Nearly 500 Volunteers Spot 1,900 Humpback Whales in Second Islandwide Count

Nearly 500 volunteer observers across the main Hawaiian Islands reported sighting more than 1,900 humpback whales (koholā) during the second of three coordinated counts on March 1, 2026, an effort that included Sanctuary Ocean Count volunteers on Hawai‘i. The tally represents a midseason snapshot of whales present in Hawaiian wintering grounds and was collected simultaneously across multiple shorelines and observation points.

The coordinated count on March 1 drew the nearly 500 volunteers into a synchronized effort spanning the main Hawaiian Islands, with Sanctuary Ocean Count teams on Hawai‘i contributing directly to the overall total of more than 1,900 whales. Organizers staged the second count as part of a three-event series for 2026 to document seasonal abundance and distribution of humpback whales in nearshore waters.

For Big Island County, the March 1 results offer specific, measurable data points for managers and conservation partners tracking the 2026 season. The participation of Sanctuary Ocean Count volunteers on Hawai‘i strengthens local records used by county resource officials and marine sanctuary staff to assess where koholā are concentrating during the peak season, information that can shape public-safety guidance, harbor advisories, and outreach to whale-watch operators.

The March 1 figure of more than 1,900 whales will be combined with the first and third counts to produce a seasonal tally for 2026, with the second count serving as the central benchmark for midseason trends. Volunteers’ near-real-time observations on March 1 provide actionable evidence of whale presence around Hawai‘i Island and across the chain, and the final count later this season will complete the coordinated dataset for the year.

The scale of the March 1 effort — nearly 500 volunteers and a reported 1,900-plus koholā — underscores community reliance on volunteer science in Big Island County monitoring. The third and final coordinated count for 2026 will close the series and allow county and state trustees to finalize seasonal assessments based on the three-event dataset.