Tons of Fun Counting Whales!
Volunteers line the hill beside Pu'ukohola Heiau to take part in the NOAA "Sanctuary Ocean Count."
Just as the sun began to rise over Mauna Kea on the last Saturday in January, a crowd had already gathered on the hill known to Hawaiians as “Pu`ukohola”…the “Hill of the Whale”. From this vantage point, over 120 feet above the turquoise blue waters of Kawaihae Bay, volunteers scanned the ocean looking for whales.
And whales they saw! The crowd erupted into cheers and “oohs and ahhs” when three adult humpbacks breached one after the other. Dozens of whales were sighted breaching, slapping and otherwise enjoying the warm waters of the Pacific.
This count is one of three counts held around Hawaii from January to March. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary holds these counts in order to give the community a chance to monitor humpback whales from the shores of O`ahu, Hawai`i and Kaua`i. The count is held the last Saturday of January, February and March. If you would like to take part in an upcoming whale count, visit the Sanctuary website!
