Ocean Count News Today

There were a grand total of 855 humpback whale sightings observed by volunteer citizen scientists March 30 at 46 sites throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

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.

Volunteers spotted 2,141 humpback whales, or kohola, on Saturday across the main Hawaiian Islands, the second count of the year held during peak whale season in Hawaii.

A grand total of 2,141 whales were counted throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. This number may represent duplicate sightings of the same whale by different observers or at different time periods or different locations throughout the day.

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.

Saturday was the first of three coordinated whale counts between Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count from the shores of Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Molokaʻi and Hawai‘i Island and the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation from Maui and Lānaʻi.

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.

Volunteers must register in advance, and participation is limited for each Sanctuary Ocean Count site.

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. 

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary preps for humpback whale season, recruiting volunteers for 2024 Sanctuary Ocean Count.