#Maui Whale

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.

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.

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.

Pacific Whale Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the ocean and its wildlife, invites passionate filmmakers and artists to honor World Ocean Day 2024 with submissions for the 8th Annual World Whale Film Festival.

Ocean conservation nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation invites nature photographers from around the globe to enter their favorite marine wildlife image in PWF’s fourth annual Whale of a Photo Contest now through July 20, 2023, for possible inclusion in the organization’s 2024 Marine Life Calendar. 

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.

Pacific Whale Foundation announced the 2023 return of its annual Maui Whale Festival. Occurring throughout the month of February, this hybrid event celebrates the return of migrating humpback whales to Maui Nui.

PacWhale Eco-Adventures, a for-profit social enterprise owned by and benefiting the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation, welcomes the new Ocean Legacy to its fleet of vessels.

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.

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.

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.  

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

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.

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

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.

An estimated 500 feet of heavy gauge line was removed from an entangled humpback whale off Maui.