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Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill three primary and four alternate seats on its advisory council. Applications are due by 5 p.m. HST on May 18, 2026.

On the last Saturday of January, February, and March, volunteers gather at their designated coastal sites on the islands of Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi, and Kauaʻi to tally observed species and help scientists assess whale distribution and abundance in the sanctuary.

NOAA is asking Maui’s on-water community to be on the look out for a recently-entangled 40-foot female humpback whale off Lahaina, Maui. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s monitoring team encountered the whale, referred to as Palette, on Thursday, Jan. 22. She was found to be in poor to moderate condition, showing moderate to strong emaciation and widespread carpets of red-colored cyamid amphipods (whale lice) across her otherwise light-colored body. If she is spotted, please call 888-256-9840 to report her location and share photos or videos if possible, but do not approach closer than 100 yards.

Responders are working with staff from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to tow the whale remains offshore for disposition, as requested by Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.

The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council will host the October edition of its “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” featuring Maria Harvey, on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

World Ocean Day is held each year on June 8 to “help unite and rally the world to protect and restore our blue planet.” Maui Ocean Center will celebrate World Ocean Day with family-friendly activities including live music, art projects and marine naturalist presentations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Discounted admission for kama‘āina, with valid Hawaiʻi state ID, is $10 per person (ages 3 and younger are free).

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.

New research reveals a daily pattern pattern for humpback whale songs which dominate the marine soundscape during the winter months off Maui. Researchers with the University of Hawai’i, in partnership with NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary found that whales move their singing away from shore throughout the day and return to the nearshore in the evening.

NOAA is investing $17 million from the Inflation Reduction Act in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to improve the climate resilience of the Kīhei, Maui visitor and community center. The facility’s beachfront location makes it vulnerable to climate change impacts, including upland flooding, powerful storms and sand inundation.

The rowers will spend June — National Ocean Month — on the Pacific Ocean, rowing to the Hawaiian Islands and finishing their journey in Hanalei Bay, Kaua’i, in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

Maui Ocean Center will celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, with family-friendly fun including face painting, interactive games with prizes and ocean-themed activities led by marine naturalists.  

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. 

A subadult humpback whale was freed from a life-threatening entanglement of rope and buoys during a NOAA-led team response on Tuesday off Hawaiʻi Island’s Kona coast.

With increased whale activity around the islands, NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and state managers remind boaters to be on the lookout for humpback whales and their calves.

The presence of numerous mother/calf humpback whale pairs in Hawaiʻi waters has prompted some advice to ocean users. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary reminds the public to reduce their speed and keep a safe and legal distance around whales. 

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has reopened its Sanctuary Visitor Center in Kīhei with a new design and new interactive exhibits. Over the past five years, the sanctuary has worked on a full redesign of the visitor center, highlighting whale biology, research, disentanglement and the importance of the sanctuary.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary celebrates 30 years in November with Ho‘i Koholā, “welcome back whales” month.

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