#ocean count

Citizen scientists on Hawai’i Island observed 37 humpback whales March 28; a total of 435 whales were observed from shorelines at 37 sites throughout the islands.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

A total of 136 whale sightings were recorded during the 15 minute period between 10 and 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, during the third coordinated count this year between the Pacific Whale Foundation on Maui and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

On Maui, Great Whale Count site leaders collected data from 12 sites during 15-minute intervals between 8:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. A total of 35 whale sightings were seen during the 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.

Both counts will take place three times during peak whale season annually on the last Saturdays in January, February, and March.

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.

A total of 168 whale sightings were seen during the 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.

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 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s annual Ocean Count will take place on Jan. 26, 2019 despite the federal government shutdown.