The statewide count was coordinated between two nonprofit organizations: the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count — where 320 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Kaua‘i, O‘ahu and Hawai‘i islands — and Pacific Whale Foundation with volunteers based in Maui. This is the first year since March 2020 that both programs resumed normal operations. A total of 1,121 whales were observed across the state by volunteers for the Great Whale Count on March 25.
