whales
© Daniel Rapozo
A least nine whales stranded themselves off Kalapaki Beach Friday morning and scientists are working to find out why.

News of this rattled residents and visitors on the Garden Isle.

Charles Hepa was one of many volunteers that stepped in to help save the stranded creatures he considers sacred.

"These whales are a part of our Molala to in our stories and or could he go in our history and our Oleander chance," Hepa said.

When federal, state and city personnel eventually responded, personnel closed part of the beach.

As of Friday evening, NOAA confirmed at least five whales died.

Canoe paddlers assisted officials and guided whales back out to sea.


"Pilot whales are very social whales and they're known to strand like this in mass numbers more frequently than any other whale species. There is a chance that those other wells that went out to see could restaurant somewhere else," David Schofield with NOAA Fisheries said.

Scientists say whale stranding occur from time to time in Hawaii. But it's rare to see a mass stranding in the islands.

"Other times will see human-related causes of the stranding such as boat strikes plastic ingestion. So swallowing marine debris or trash that's in the ocean," Schofield said.

Officials were impressed by how many in the community stepped up to help the whales.

But they do want to remind the public it is best to contact marine experts.

NOAA is conducting a necropsy on the dead whales, results could be available within a couple of weeks.