The highest island figure for 2024 is 6 whales per site per 15-minute period, for Oʻahu in January and Hawaiʻi Island in February. The lowest is 1, for Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island in March. On every island with all three figures, March was the lowest or tied for lowest.
The 2024 Sanctuary Ocean Count ran on three Saturday mornings: January 27, February 24 and March 30. We list the island averages from the preliminary results sheets, and each site’s average per count, computed from the sheets’ site tables.
Molokaʻi sites appear on the results sheets for the first time this season.
Island figures, 2024
Each results sheet is titled “Sanctuary Ocean Count Preliminary Data”.
| Count | Kauaʻi | Oʻahu | Molokaʻi | Hawaiʻi Island | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January January 27 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | results sheet |
| February February 24 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | results sheet |
| March March 30 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | results sheet |
Headcount and busiest period, 2024
| Count | Headcount | Sites reporting | Busiest period | Whales in busiest period | Day total Kauaʻi | Day total Oʻahu | Day total Molokaʻi | Day total Hawaiʻi Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 402 volunteers † | 32 | 9:00 am–9:15 am | 174 | 292 | 604 | 30 | 324 |
| February | 463 volunteers † | – | – | – | 239 | 363 | 86 | 466 |
| March | 424 volunteers † | 34 | 8:30 am–8:45 am | 76 | 74 | 282 | 28 | 84 |
† 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.
2024 averages by count site
The highest 2024 site value for a single count is 23, at Puʻukoholā Heiau National Park on Hawaiʻi Island in February.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | KPNWR-Crater Hill | 3.89 | 2.5 | – |
| 5 | Kapaʻa Lookout | 8.89 | 2.11 | 2.89 |
| 6 | Ahukini State Recreation Pier | 1.67 | 0.11 | 0 |
| 7 | Ninini Lighthouse | 5.56 | 2.22 | – |
| 9 | Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi | 1 | 4.44 | 1.33 |
| 10 | Makahūʻena Point | 1.83 | 4.22 | 0 |
| 11 | Poʻipū Beach Park | 1.56 | 2.56 | 1.33 |
| 12 | Kaʻiwa Point | 1.44 | – | 0.89 |
| 13 | Port Allen Cemetery | 2.6 | 2.22 | 0.78 |
| 15 | Pacific Missile Range Facility | 5.88 | 6.44 | 1.89 |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ko ʻOlina | 0.22 | 0.78 | 0 |
| 4 | Mākua Cave | 3.56 | 0.33 | 0 |
| 5 | Kaʻena Point (West Shore) | 3.11 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Mokulēʻia Beach Park | 4.44 | 5.56 | 1.56 |
| 9 | Shark's Cove | 10.22 | 6.56 | 2.89 |
| 10 | Turtle Bay Resort | – | – | 1.11 |
| 11 | Lāʻie Point | 3.44 | 3.67 | 3 |
| 13 | Kualoa Ranch (Bunkers) | 4.44 | 2.5 | 1.78 |
| 14 | Pyramid Rock | 7.67 | 7.67 | 5 |
| 15 | Mōkapu Point (Monument Point Overlook) | 17.89 | 2.78 | 8.89 |
| 16 | Lanikai | 5.44 | 0.6 | 1.67 |
| 19 | Hālona Blowhole | – | 4 | – |
| 20 | Lānaʻi Lookout | 4 | 4.67 | 2.44 |
| 22 | Spitting Caves | 2.67 | 3.11 | 3 |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaiaka Rock/Kaula Ili Way Kaluakoʻi | 3.33 | 7.78 | – |
| 2 | Sandy’s | – | 2.67 | 1.11 |
| 4 | Kawela | – | – | 2.25 |
| No. | Site | January | February | March |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Hoʻokena Beach Park | 1 | 1.33 | 0 |
| 5 | Hōnaunau Lookout | 0.56 | 0.78 | 0 |
| 6 | Keauhou Scenic Lookout | – | – | 0.67 |
| 7 | Keāhole Point (OTEC) | 0.56 | 4.38 | 0 |
| 8 | Hualālai (Four Seasons Resort) | 5.78 | 4.22 | 0.11 |
| 9 | Puʻukoholā Heiau National Park | 11.89 | 23 | 3.11 |
| 10 | Mile Marker 7 | 3.22 | 7.22 | 0.11 |
| 12 | Kapaʻa Beach Park | 5.44 | 7.67 | 2.56 |
| 13 | Old Coast Guard Road | – | 4.78 | 2.57 |
| 17 | Onekahakaha Beach Park (Hilo Bay) | 3.33 | 2.33 | 0.11 |
| 21 | Hawaiian Paradise Park | 4.22 | 2.33 | 0.67 |
Sources
We link to each document rather than copy it.
- Results sheet, January 27
- Press release, January 27
- Results sheet, February 24
- Press release, February 24
- Results sheet, March 30
- Press release, March 30
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.