HONOLULU (KHON2) — Over 400 volunteers gathered to complete the Sanctuary Ocean Count and Great Whale Count to observe kohola, or humpback whales, on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Hawaii, Lanai, and Maui.
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This event marked the first of three coordinated whale counts between the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count and the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation.
Humpback whales were observed from 44 different sites across the Hawaiian Islands, most of them residing on the islands of Kauai, Molokai, Oahu, and Big Island.
Data was collected in 15 minute intervals. For all islands, the most whales were spotted between 9 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. On Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Big Island, a total of 174 whales were observed during this time period. On Maui and Lanai, volunteers logged 141 whales.
