#humpback maui

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.

A total of 1,935 whales were observed across all islands, during the second Ocean Count and Great Whale Count for the 2026 season. On Maui, 847 whales were observed, the most of any location.

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.

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.

Occurring throughout the month of February, this hybrid Maui Whale Festival event celebrates the return of migrating humpback whales to Maui Nui.

As Maui rings in the new year, we take a moment to reflect on 2022–a year that brought highs and lows, challenges and triumphs, and shed light on erosion and the economy. Here are Maui Now’s top 22 stories of 2022…

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced the appointment of Kim Hum of Maui as superintendent of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. 

Boaters are being asked to reduce transit speeds to 15 knots or less, and slow to six knots when within 400 yards of humpbacks, when approaching and departing the area.

An entangled subadult humpback whale was freed of gear by a team of trained responders off Lahaina, Maui on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

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.

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.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, located on Maui’s Northwest Shore, hosts the 14th Annual Whale Tales Presented by Whale Trust, February 14 to 17, 2020.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Spirit spotted its first whale of the season this morning, Oct. 9, 2019 at exactly 11 a.m. The spotting was made in the ʻAuʻau Channel between Maui and Lānaʻi by PWF Captain Chris Walsh during a private Ocean Camp charter.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s Keiki Whalewatch program is offered to create an impactful and interactive learning experience for future generations.

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 whale offshore of the McGregor Point Lighthouse in West Maui was observed in a headstand position for approximately four minutes. What does it mean?

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

An entangled adult humpback whale was freed from 285 feet of line off Mākena Beach, Maui on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.

The whale season in Hawaiʻi is now in full swing with the majority of migrating humpbacks expected to visit Hawaiian waters between January and March.