Surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian Islands are easily the best place in the United States to get up close and personal with marine life. From Hawaiian green sea turtles and tropical fish to humpback whales and spinner dolphins, you’ll find it all off the coast of Hawaii — but finding sea life in the ocean can be unpredictable, which is why we’re sharing this one-of-a-kind dolphin experience you’ll only find here in the Aloha State.
At one of Oahu’s most famous resort destinations, the Kahala Hotel & Resort, in a natural ocean water lagoon lives a family of playful Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins.
The Kahala Resort & Hotel/Facebook
Since 2000, the Kahala has partnered with Dolphin Quest to offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences where visitors are given the opportunity to come face to face with these amazing creatures.
Dolphin Quest/Facebook
It’s not just the dolphins that make this place special, though: the lagoon itself is quite remarkable. Saltwater is filtered from the ocean, enters the lagoon through a man-made waterfall, and completely circulates twice within a 24-hour period. Surrounded by palm trees and well-manicured lawns, the dolphin lagoon at the Kahala is, quite simply, stunning.
The Kahala Resort & Hotel/Facebook
You’ll find more than half a dozen dolphin experiences at various price points — from a 15-minute session where you can touch, feed, and play with this sweet family of dolphins to a crazy, week-long “trainer” program.
The Kahala Resort & Hotel/Facebook
Each program offers an unforgettable glimpse into the lives of dolphins in a beautiful, safe environment and is truly magnificent, though with prices starting at $149, it isn’t cheap.
Dolphin Quest/Facebook
No matter what program you choose, you’ll get up close and personal with the six bottleneck dolphins that call the Kohala home: Hoku, Kolohe, Liho, Hua, Nai Noa, and Lono, pictured below.
Dolphin Quest/Facebook
Whether you’re feeding a dolphin from the dock or swimming with them in the deep lagoon habitat, it’s hard to deny the beauty of these creatures — just look at that sweet face!
Dolphin Quest/Facebook
Dolphin Quest also offers experiences at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii Island and in Bermuda. If you’ve ever wanted to play with dolphins, here’s your chance.
Dolphin Quest/Facebook
Address: 5000 Kahala Avenue, Honolulu, HI, 96816
The Kahala Resort & Hotel/Facebook
Dolphin Quest/Facebook
For more information, visit either the Kahala Hotel & Resort, website or the Dolphin Quest website. You can also learn more on Dolphin Quest’s Facebook page. Would you ever swim with dolphins in Hawaii? If you’d prefer to spot marine life in the wild, consider trying one of these 13 snorkel spots perfect for beginners.
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