The highest island figure for 2026 is 5 whales per site per 15-minute period, for Kauaʻi in January and Molokaʻi in February. The lowest is 0, for Hawaiʻi Island in March; the sheet prints whole numbers, and our recount from its site table gives 0.49. On every island with all three figures, March was the lowest or tied for lowest.
The 2026 Sanctuary Ocean Count ran on three Saturday mornings: January 31, February 28 and March 28. We list the island averages from the preliminary results sheets, and each site’s average per count, computed from the sheets’ site tables.
For March the results sheet says: “Due to recent weather impacts, Molokaʻi sites were not included in the March count.”
Island figures, 2026
Each results sheet is titled “Sanctuary Ocean Count Preliminary Data”.
| Count | Kauaʻi | Oʻahu | Molokaʻi | Hawaiʻi Island | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January January 31 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | results sheet |
| February February 28 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | results sheet |
| March March 28 | 2 | 1 | – | 0 | results sheet |
Headcount and day totals, 2026
| Count | Headcount | Day total Kauaʻi | Day total Oʻahu | Day total Molokaʻi | Day total Hawaiʻi Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 433 volunteers † | 467 | 337 | 52 | 355 |
| February | 487 volunteers † | 337 | 288 | 166 | 244 |
| March | 310 volunteers † | 169 | 77 | – | 37 |
† The headcount includes Pacific Whale Foundation's Great Whale Count on Maui and Lānaʻi, held on the same mornings.
Day totals add up every whale reported during the morning, so one whale can be counted more than once.
2026 averages by count site
The highest 2026 site value for a single count is 11.44, at Lapakahi State Historical Park on Hawaiʻi Island in January.
We computed each figure from the results sheet’s site table: whales seen, adults plus calves, averaged over the 15-minute periods that site reported. A dash means the site reported no period that morning. Site names follow our sites list; the sheets’ spellings vary.
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cliffs at Princeville | 2.78 | 5 | 1.22 |
| 3 | KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse | – | 5 | 2.33 |
| 4 | KPNWR-Crater Hill | 6.67 | – | 1.78 |
| 5 | Kapaʻa Lookout | 5.22 | 3.78 | 4 |
| 6 | Ahukini State Recreation Pier | 0.44 | 0.67 | 0.56 |
| 7 | Ninini Lighthouse | 6.88 | 6.12 | – |
| 9 | Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi | 7.33 | 4.56 | 0.11 |
| 10 | Makahūʻena Point | 11 | 2.33 | 0.44 |
| 11 | Poʻipū Beach Park | 5 | 2.22 | 0.11 |
| 13 | Port Allen Cemetery | 5.22 | 2.56 | 0.56 |
| 15 | Pacific Missile Range Facility | 2.11 | 5.89 | 7.67 |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mākua Cave | 1.67 | 1.22 | 0 |
| 5 | Kaʻena Point (West Shore) | 2 | 3.33 | – |
| 7 | Mokulēʻia Beach Park | 1.56 | 3.11 | – |
| 11 | Lāʻie Point | 4.33 | 4.11 | 2.67 |
| 13 | Kualoa Ranch (Bunkers) | 3.89 | 4.56 | 1.78 |
| 15 | Mōkapu Point (Monument Point Overlook) | 3.33 | 2.78 | 0.33 |
| 16 | Lanikai | 2.33 | 1.56 | 0 |
| 19 | Hālona Blowhole | 5.22 | 3.86 | 1.11 |
| 20 | Lānaʻi Lookout | 8.11 | 6.11 | 2.56 |
| 22 | Spitting Caves | 4 | 2.22 | 0.11 |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaiaka Rock/Kaula Ili Way Kaluakoʻi | – | 5.5 | – |
| 2 | Sandy’s | 5.44 | 8.38 | – |
| 3 | Kalaupapa Lookout/Palaʻau State Park | 0.33 | 4.62 | – |
| 4 | Kawela | – | 2.25 | – |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Hōnaunau Lookout | 0.78 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Keauhou Scenic Lookout | 1 | 3 | 0.11 |
| 7 | Keāhole Point (OTEC) | 0.22 | 3 | 0.56 |
| 9 | Puʻukoholā Heiau National Park | 8.67 | 4.44 | 0.11 |
| 10 | Mile Marker 7 | – | 3.78 | 0 |
| 11 | Lapakahi State Historical Park | 11.44 | 5.33 | 1.11 |
| 12 | Kapaʻa Beach Park | 6.11 | 3.22 | 1.44 |
| 13 | Old Coast Guard Road | 4.56 | 3.86 | – |
| 17 | Onekahakaha Beach Park (Hilo Bay) | 2.62 | 0.67 | 0.89 |
| 21 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | 3.33 | 0.67 | 0 |
Sources
We link to each document rather than copy it.
- Results sheet, January 31
- Press release, January 31
- Results sheet, February 28
- Press release, February 28
- Results sheet, March 28
- Press release, March 28
The official record is on oceancount.org, and you register for the next count there too. The island figures on this page, and the site-table cells behind its site averages, are also in our download files; the methods page compares how each source averages and rounds its figures. This site is independent and not part of NOAA or the Sanctuary Ocean Count.