DLNR warns Kona fishers and boaters away from sperm whale carcass pieces

Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources says a sperm whale carcass first seen drifting along the Kona Coast on Tuesday, Oct. 27, could pose health and safety risks to boaters, fishers and beachgoers in the coming days. The carcass reached the mouth of Honokōhau Harbor and was towed offshore Wednesday evening by DOCARE officers, working with the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, the Division of Aquatic Resources and a trained Hawaiʻi Whale Entanglement Response Network responder. DLNR is not saying where the carcass was taken.

The whale was badly decomposed, and pieces broke off before it was towed. DLNR said people were seen in the water handling and taking pieces while large numbers of sharks fed nearby. Decomposing whales can carry diseases that spread to people, and wind, currents and passing storms could push pieces back toward shore. The department asks people not to approach any remains by boat, board or swimming.

Any part of the whale is protected under state law and the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, so removing body parts or bones is illegal. Kiaʻi Kanaloa, which advised DLNR, asked the public to leave bones and teeth alone. Sightings can be reported to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 1-888-256-9840.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Hawaii DLNR: Health and Safety Risks for Kona Coast After Sperm Whale Carcass Towed From Honokōhau Harbor (Oct. 30, 2026).