Aquatic Mammals
Beyond the land that marks the borders of the park extends the expansive Pacific Ocean. There within, visible from the park generally in November through March, are the na kohola (Humpback whales) who have journeyed from the cooler North Pacific waters to breed and give birth. Humpback whales are easy to see in Hawaiian waters because they exhibit many dramatic behaviors, especially the hurling their gargantuan bodies into the air in spectacular breaches.
Although the na kohola are the most commonly observed ocean mammals other species may also be seen in the Hawaiian waters.From the shores, watch for a visible, uprising vapor just above the water, that is created when a whale surfaces for air and exhales through its blow hole.
Mahimahi is the Hawaiian name for dolphin. The aerial acrobats of the Spinner dolphins are commonly seen across the bay from the Pu'uhonua shores. They leap out of the water and spin laterally through the air before the tail once again disappears into the ocean.
Terrestrial Mammals
All other mammals that occur in the park, were either purposefully brought to Hawai‘i, either for profit, to solve a problem or were accidental stowaways on ocean vessels visiting the island from faraway places. These species are not native to Hawai‘i and have permanently changed the landscape.
The mongoose was introduce from India to help reduce the rat population, which was a particular nuisance to the sugarcane industry. Unfortunately, the mongoose has become the textbook example of a failed biocontrol effort. The rat is nocturnal and the mongoose is diurnal and seldomly meet. Although the mongoose did little to change the rat population it is a major contributor to the decline of native ground nesting birds.
