#Ocean Count
Nearly 500 humpback whales seen from Big Island shores during first of 3 ocean counts
On the islands of Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Molokaʻi and Hawai‘i, volunteers collected data from 30 sites.
Citizen scientists collect valuable data that help continue humpback whale conservation
On the last Saturday of January, February and March each year, during the peak of whale season in Hawaiʻi, hundreds of volunteers head to shorelines throughout the state, including the Big Island, to count and observe the marine mammals that migrated 3,000 miles to mate, calve and nurse their young.
Volunteers observe thousands of humpbacks in latest statewide whale count of 2024
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.
Over 300 humpback whales sighted off Big Island shores on Saturday
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.
