#whale count

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.

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.

Volunteers counted a total of 855 whales throughout the state Saturday during the third coordinated event held this season. Similar counts held earlier this season resulted in a total of 2,124 whales observed on Jan. 27, and 2,141 whales observed on Feb. 24, 2024.

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. 

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 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.

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.

On Maui, Great Whale Count site leaders collected data from 12 sites during 15-minute intervals between 8:30 and 11:50 a.m. A total of 34 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.

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.

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

More than 649 volunteers gathered data from the shores of 44 sites off O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island during the second Sanctuary Whale Count event in 2018.

A total of 172 whale sightings were seen during the 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.

The count was the final of three conducted for the year during peak whale season. The Sanctuary Ocean Count is held each year on the last Saturday of January, February, and March.

According to data from the annual event, an average of 5 whales per site were counted every 15 minutes.