship at Kaʻūpūlehu

  • Hualālai Resort monitors water quality monthly to document, analyze, and address any resort related impacts.
  • Hualālai Resort monitors marine life health and abundance quarterly. These fish and invertebrate counts are vital to understand fish population health so that recommendations can be made to fishermen on how to fish sustainably.
  • A marine life advisory committee was formed by Hualālai Resort with all the stakeholders of Kaʻūpūlehu and Kūkiʻo, to plan and implement short and long-term management of the fishery resources here at the Kaʻūpūlehu shoreline. The essential goal of the Committee is to insure the health of our marine ecosystem through traditional and modern resource management methods, with a focus on sustainable subsistence fishing and gathering practices.
  • Hualālai Resort has a staff of marine biologists and environmental professionals designated to care for the natural resources of Hualālai and Kona Village and to educate the general public, residents, and hotel guests on the wildlife and ecology of this Resort and region.