Just off the coast of Kona, hundreds of manta rays roam the waters. Today, in celebration of the majestic sea creatures, which have long been beloved by visitors and locals alike, the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa is hosting its fifth annual World Manta Day event.

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Just off the coast of Kona, hundreds of manta rays roam the waters. Today, in celebration of the majestic sea creatures, which have long been beloved by visitors and locals alike, the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa is hosting its fifth annual World Manta Day event.

Keahou Bay, where the resort is located, is one of the most popular spots for people to snorkel and dive with manta rays. Dozens of tour companies operate guided trips every night, when the rays are actively feeding.

“World Manta Day, for us, helps us sort of celebrate a feature of Keahou that you don’t find in most places on this earth,” said Geoff Pearson, general manager of the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa. “We want guests to understand how you interact with them. We want them to understand how they go about their lives and how they live, and how we don’t want to be imposing on their space. When we’re in the water, we’re in their world, not ours.”

The free event is open to both hotel guests and local residents. It will feature talks from manta ray experts on recent research and conservation efforts as well as educational exhibits and activities.

Manta Pacific Research Foundation Chair and Co-Founder Keller Laros is one of those experts. Laros said he first fell in love with manta rays during a night dive off Kona in 1985. He has since dedicated himself to studying, documenting and protecting them.

One of his biggest projects has been creating a database of over 250 manta rays that have been observed off the Kona Coast. Each one, he said, is identifiable by a unique spot pattern on their underside, which he first observed on a particular manta ray with ‘w’-shaped markings over 30 years ago.

“I noticed her spots were different and we called her ‘W’, and that’s when we started identifying back in ‘91,” he said. “Back then, I would literally glue a photograph into a three-ring binder. That’s how the database began.”

Now, that binder has evolved into an online record featuring 258 manta rays along the Kona coast, many of which are photographed and named by citizen scientists. The list includes ‘Lana del Ray’ and “Xray.”

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The majority of the mantas spotted in the Kona area, Laros said, are alfredi, or reef, manta rays. While they are smaller than the open ocean variety, they can reach a wingspan of 10 to 15 feet.

“They live in relatively shallow water,” he said. “Their ecosystem is a reef ecosystem, so you know, you’re talking like 100 feet or maybe a couple hundred feet of depth is where they’re looking for food and stuff like that.”

However, he said, this limits their habitat off the steep Hawaii Island coast and poses unique dangers.

“Because the water gets so deep so quickly along the Big Island, our guys’ biggest threat to them is accidental entanglement, fishing lines and moorings and stuff like that,” Laros said. “Over on Maui, they don’t see nearly as many manta rays with accidental fishing hooks and stuff like that on them because they’ve got a much wider ecosystem for them to live in.”

This is part of why he feels education and awareness are so important in protecting the Kona coast manta population. In addition to talks on basic manta ray biology and recent DNA research at today’s event, Laros is also presenting on safe and sustainable manta ray tourism.

He said he believes experiences with manta rays can provide a powerful gateway for people to care more about the ocean and other vulnerable ecosystems around the world that support life for humans and other animals.

“I’m concerned about the safety and sustainability and the longevity of our species on this planet,” Laros said. “So if people learn about manta rays and become passionate about manta rays, hopefully, they’ll also become passionate about conservation, protecting the environment, and pay it forward.”

World Manta Day 2026 is taking place from noon to 8 p.m. today at Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in Kailua-Kona. It is free to attend and parking validation is provided.

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Email Grace Inez Adams at [email protected].