Independent site, not affiliated with NOAA or the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Register and find official results at oceancount.org.

Sanctuary Ocean CountOcean Count data & shore whale watching

Ocean Count sites on Kauaʻi

Among Kauaʻi sites counted on at least 20 mornings, KPNWR-Crater Hill, in the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR), has averaged the most humpback whales: 4.98 per 15-minute count period from 2007 to 2026, followed by KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse at 4.97. Ahukini State Recreation Pier has the fewest, at 1.47.

Map of Kauaʻi. 14 public Ocean Count shore sites are drawn as dots sized by the average number of whales seen per 15-minute scan; a colored band offshore smooths those site averages along the coast, over a gray layer of relative whale density at sea from 1993–2003 aerial surveys. Highest: Crater Hill (Kīlauea refuge) (5.0), Kīlauea Lighthouse (5.0), Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi (4.9).
Average whales seen per 15-minute scan at every Kauaʻi shore count site, 2007 to 2026; bigger dots and a redder coast mean more whales. Gray is whale density at sea from the 1993 to 2003 aerial surveys (data courtesy of Joseph R. Mobley Jr.); outlines and roads © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Most sites averaged fewer whales in 2022 to 2026 than in 2007 to 2011: 9 of the 12 sites counted in both spans. The biggest change is at Cliffs at Princeville: from 4.32 to 2.47 whales per period.

The program’s maps and results sheets from 2007 to 2026 list 15 count sites on Kauaʻi, and 11 of them reported in at least one 2026 count. The official site map is on oceancount.org. We are an independent site, not part of NOAA or the program.

We haven’t visited the Kauaʻi sites, so this page has no parking, facilities or access details. Your site leader sends the meeting time and place before each count.

Whales per count period at each site

A site’s figure is the average number of whales, adults plus calves, per 15-minute period the site reported, computed from the site tables on the results sheets for the 59 counts from 2007 to 2026. The chart’s 2002–2010 figures come from the sanctuary’s 2010 report, which prints whole numbers, so they carry its rounding. Our methods page explains how we typed in and checked the tables.

Dot plot of 15 Kauaʻi Ocean Count sites. For each site, the average number of humpback whales (adults plus calves) per 15-minute count period over the counts of 2007 to 2011 and of 2022 to 2026 where the site reported. A gray ring marks the mean of the whole-number site averages printed in the sanctuary's 2010 report for the counts of 2002 to 2010. Highest 2007 to 2011 value: 5.26 at KPNWR-Crater Hill. Highest 2022 to 2026 value: 5.07 at KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse. Highest 2002 to 2010 value: 5.41 at KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse.
Average whales per 15-minute count period at each site. 2002–2010: our average of the whole-number site averages printed in the sanctuary’s 2010 report. 2007 to 2011 and 2022 to 2026 (dots), and 2012 to 2016 and 2017 to 2021 (table only): computed from the site tables on the preliminary results sheets. Sources: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; Cullum (2010); compiled by sanctuaryoceancount.org.
Show the numbers as a table
Kauaʻi: average whales per 15-minute count period, by site. Report counts: the 2010-report counts with a value. Counts: the mornings from 2007 to 2026 when the site reported.
Site2002–2010Report counts2007–20112012–20162017–20212022–2026Counts
KPNWR-Crater Hill3.93275.266.543.424.3755
KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse5.41274.996.652.865.0743
Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi4.69264.726.594.483.4556
Makahūʻena Point4.56274.556.24.34.0357
Māhāʻulepū-Makauwahi Trail––4.935.691.41–28
Pacific Missile Range Facility3.76254.54.921.54.3648
Lumahaʻi Lookout2.73263.514.822.33–33
Cliffs at Princeville––4.3243.252.4746
Ninini Lighthouse3.23263.144.773.233.6854
Kapaʻa Lookout3.33272.393.722.944.1959
Kaʻiwa Point3.2252.594.761.741.7345
Poʻipū Beach Park2.7272.793.712.191.8356
Waimea Canyon Drive2.67213.092.290.81–26
Port Allen Cemetery2.71243.083.011.711.6358
Ahukini State Recreation Pier2.56271.612.390.940.8959

The heatmap shows every count at every Kauaʻi site with 15 or more count mornings, darker for more whales per count period. Read down a column to compare sites on one morning, and along a row to see how steady a site is. Empty cells are counts the site did not report.

Heatmap of 15 Kauaʻi Ocean Count sites by count morning, 2007 to 2026, shaded by whales seen per 15-minute scan; KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse has the highest overall average.
Whales per 15-minute scan at each Kauaʻi site on each count morning, 2007 to 2026, for sites with 15 or more count mornings (adults plus calves, averaged over the scans the site reported). Sorted by each site’s overall average. Source: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary results sheets; compiled by sanctuaryoceancount.org.
Show the numbers as a table
Whales per 15-minute scan at each Kauaʻi site, by count (yy-mm); – means no count reported
Site07-0107-0207-0308-0108-0208-0309-0109-0209-0310-0110-0310-0311-0111-0211-0312-0112-0212-0313-0113-0213-0314-0114-0214-0315-0115-0215-0316-0116-0216-0317-0117-0217-0318-0118-0218-0319-0119-0219-0320-0120-0221-0121-0221-0322-0122-0222-0323-0123-0223-0324-0124-0224-0325-0125-0225-0326-0126-0226-03
KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse5.36.23.91.98.25.87.14.65.95.02.63.75.48.30.411.64.04.8–4.48.25.19.35.86.99.24.6–––2.03.04.44.62.41.8–5.00.2–2.3–––9.85.22.12.93.49.8–––––––5.02.3
KPNWR-Crater Hill3.04.44.11.112.04.811.63.95.31.60.63.111.17.1–13.33.81.75.98.64.14.69.14.410.010.02.812.45.02.03.02.14.73.81.41.7–7.30.35.72.33.13.84.16.64.43.32.20.34.93.92.5–9.06.44.76.7–1.8
Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi7.76.76.0–11.14.46.62.00.75.80.02.35.84.41.811.47.60.47.97.23.69.012.62.911.86.41.311.94.90.07.32.11.63.03.1–6.710.30.96.12.96.81.0–5.26.60.21.30.52.21.04.41.36.25.41.37.34.60.1
Makahūʻena Point9.93.85.12.37.02.414.82.31.33.30.83.16.34.11.611.614.90.69.95.93.66.25.16.29.86.62.16.64.10.09.83.61.32.72.20.45.29.01.96.63.8––5.15.35.41.12.02.35.21.84.20.06.35.81.811.02.30.4
Māhāʻulepū-Makauwahi Trail7.76.05.61.38.92.76.72.31.3––2.16.86.1––––8.75.91.49.7–3.112.85.60.67.71.6–4.30.70.61.90.9–––––––0.1––––––––––––––––
Pacific Missile Range Facility7.46.84.16.46.02.86.23.63.03.2–3.31.86.12.01.21.10.116.07.810.18.93.94.03.96.01.93.62.62.2–0.90.71.81.11.60.94.11.21.11.7–––––––––5.96.41.94.84.70.12.15.97.7
Lumahaʻi Lookout2.03.63.91.93.42.98.61.13.20.02.83.07.77.31.28.95.72.711.03.00.71.39.35.03.30.03.9–4.41.8–2.21.61.83.8––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ninini Lighthouse4.61.31.2–6.91.26.30.20.90.01.42.18.26.01.213.74.02.08.03.15.47.43.23.06.95.81.15.62.00.36.23.61.14.21.41.11.71.10.07.2–3.22.09.15.73.25.10.1–0.35.62.2–7.22.40.26.96.1–
Cliffs at Princeville6.96.63.71.96.95.99.73.24.72.22.62.23.14.40.34.02.40.96.73.23.53.06.42.46.03.53.67.94.11.83.22.73.12.23.70.04.39.81.60.62.4–––––––––––––2.70.72.85.01.2
Kapaʻa Lookout3.62.93.11.64.94.33.30.52.20.30.60.81.65.00.77.92.60.62.11.72.17.32.72.06.15.34.84.85.10.42.70.71.47.22.40.52.24.10.46.63.82.11.94.37.85.02.21.22.03.38.92.12.98.22.63.65.23.84.0
Kaʻiwa Point4.71.22.32.93.91.1––0.92.90.21.66.93.31.26.1––5.25.94.44.48.62.110.36.20.94.43.20.01.40.22.31.81.60.03.21.92.11.13.21.31.31.73.92.40.0–––1.4–0.9––––––
Poʻipū Beach Park4.73.01.12.05.11.16.32.01.02.30.73.15.42.71.23.65.90.13.33.42.26.36.11.89.46.01.33.92.20.03.11.70.31.10.40.52.95.01.75.12.1–––2.03.30.00.60.11.71.62.61.34.12.70.25.02.20.1
Waimea Canyon Drive4.75.72.14.43.20.4–––1.7–0.17.62.71.43.01.9––2.60.03.11.41.95.11.30.04.72.4–1.40.20.7––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Port Allen Cemetery5.73.71.14.12.70.42.42.00.74.01.23.79.64.70.36.43.00.42.82.64.13.24.01.95.83.61.74.21.60.02.10.31.11.90.30.05.02.22.61.61.32.8–1.02.11.22.00.00.33.12.62.20.81.10.80.35.22.60.6
Ahukini State Recreation Pier3.20.40.00.72.80.48.31.11.70.61.20.71.10.90.93.71.11.01.01.11.95.32.90.76.63.80.82.03.30.70.92.41.13.00.00.00.20.20.01.60.60.70.31.60.82.01.40.10.00.01.70.10.02.72.20.70.40.70.6

One printed cell, a probable misprint, is left out of these averages; our methods page lists it.

Across all Kauaʻi sites, the 8:30 a.m. period has averaged the most whales, 4.17 per site and period, and the noon period the fewest, 2.98. The count sites page compares whales by time of morning on Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

Site averages by season, 2002 to 2026

Cells for 2002 to 2006 come from the 2010 report, and from 2007 from the site tables. A dash means the site was not counted.

Kauaʻi: average whales per 15-minute count period, by site and season, 2002 to 2026 (2002–2006 from the 2010 report; 2007–2026 from the results sheets’ site tables)
Site2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
KPNWR-Crater Hill4.332.333.3324.673.855.966.931.749.116.266.276.087.596.483.262.483.8343.674.772.483.246.74.22
KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse5.6734.6777.675.155.426.093.524.746.785.796.746.89–3.152.932.612.33–5.75.37––3.67
Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi474.333.3346.787.783.212.746.486.228.156.525.593.673.065.964.5541.552.784.334
Makahūʻena Point65.673.673.673.676.263.936.152.41496.445.856.153.564.891.785.375.175.113.963.353.064.634.59
Māhāʻulepū-Makauwahi Trail–––––6.414.33.762.116.44–5.336.396.34.611.851.39––0.11–––––
Pacific Missile Range Facility3.50.673.333.6746.115.074.263.283.350.8111.35.593.932.770.781.482.071.39–––4.693.195.22
Lumahaʻi Lookout1.6712.333.6733.152.744.31.885.415.746.15.223.253.111.892.78––––––––
Cliffs at Princeville–––––5.74.896.452.332.632.444.583.964.654.5932.525.221.5––––1.673
Ninini Lighthouse4642.673.332.374.062.541.525.156.565.524.564.592.633.632.260.937.224.854.670.223.893.156.5
Kapaʻa Lookout2.6744.6745.333.193.592.210.562.413.671.9645.413.441.593.752.265.172.7852.194.634.784.33
Kaʻiwa Point47.672.672.332.672.742.630.891.564.266.115.195.045.812.561.331.432.412.171.442.11–1.17––
Poʻipū Beach Park2.6723.672.3332.932.743.112.043.113.1934.745.592.041.70.693.193.61–1.780.781.812.332.44
Waimea Canyon Drive3.51.3333.671.54.152.7–0.893.892.441.282.152.153.560.81–––––––––
Port Allen Cemetery–4.331.672.672.333.482.411.72.964.853.33.153.043.671.931.190.743.261.441.891.781.151.740.742.78
Ahukini State Recreation Pier5.675.331.671.332.331.221.33.920.810.961.931.332.963.721.481.290.151.060.851.410.040.591.850.56

Every designated site

Outline map of Kauaʻi with 8 numbered count sites: 3 KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse; 4 KPNWR-Crater Hill; 6 Ahukini State Recreation Pier; 7 Ninini Lighthouse; 8 Māhāʻulepū-Makauwahi Trail; 9 Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi; 10 Makahūʻena Point; 11 Poʻipū Beach Park. Filled dots were counted in 2026 (7 sites); rings were last counted earlier. 7 sites without a pinned location are not shown.
Count sites on Kauaʻi with a pinned location, numbered as in the table below. Coastline and positions © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

The list follows the program’s site numbers. Years are the first and last on a results sheet with data for the site. Coordinates mark the named place in OpenStreetMap, checked against the official map marker. They aren’t a verified count spot. “Not pinned” means the only match was a nearby town, park or road, or none at all.

Ocean Count sites on Kauaʻi, 2007 to 2026
#SiteYears on a results sheetSeasons in the 2010 reportStatusLocation (OpenStreetMap)
1Lumahaʻi Lookout2007–20182002–2010Last counted 2018Not pinned: only a nearby place matched
2Cliffs at Princeville2007–2026–Counted in 2026Not pinned: only a nearby place matched
3KPNWR-Kīlauea Lighthouse2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202622.2317, -159.4020
4KPNWR-Crater Hill2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202622.2233, -159.3952
5Kapaʻa Lookout2007–20262002–2010Counted in 2026Not pinned: not found in OpenStreetMap
6Ahukini State Recreation Pier2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202621.9925, -159.3319
7Ninini Lighthouse2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202621.9550, -159.3358
8Māhāʻulepū-Makauwahi Trail2007–2021–Last counted 202121.8880, -159.4190
9Māhāʻulepū-Makawehi2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202621.8739, -159.4357
10Makahūʻena Point2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202621.8684, -159.4443
11Poʻipū Beach Park2007–20262002–2010Counted in 202621.8732, -159.4529
12Kaʻiwa Point2007–20242002–2010Last counted 2024Not pinned: only a nearby place matched
13Port Allen Cemetery2007–20262003–2010Counted in 2026Not pinned: only a nearby place matched
14Waimea Canyon Drive2007–20172002–2010Last counted 2017Not pinned: only a nearby place matched
15Pacific Missile Range Facility2007–20262002–2010Counted in 2026Not pinned: only a nearby place matched

Eight of the 15 sites have a pinned location. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.

To take part in the next count, register at oceancount.org.