#Great Whale Count

Volunteers on Saturday counted a total of 1,947 whales, including 802 on Maui, 153 on Molokaʻi, 263 on Hawaiʻi Island, 321 on Kauaʻi and 408 on Oʻahu. The count was part of the second coordinated effort this season by the Pacific Whale Foundation and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The total number for the Great Whale Count on Maui was 702, for a grand total of 2,121 throughout the state.

Volunteers counted a total of 855 whales throughout the state Saturday during the third coordinated event held this season. Similar counts held earlier this season resulted in a total of 2,124 whales observed on Jan. 27, and 2,141 whales observed on Feb. 24, 2024.

There were a total of 2,141 whales observed throughout the main Hawaiian Islands during the day’s count with 948 whales observed from Maui, 86 from Molokaʻi and 39 from Lānaʻi. On Kaua‘i, the total number of whales observed during the count was 239, on O‘ahu, the total was 363, and on Hawai‘i Island, 466 whales were observed.

A total of 2,124 whales were observed throughout the state during the Great Whale Count and Ocean Count held Saturday, Jan. 27. Organizers say this number may represent duplicate sightings of the same whale by different observers or at different time periods or different locations throughout the day.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary welcomes back koholā (humpback whales) and volunteers for the 2024 Sanctuary Ocean Count scheduled for Jan. 27, Feb. 24, and March 30. 

The total number for the Great Whale Count on Maui was 313, for a grand total of 1,121 throughout the state.

A total of 596 humpback whales were observed during the Great Whale Count on Maui, for a grand total of 997 spotted throughout the state. On Maui, Great Whale Count volunteers collected data from 12 sites during 15-minute intervals between 8:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. A total of 105 whales were observed during the 11:30-11:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count. 

The Pacific Whale Foundation beach cleanups are part of the annual Maui Whale Festival, which also includes Race for Whales and the Great Whale Count.

On Maui, the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation was only able to report from one of 12 designated sites due to ongoing heavy rain. The single Great Whale Count site on Maui was able to report 41 whales. A total of nine whales were observed during the 10-10:15 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.

Thousands of humpback whales breed, give birth and nurse offspring near the Hawaiian Islands each winter and spring.

On Maui, Great Whale Count site leaders collected data from 11 sites during 15-minute intervals between 8:30 and 11:45 a.m. A total of 94 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.

Nearly 75 percent of whales recorded during peak times off the shorelines of three islands were observed solely off Maui today during the kickoff of the statewide annual humpback whale counts.

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.  

Great Whale Count volunteers collected data from 12 sites across Maui on March 30.  A total of 219 whales were seen from Maui throughout the day.

A total of 774 whales were seen throughout the day off Maui, with 94 whales counted during the peak time between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.

Pacific Whale Foundation is inviting the public to participate in three “Great Whale Count” research events to help gauge Pacific humpback whale populations in Hawaiʻi.

The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Wild & Wonderful Whale Regatta entry deadline is this Saturday, Jan. 26 with a chance to win a free roundtrip airfare ticket.

Volunteers across Maui counted 529 humpback whales, including 335 pods and 62 calves during the Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count 2018.

A total of 172 whale sightings were seen during the 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.