Second Great Whale Count of the 2025 Season Reports 1,947 Whales Counted

Pic Credit Pacific Whale Foundation/Maui News Now Article 

Second Great Whale Count of the 2025 Season Reports 1,947 Whales Counted

On February 22, volunteers counted a total of 1,947 humpback whales across the main Hawaiian Islands. The Great Whale Count by the Pacific Whale Foundation and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count coordinated efforts to gather this data from 44 sites.

Highlights:

• On February 22, volunteers counted 1,947 humpback whales across the main Hawaiian Islands.
• 498 volunteers participated in the count at 44 sites across the islands.
• Whale sightings by island:
• Maui: 802
• Oʻahu: 408
• Kauaʻi: 321
• Hawaiʻi Island: 263
• Molokaʻi: 153
• The peak observation period was between 9:30 – 9:45 a.m., with 262 whales counted.
• This was the seventh year of coordinated counts between the Great Whale Count (Pacific Whale Foundation) and the Sanctuary Ocean Count (Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary).
• The data provides insights into humpback whale population trends and potential duplicate sightings.
• Weather conditions were reported as mostly sunny, with light winds and calm seas.
• Volunteers also observed green sea turtles, spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, flying fish, and various seabirds.
• The counts occur three times annually on the last Saturdays of January, February, and March during peak whale season.
• Preliminary count data is available through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Maui Whale Festival websites.
• The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, managed by NOAA and Hawaiʻi DLNR, conducts efforts to protect humpback whales and their habitat.

A total of 498 volunteers participated, recording 802 whales on Maui, 153 on Molokaʻi, 263 on Hawaiʻi Island, 321 on Kauaʻi, and 408 on Oʻahu. The highest number of whales observed during a single time period occurred between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m., when 262 whales were counted. Event leaders note that these numbers may include duplicate sightings of the same whale by different observers or at different times and locations throughout the day.

This is the seventh year that both counts have been conducted on the same days, allowing for a more comprehensive snapshot of whale activity across the region. The coordinated effort provides valuable data that contributes to understanding trends in humpback whale populations within and between whale seasons.

Weather conditions during this second count of 2025 were ideal, with mostly sunny skies, light winds, and calm seas. In addition to humpback whales, volunteers reported sightings of other marine life, including honu (green sea turtles), naiʻa (spinner dolphins), ʻīlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seals), and various bird species such as ʻiwa (great frigatebird), mōlī (Laysan albatross), and manu-o-Kū (white tern).

The Sanctuary Ocean Count and Great Whale Count are scheduled three times each year during peak whale season, occurring on the last Saturday of January, February, and March. Data from these counts, combined with other research efforts, help scientists track whale populations and behaviors.

Preliminary data from the Sanctuary Ocean Count is available through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary website. Additional details about the Great Whale Count can be found at the Maui Whale Festival’s website.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, administered by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Hawaiʻi’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, plays a crucial role in protecting humpback whales and their habitat. These waters provide a critical sanctuary where whales migrate each winter to mate, calve, and nurse their young.

For more information or to participate in future counts, interested individuals can visit the official websites of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific Whale Foundation.

Have you spotted any whales yet? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Read More and Credit Sources:

Picture Credit to Pacific Whale Foundation/Maui Now News Article Sources: MauiNow Article KauaiNow Article

Read More:

The Return of the Humpback Whales to Hawaii 2024-25
Why is the whale watching so good off Maui?
The Annual Humpback Whale Migration to Hawaii

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count
Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count
Volunteers gather for 1st Humpback whale count of 2025 
Hundreds of humpback whales spotted during January volunteer count
2121 humpback whales spotted during first coordinated count of 2025 koholā season

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