#humpback whale

Sanctuary staff will provide presentations about recent scientific findings and the upcoming 2022-2023 whale season.

Humpback whales may one day avoid Hawaiian waters due to climate change and rising greenhouse gasses, according the findings of a new paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science by a team of researchers including three University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate students.

The study examines climate-change scenarios over a 100-year period to project potential impacts of rising sea surface temperatures on humpback whale breeding grounds.

Whale Tales returns for its 16th year, connecting the global whale enthusiast and marine science community with international researchers, creatives, and conservationists for a one-of-a-kind virtual experience, March 26-27, 2022.

A mother humpback whale was freed of more than 550 feet of line and marine debris wrapped tightly around its head during a disentanglement effort yesterday off Lahaina. Rescuers say the successful response increased the survival chances for both the mother whale and her calf.

Trilogy Excursions hosted the student body of Sacred Hearts School on private whale watch tours to experience humpback whales in their natural habitat.

An entangled yearling humpback whale was freed of gear by a NOAA-led team of trained responders off Ukumehame, Maui on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2022.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary advisory council will meet virtually on Friday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

Humpback whale season in Hawai‘i is already underway, with sightings occurring regularly off Maui shores. This dynamic image was captured today by photographer, Ellen Riamo, about two miles west of Kīhei.

The Maui Ocean Center takes an in-depth look into humpback whales as they return to Hawaiʻi for the winter, and invites the public to explore their exciting and mysterious undersea world. 

Underwater footage captured by author Deborah Patton’s GoPro on Feb. 3, 2020 reveal an in-process birth with two male escorts surrounding the mother in labor after approaching a whale watching boat operated by Captain Steve’s Rafting Adventures in Lahaina.

The nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation (PFW) has redesigned its adoption program of humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins or endangered false killer whales, with all proceeds going to the research, education and conservation efforts.

A 25- to 35-ton humpback whale carcass was removed from Waimānalo Bay Beach Park on Oʻahu today.

If you see an injured or entangled marine mammal, keep a safe and legal distance, and call NOAA’s 24/7 Marine Wildlife Hotline at 888-256-9840 or hail the US Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 immediately.

It started as a father-son kayak off the west coast of Maui in Ukumehame to view and photograph Humpback whales.   45-year-old Daniel Sullivan and his 15-year-old son Tristan, of Kula, paddled out on their two-man, 12-foot hard-shell kayak from the west side of the “pali” at around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. There was a slight […]

Both counts will take place three times during peak whale season annually on the last Saturdays in January, February, and March.

While some whales have already arrived, the majority will be in Hawai‘i between January and March. Iconic humpback whales in Hawai‘i are protected by state and federal agencies. Approaching humpback whales when on or in the water within 100 yards or within 1,000 feet by air (including drones) can impact the animals and is illegal.

With recent reports of whales showing propeller injuries, ocean users are reminded to keep a safe distance from these annual residents of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Collisions with vessels are a risk to both the animals and humans.

A total of 191 whale sightings were seen during the 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.  

An “abundance of mother/calf pairs” have been observed in and around Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, prompting a reminder to ocean users to proceed with caution.