#Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctua

“If we can understand them, understand their behavior and what they’re doing, then it can tell us a lot about some of the changes that are taking place in the ocean. The whales are amazing themselves, but they’re even more valuable when we think about them as these, basically, indicators of ocean health.” — Marc Lammers, research ecologist with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Moon has been followed by the Pacific Whale Foundation for nearly 15 years, but the last time researchers saw her in Maui waters she was suffering badly from a believed boat strike.

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

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.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill five primary and 11 alternate seats on its advisory council. Applications are due by the end of Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the nonprofit organization ʻĀina Momona signed an agreement to develop new outreach and educational projects for the community of Moloka‘i. It is the first such agreement between the sanctuary and a nonprofit organization on the island of Moloka‘i.

The project, called the “Maui Aloha ʻĀina Virtual Classroom” will release distance learning resources aimed at grades 8-12 every two weeks beginning Aug. 10, 2020.

The organization has not yet announced when the center will reopen.

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.  

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council has launched a new partnership with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, located in Kīhei.

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kīhei will host presentations about the upcoming 2019-2020 whale season on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m. 

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill ten primary and 9 alternate seats on its advisory council.

The sanctuary works to protect humpback whales through research, education, conservation and stewardship.

Endangered Whales Threatened by Fishing Gear, Ship Strikes, Oil Spills

NOAA Fisheries is calling on all marine life enthusiasts to help them survey Mauiʻs shores for endangered Hawaiian monk seals. 

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kīhei will host their monthly Sanctuary Science Series on Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 6:30-7:30 pm.

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.

While some gear was removed, including the entangling buoy, the adult humpback whale remained entangled as of Tuesday afternoon.