Volunteers look for whales off Maui on Saturday during Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count. A total of 219 whales were seen off Maui from 12 sites. During the 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. count, the largest number of whales were seen from 10 to 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. when 36 whales each were counted off Maui. For the first year, whale counts were done on the same day from 42 sites on Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island as part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. The peak period for the other three islands was reported to be from 9 to 9:15 a.m. when 73 whales were seen. Very good whale viewing conditions were reported throughout the counts, according to a news release from Pacific Whale Foundation.

Pacific Whale Foundation photo