The Maui News

Site leaders across Maui on Saturday reported 122 whale sightings in a 15-minute time period, the most reported in one interval as compared to other Hawaiian islands.

The observation was part of the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation. It had site leaders count whales from shore as part of a long-term survey of humpback whales in Hawaii.

The event provides a snapshot of trends in relative abundance of whales and is one of the world’s longest-running community science projects, according to a news release.

Site leaders on Maui collected data from 12 shoreline sites during 15-minute intervals between 8:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. A total of 122 whale sightings were seen during the 9 to 9:15 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count. 

Other counts were held on other islands, including Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii island, whose event was held through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count.

Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the sanctuary and Pacific Whale Foundation are running modified programs without the normal participation of volunteers. Instead, each site is monitored by trained site leaders working individually or as a couple.

This is the fourth year that both counts are coordinated on the same days, ensuring the data from all the main Hawaiian islands are collected simultaneously.

Site leaders collected data from 45 sites across all the main Hawaiian islands. A total of 278 whale sightings were seen during the 9 to 9:15 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count.

On Hawaii, Oahu, and Kauai, Ocean Count site leaders collected data from 33 sites; a total of 163 whale sightings were seen during the 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count for those islands.

Across the main Hawaiian Islands, the average weather conditions were ideal for viewing whales with sunny skies, calm seas and light winds, the news release said. A variety of other species were also spotted during the count including honu or green sea turtles, nai’a, or spinner dolphins and multiple seabird species.

Both counts take place three times during peak whale season annually on the last Saturdays in January, February, and March.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s Great Whale Count data may be found at www.pacific whale.org/research/community -science/ with additional information at www.mauiwhalefestival.org.

Preliminary data detailing Sanctuary Ocean Count whale sightings by site location are available at: oceancount.org/ resources/. Additional information is available on the sanctuary’s website at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.