2024 Sanctuary Ocean Count welcomes back koholā and volunteers

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is welcoming back its koholā (humpback whales) and volunteers for the 2024 Sanctuary Ocean Count scheduled for Jan. 27, Feb. 24 and March 30. 

Volunteers must register in advance, and participation is limited for each Sanctuary Ocean Count site. Volunteer registration goes live Jan. 8 at noon. Registration and more information about Sanctuary Ocean Count is online at https://oceancount.org/. 

Since 1996, the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count has promoted public awareness about humpback whales, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and shore-based whale watching opportunities. Site leaders and volunteers tally koholā sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the surveys, which provides a snapshot of koholā activity from the shorelines of O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island. Sanctuary Ocean Count is supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

The Pacific Whale Foundation conducts the Great Whale Count on Maui, on the same dates as Sanctuary Ocean Count. More information can be found at https://www.pacificwhale.org/research/community-science/great-whale-count/.