Humpback Whales Healthy In Hawaii

Humpback Whales are increasing their numbers in Hawaii by a healthy 6 to 7 percent each year. Humpback whales of the Northern Pacific Ocean undertake a great migration from Alaska covering about 3500 miles one way. Considered an endangered species, the Humpbacks are doing well in Hawai’i's protected waters. Now numbering about 10,000, they will mate, calve, and nurse their young in Hawaii before returning.

One way to study the population size of the humpback whales is the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s annual whale count, where hundreds of volunteers go to 60 sites on the last Saturdays of January, February, and March to count whales. More than 800 volunteers showed up in January and counted whales from the shores of Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island, with some seeing as many as 6 whales within a 15-minute interval. Here are the average numbers of whales sighted per 15-minute count period on each island:
O’ahu – 3 whales
Kaua’i – 2 whales
Big Island – 6 whales

Again on the last Saturday in February and March, volunteers will fan out along the shores of O’ahu, Hawai’i and Kaua’i for the sanctuary’s annual whale count. The count provides key population and distribution information on humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands. The Pacific Whale Foundation will conduct its own whale count on Maui. If you would like to volunteer and be a part of this success story see Humpback Whale Ocean Count 2010.