Please consider our signatures as our official intent to refrain from staying at Hilton Hotels or Kahala Resort while in Hawaii or partaking in any of the shopping, dining, or tours they provide, until the partnership between your resorts and the captive dolphin facility, Dolphin Quest, is severed.

As we learn more about what is required of these dolphins to survive in dolpinariums, we see that it is irresponsible to strip them of nearly all of their physical, social, and psychological needs for our benefit.
Studies prove that dolphins are cognitive beings with self-awareness similar to that in humans. In the wild dolphins’ lives revolve around their social structure and bonds. They care for eachother’s young, co-operate while hunting, aid and console those in distress, partake in their population’s own varying cultures, and pass down information throughout generations, just like we do. But in captivity they are all thrown together, partaking in social dynamics that don’t exist in their wild populations, ones that can cause alarming and aggressive behaviors.

Hawaii’s captive cetacean industry is responsible for over 146 reported deaths, all documented by the overseeing governing body National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), with causes of deaths varying from “drowned,” “suffocation,” “killed by another dolphin,” “food poisoning,” and trainer error.

We strongly feel that this is a poor representation of Hawaii’s long standing cultural relationship with the ocean and its inhabitants and we are not the only ones. Public opposition continues to grow towards the captive marine mammal industry. What was once a huge draw for business and tourism is now becoming a negative association. Multiple countries and states have banned the public display of whales and dolphins. Just this past year, Jeff Stone of The Resort Group decided to cease all plans to put captive dolphins in the upcoming billion dollar investment Atlantis Resort in Ko’olina, stating they are committed to “respecting and celebrating the unique history, culture and ocean heritage of Hawaii.” And regardless of its lack of Swim With Dolphin Programs, Maui is still rated the #1 island, not just in Hawaii, but in the world by Trip Advisor.
With such beautiful and diverse ocean wildlife providing opportunities for visitors that include world class whale watching and scuba diving just steps from your hotels we hope you will consider taking a similar route to those standing up to the practice of keeping marine mammals captive during the inevitable sunset of this industry. Mahalo nui loa for your time!