#Sanctuary Ocean Count

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

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

Maui volunteers spotted the most humpback whales on Feb. 25 with 596, followed by O’ahu with 232, the Big Island with 105 and 64 for Kaua’i.

Although weather conditions were not ideal for viewing whales at the majority of sites, folks were still able to spot some whales in addition to other species.

Over 600 volunteers across the state participated in the third event of the 20th Anniversary of the Sanctuary Ocean Count.

Nearly 900 participants join in second event of three to protect endangered species.