From West Hawaii Today:

In Hawaii’s crystalline waters, some cetaceans get all the attention — usually the charismatic humpback whales and spinner dolphins known for their stunning displays of acrobatics.

However, there are scores of lesser-known species that reside here year-round and deserve recognition, too. In fact, residents and visitors with photos of these animals could help with current research and conservation work.

Since 2000, the Cascadia Research Collective has conducted extensive studies, covering more than 46,000 miles of survey track lines around the main Hawaiian Islands, and have documented more than 1,700 sightings of 18 different species of toothed whales and dolphins.

Its work has covered waters up to roughly 5,000 meters deep, but about half of the effort has been in waters 1,000 meters deep or less, said Robin Baird, a research biologist for Cascadia Research Collective. Read the full story.

And here’s the latest in other neighbor isle gov’t and politics:

450 Japanese hula dancers descend on Poipu

Hilo airport suffers power outage

Kauai to consider the Blue Zones Project

Hanapepe building has been in Hollywood films, walking tours 

Hawaii Island bed and breakfasts thrive

Hilo Farmers Market plots future

Classrooms to follow Hokulea’s four-year global trek

Lihue Safeway project to break ground this year

Kauai TVR probe stalls

It’s about respect: Kanaha Beach kiter, swimmer feud escalates

Kauai Community College OCET gets $250,000 grant

Big Island Democrats name Tarnas to lead party

Upcountry to Kihei highway project slowly moving ahead

Kapahi’s Hawaiian Fruit Packers closes

Hong: Yagong, Kawauchi claim too much attorney-client privilege

Health facility planned for the heart of Lanai

Photo courtesyMark Interrante (aka pinhole).

—Chad Blair