The Hawaiian name for dolphin is nai'a, and refers to most all dolphins found here. Hawaiian Spinner dolphins are shaped and colored somewhat differently from other species of spinner dolphins.

I have seen 13 species of toothed dolphins swimming in the tepid waters of Hawaii; the most common are the Hawaiian spinner, spotted (kiko), bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphins. Other members of the dolphin family I have often seen, although they are called whales (kohola), are pilot and false killer whales.