The highest island figure for 2020 is 3.9 whales per site per 15-minute period, for Kauaʻi in January. The lowest is 2, for Hawaiʻi Island in January and February.
The 2020 Sanctuary Ocean Count ran on two Saturday mornings: January 25 and February 29. We list the island averages from the preliminary results sheets, and each site’s average per count, computed from the sheets’ site tables.
The March count was canceled because of COVID-19.
Island figures, 2020
Each results sheet is titled “Sanctuary Ocean Count Preliminary Data”.
| Count | Kauaʻi | Oʻahu | Hawaiʻi Island | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January January 25 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 2 | results sheet |
| February February 29 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2 | results sheet |
| March March 28 (canceled) | – | – | – | – |
Headcount and busiest period, 2020
| Count | Headcount | Sites reporting | Busiest period | Whales in busiest period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | more than 550 volunteers † | 41 | 8:30 am–8:45 am | 148 |
| February | more than 650 volunteers † | 39 | 8:30 am–8:45 am | 138 |
† The headcount includes Pacific Whale Foundation's Great Whale Count on Maui, held on the same mornings.
2020 averages by count site
The highest 2020 site value for a single count is 9.11, at Mōkapu Point (Monument Point Overlook) on Oʻahu 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. The sheets print these tables as images, and we typed them in by hand.
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lumahaʻi Lookout | – | – | – |
| 2 | Cliffs at Princeville | 0.56 | 2.44 | – |
| 3 | KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse | – | 2.33 | – |
| 4 | KPNWR-Crater Hill | 5.67 | 2.33 | – |
| 5 | Kapaʻa Lookout | 6.56 | 3.78 | – |
| 6 | Ahukini State Recreation Pier | 1.56 | 0.56 | – |
| 7 | Ninini Lighthouse | 7.22 | – | – |
| 8 | Māhāʻulepū-Makauwahi Trail | – | – | – |
| 9 | Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi | 6.11 | 2.89 | – |
| 10 | Makahūʻena Point | 6.56 | 3.78 | – |
| 11 | Poʻipū Beach Park | 5.11 | 2.11 | – |
| 12 | Kaʻiwa Point | 1.11 | 3.22 | – |
| 13 | Port Allen Cemetery | 1.56 | 1.33 | – |
| 14 | Waimea Canyon Drive | – | – | – |
| 15 | Pacific Missile Range Facility | 1.11 | 1.67 | – |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ewa Beach Park | 0.67 | 0.67 | – |
| 2 | Ko ʻOlina | 1.11 | 1.11 | – |
| 3 | Māʻili Point | – | – | – |
| 4 | Mākua Cave | 1.33 | – | – |
| 5 | Kaʻena Point (West Shore) | 0.44 | 4.62 | – |
| 6 | Kaʻena Point (North Shore) | 3.33 | 1.22 | – |
| 7 | Mokulēʻia Beach Park | 0.67 | 0.71 | – |
| 8 | Puaʻena Point | – | – | – |
| 9 | Shark's Cove | 3.11 | 3.78 | – |
| 10 | Turtle Bay Resort | 1.67 | 2.78 | – |
| 11 | Lāʻie Point | 1.89 | 3 | – |
| 12 | Hauʻula Beach Park | – | – | – |
| 13 | Kualoa Ranch (Bunkers) | 1.22 | 0.89 | – |
| 14 | Pyramid Rock | 2.11 | – | – |
| 15 | Mōkapu Point (Monument Point Overlook) | 9.11 | 0.67 | – |
| 16 | Lanikai | 2.22 | 0.33 | – |
| 17 | Waimānalo Beach Park | – | – | – |
| 18 | Makapuʻu Lighthouse | 3.11 | 1.78 | – |
| 19 | Hālona Blowhole | 3.89 | 6.78 | – |
| 20 | Lānaʻi Lookout | 4.78 | 3.11 | – |
| 21 | Hanauma Bay | – | – | – |
| 22 | Spitting Caves | 1.11 | 6.75 | – |
| 23 | Diamond Head | – | – | – |
| 24 | Magic Island | 0 | 0.67 | – |
| 25 | Kakaʻako Beach Park | – | – | – |
| 26 | Kahe Point | 2.22 | 0.67 | – |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach Park | 0.78 | 0 | – |
| 2 | Ka Lae Park | – | – | – |
| 3 | Miloliʻi Lookout | – | – | – |
| 4 | Hoʻokena Beach Park | 0.67 | 0 | – |
| 5 | Hōnaunau Lookout | 0.11 | 0 | – |
| 6 | Keauhou Scenic Lookout | – | – | – |
| 7 | Keāhole Point (OTEC) | 0 | 2 | – |
| 8 | Hualālai (Four Seasons Resort) | 2.22 | 0.78 | – |
| 9 | Puʻukoholā Heiau National Park | 6.44 | 4.67 | – |
| 10 | Mile Marker 7 | 5 | 6.75 | – |
| 11 | Lapakahi State Historical Park | – | – | – |
| 12 | Kapaʻa Beach Park | 2.56 | 3.44 | – |
| 13 | Old Coast Guard Road | 3.89 | 2.88 | – |
| 14 | ʻUpolu Point | – | – | – |
| 15 | Waipiʻo Valley lookout | – | – | – |
| 16 | Laupāhoehoe Scenic Lookout | – | – | – |
| 17 | Onekahakaha Beach Park (Hilo Bay) | 0.44 | 0.22 | – |
| 18 | Kumukahi Lighthouse | – | – | – |
| 19 | Kehena Lookout | – | – | – |
| 20 | Kaʻena Point (Chain of Craters Road) | – | – | – |
| 21 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | 0.89 | 0 | – |
Sources
We link to each document rather than copy it.
- Results sheet, January 25
- Press release, January 25
- Results sheet, February 29
- Press release, February 29
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.