If you can join only one Sanctuary Ocean Count, pick January or February. From 2013 to 2026, both months have a higher median island average than March on every island (Molokaʻi only since 2024). On Hawaiʻi Island the median is 4 whales per 15-minute count period in January, 3 in February and 0.5 in March, and 7 of the 13 March sheets print a Hawaiʻi Island average below one whale.

The medians come from the island averages the sanctuary prints on its results sheet after each count: 128 figures from 40 counts, 2013 to 2026. Every figure is in the download files, and our methods page explains how we compiled and checked them.

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary runs the count. We are an independent site, not part of NOAA or the program. The official results sheets and registration for the next count are both on oceancount.org.

Island averages on the results sheets, 2013 to 2026

Each dot is the figure the sanctuary printed for one island on one count day: the average number of whales seen per 15-minute count period. The highest figure on the results sheets is 8, on Kauaʻi in January 2015. Molokaʻi sites first appear on the sheets in 2024, so its panel is shorter.

The March 2020 count was canceled because of COVID-19. There is no figure for Molokaʻi in March 2026: after recent weather impacts, the sanctuary left Molokaʻi sites out of that count. We left out the February 2015 sheet’s averages: it prints 0 for every island, but its site tables show whales at most sites.

Four small charts, one per island, of the published island average number of humpback whales per 15-minute count period for each count from 2013 to 2026. The highest value is 8. Within each season the March count is usually the lowest. — Island average whales per 15-minute count period, as printed on each preliminary results sheet. Source: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; compiled by sanctuaryoceancount.org.

Show the numbers as a table

Island average whales per 15-minute count period, as published (– means no figure was published)
Season	Kauaʻi Jan	Kauaʻi Feb	Kauaʻi Mar	Oʻahu Jan	Oʻahu Feb	Oʻahu Mar	Molokaʻi Jan	Molokaʻi Feb	Molokaʻi Mar	Hawaiʻi Jan	Hawaiʻi Feb	Hawaiʻi Mar
2013	7	4	4	2	3	3	–	–	–	4	7	3
2014	6	6	3	2	4	3	–	–	–	4	6	2
2015	8	–	2	4	–	3	–	–	–	7	–	2
2016	6	3	0.78	4	3	2	–	–	–	4	4	0.45
2017	4	2	2	3	3	1	–	–	–	3	4	1
2018	3	2	0.95	4	3	1	–	–	–	2	2	0.03
2019	3	5	1	1.5	6	2	–	–	–	0.5	5	0.5
2020	3.9	2.4	–	2.3	2.3	–	–	–	–	2	2	–
2021	2.8	1.5	3.8	2	1.5	2.8	–	–	–	3.4	1.7	0.17
2022	4.9	3.9	1.8	6.4	4	3	–	–	–	1.4	1.5	0.06
2023	1	1	3.4	2	1.8	3.7	–	–	–	5	1.6	1.1
2024	3	3	1	6	3	2	3	5	2	4	6	1
2025	5	4	1	4	4	2	5	6	3	6	3	0
2026	5	4	2	4	3	1	3	5	–	4	3	0

Island figures before 2013

The results sheets print island averages from 2013 on. Before that, the press releases state them for 2008 to 2012 as whole numbers, the annual reports give island means for 2002 to 2004, and no source we hold gives an island figure for 2005 to 2007. The chart marks each figure by its source. The sources round differently, so a small step between them can be rounding.

March was already the quietest count on Hawaiʻi Island in the earlier sources: it has the lowest of the three figures, or ties for lowest, in all eight seasons that have all three.

Small charts for Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi of every island-level figure from 2002 to 2026, marked by source: annual-report means (2002–2004), press-release averages (2008–2012) and results-sheet averages (2013–2026). No source gives island figures for single counts from 2005 to 2007. The highest value shown is 8. — Island figures as stated in the sanctuary’s annual reports, press releases and preliminary results sheets. Kahoʻolawe is in the download files. Source: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; compiled by sanctuaryoceancount.org.

Show the numbers as a table

Island figures as stated: annual-report means (two decimals), press-release averages (whole numbers) and results-sheet averages (– means no figure)
Season	Source	Kauaʻi Jan	Kauaʻi Feb	Kauaʻi Mar	Oʻahu Jan	Oʻahu Feb	Oʻahu Mar	Molokaʻi Jan	Molokaʻi Feb	Molokaʻi Mar	Hawaiʻi Jan	Hawaiʻi Feb	Hawaiʻi Mar
2002	annual report	2.93	5.70	2.21	1.26	2.48	2.21	–	–	–	4.02	6.72	2.64
2003	annual report	5.05	4.42	2.15	1.52	2.15	2.21	–	–	–	5.95	5.95	2.35
2004	annual report	4.90	4.31	2.32	2.07	1.92	2.52	–	–	–	3.16	1.89	0.97
2008	press release	3	6	3	1	3	2	–	–	–	3	3	2
2009	press release	8	2	2	4	2	2	–	–	–	5	3	1
2010	press release	2	1	2	3	2	3	–	–	–	6	4	3
2011	press release	6	5	1	4	5	2	–	–	–	4	4	1
2012	press release	8	4	1	2	4	1	–	–	–	3	2	1
2013	results sheet	7	4	4	2	3	3	–	–	–	4	7	3
2014	results sheet	6	6	3	2	4	3	–	–	–	4	6	2
2015	results sheet	8	–	2	4	–	3	–	–	–	7	–	2
2016	results sheet	6	3	0.78	4	3	2	–	–	–	4	4	0.45
2017	results sheet	4	2	2	3	3	1	–	–	–	3	4	1
2018	results sheet	3	2	0.95	4	3	1	–	–	–	2	2	0.03
2019	results sheet	3	5	1	1.5	6	2	–	–	–	0.5	5	0.5
2020	results sheet	3.9	2.4	–	2.3	2.3	–	–	–	–	2	2	–
2021	results sheet	2.8	1.5	3.8	2	1.5	2.8	–	–	–	3.4	1.7	0.17
2022	results sheet	4.9	3.9	1.8	6.4	4	3	–	–	–	1.4	1.5	0.06
2023	results sheet	1	1	3.4	2	1.8	3.7	–	–	–	5	1.6	1.1
2024	results sheet	3	3	1	6	3	2	3	5	2	4	6	1
2025	results sheet	5	4	1	4	4	2	5	6	3	6	3	0
2026	results sheet	5	4	2	4	3	1	3	5	–	4	3	0

March against January and February

From 2013 to 2026, March had the lowest island average of the season, or tied for lowest, in 31 of 38 island-seasons that have all three counts. Hawaiʻi Island has the lowest March median of any island.

Four panels, one per island, each showing the January, February and March island averages for every season as thin lines and the median as a bold line. Medians by island: Kauaʻi Jan 4.45, Feb 3, Mar 2; Oʻahu Jan 3.5, Feb 3, Mar 2; Molokaʻi Jan 3, Feb 5, Mar 2.5; Hawaiʻi Jan 4, Feb 3, Mar 0.5. — Thin lines show each season; the bold line is the median across seasons. Values are island averages per 15-minute count period.

Show the numbers as a table

Island average whales per 15-minute count period, by month of the season
Island	Month	Seasons	Median	Lowest	Highest
Kauaʻi	January	14	4.45	1	8
Kauaʻi	February	13	3	1	6
Kauaʻi	March	13	2	0.78	4
Oʻahu	January	14	3.5	1.5	6.4
Oʻahu	February	13	3	1.5	6
Oʻahu	March	13	2	1	3.7
Molokaʻi	January	3	3	3	5
Molokaʻi	February	3	5	5	6
Molokaʻi	March	2	2.5	2	3
Hawaiʻi	January	14	4	0.5	7
Hawaiʻi	February	13	3	1.5	7
Hawaiʻi	March	13	0.5	0	3

The busiest 15 minutes of a count morning

The press releases name the 15-minute period with the most whales across all Ocean Count sites. In 20 of the 26 counts from 2013 to 2025 where they give an Ocean Count figure, that period started before 9:30 a.m., most often at 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. (12 times). The figure adds up whales across 29 to 60 sites, so it’s no guide to any single lookout.

Horizontal bars counting how often each 15-minute count period had the most whales across Ocean Count sites: 8:30–8:45 a.m. 12 times; 9–9:15 a.m. 8 times; 9:30–9:45 a.m. 3 times; 10–10:15 a.m. twice; 11:30–11:45 a.m. once. Other periods: 0. — Ocean Count sites only, 2013 to 2025. We left out counts whose release gave only combined Ocean Count and Great Whale Count figures, and the 2008 to 2012 releases, which name no busiest period.

Show the numbers as a table

Busiest 15-minute period at Ocean Count sites, per count
Count date	Busiest period	Whales in that period
2013-01-26	11:30–11:45 a.m.	267
2013-02-23	9–9:15 a.m.	287
2013-03-30	8:30–8:45 a.m.	194
2014-01-25	8:30–8:45 a.m.	253
2014-02-22	9:30–9:45 a.m.	297
2014-03-29	9–9:15 a.m.	165
2015-01-31	8:30–8:45 a.m.	354
2015-03-28	9:30–9:45 a.m.	160
2019-01-26	8:30–8:45 a.m.	96
2019-02-23	8:30–8:45 a.m.	278
2019-03-30	9–9:15 a.m.	73
2020-01-25	8:30–8:45 a.m.	148
2020-02-29	8:30–8:45 a.m.	138
2021-01-30	9–9:15 a.m.	125
2021-02-27	9–9:15 a.m.	83
2021-03-27	9:30–9:45 a.m.	83
2022-01-29	8:30–8:45 a.m.	163
2022-02-26	9–9:15 a.m.	135
2022-03-26	10–10:15 a.m.	93
2023-01-28	9–9:15 a.m.	75
2023-02-25	8:30–8:45 a.m.	77
2023-03-25	8:30–8:45 a.m.	117
2024-01-27	9–9:15 a.m.	174
2024-03-30	8:30–8:45 a.m.	76
2025-01-25	10–10:15 a.m.	183
2025-03-29	8:30–8:45 a.m.	52

Volunteers and reporting sites

The largest Ocean Count headcount in the press releases is more than 950 volunteers, on January 28, 2012. From 2019 most headcounts also include Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count on Maui, so they don’t compare with earlier years.

From January 2021 to February 2022, during COVID-19, only trained site leaders counted, alone or in pairs: 68 to 87 people per count across both programs. We hold no releases for 2016 to 2018, so the chart has a gap there. The chart also shows how many Ocean Count sites reported each count.

Two panels sharing one timeline of the 44 counts from 2008 to 2026 that have a press-release headcount, with a marked break at 2019 when headcounts start to include Maui's Great Whale Count. Top: people taking part. Before 2019, Ocean Count headcounts ran from 500 to 950. From 2019, headcounts that include the Great Whale Count ran from 241 to 650 volunteers, and 5 counts from Jan 30, 2021 to Feb 26, 2022 used trained site leaders only. Bottom: Ocean Count sites that reported, between 29 and 62. — Headcounts from the sanctuary’s press releases: Ocean Count only through 2015, and from 2019 mostly including the Great Whale Count on Maui (and Lānaʻi from 2024). Site numbers are Ocean Count sites only.

Show the numbers as a table

Headcount and reporting Ocean Count sites per count, from the press releases
Count date	People	Who	Includes Great Whale Count	Ocean Count sites
2008-01-26	more than 600	volunteers	no	56
2008-02-23	more than 700	volunteers	no	57
2008-03-29	more than 500	volunteers	no	58
2009-01-31	more than 650	volunteers	no	56
2009-02-28	more than 650	volunteers	no	55
2009-03-28	more than 500	volunteers	no	56
2010-01-30	more than 800	volunteers	no	59
2011-01-29	more than 900	volunteers	no	62
2011-02-26	more than 800	volunteers	no	62
2011-03-26	more than 570	volunteers	no	60
2012-01-28	more than 950	volunteers	no	61
2012-02-25	more than 800	volunteers	no	58
2012-03-31	more than 570	volunteers	no	57
2013-01-26	more than 800	volunteers	no	59
2013-02-23	more than 650	volunteers	no	57
2013-03-30	about 600	volunteers	no	60
2014-01-25	more than 800	volunteers	no	60
2014-02-22	about 900	volunteers	no	58
2014-03-29	more than 500	volunteers	no	58
2015-01-31	more than 850	volunteers	no	58
2015-03-28	more than 600	volunteers	no	57
2019-01-26	more than 572	volunteers	yes	39
2019-02-23	more than 612	volunteers	yes	43
2019-03-30	more than 430	volunteers	yes	42
2020-01-25	more than 550	volunteers	yes	41
2020-02-29	more than 650	volunteers	yes	39
2021-01-30	68	site leaders	yes	31
2021-02-27	72	site leaders	yes	30
2021-03-27	68	site leaders	yes	30
2022-01-29	87	site leaders	yes	33
2022-02-26	81	site leaders	yes	32
2022-03-26	241	volunteers	yes	32
2023-01-28	264	volunteers	no	29
2023-02-25	345	volunteers	yes	30
2023-03-25	320	volunteers	yes	30
2024-01-27	402	volunteers	yes	32
2024-02-24	463	volunteers	yes	not given
2024-03-30	424	volunteers	yes	34
2025-01-25	429	volunteers	yes	30
2025-02-22	498	volunteers	yes	not given
2025-03-29	363	volunteers	yes	29
2026-01-31	433	volunteers	yes	not given
2026-02-28	487	volunteers	yes	not given
2026-03-28	310	volunteers	yes	not given

Site tables on the results sheets, 2007 to 2026

The results sheets also print adults and calves at every site in every 15-minute period. Our file has them for the 59 counts from 2007 to 2026. Where a sheet prints its tables as images we typed them in, and the methods page lists how we checked them. Every cell is in one file on the download page, and our count sites pages and season pages are computed from it.

Using these numbers

The island average counts whales seen from shore. It does not estimate how many whales are in Hawaiian waters, and it changes with the weather and with the number of sites that report. The download page has all fifteen CSV files and a data dictionary, including every site and 15-minute period since 2007, the Great Whale Count figures for Maui, every number in the 2001 report, and separate files of SanctSound song detections, published abundance estimates and entanglement and vessel-collision reports. Our methods page explains how to cite the data.