What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 2:30am Tuesday 9:30am - 2:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 2:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 2:30pm Friday 9:30am - 2:30pm

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

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Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary protects humpback whales and their habitat.
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Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was created by Congress in 1992 to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaiʻi. It is administered by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). The sanctuary is located from the shoreline to the 100-fathom isobath (600 ft. depth) in the four isl

and area of Maui; Penguin Bank; and off the north shore of Kauaʻi, the north and south shores of Oʻahu, and the north Kona and Kohala coast of Hawaiʻi Island. Discover marine life and extraordinary habitats that make up your nation's marine sanctuaries and our continuing efforts to conserve these ocean and coastal treasures. The sanctuary is jointly managed via a cooperative federal-state partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawaiʻi through the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

05/14/2026

🫧"Eat my bubbles!"🫧

Did you know that humpback whales sometimes use bubbles in Hawaiʻi to confuse other males as they fight over the chance to mate with females?

Can you think of another famous humpback whale behavior where these animals use bubbles to their benefit?

📸: Ed Lyman/NOAA; Permit #15240

05/10/2026

Enjoy this beautiful video of a mother and calf humpback whale resting and bonding in the sanctuary this winter in celebration of Mother’s Day. This footage was captured by a suction cup multi sensor tag that our research team deployed to collect behavioral data to better understand the impacts of vessel noise on whales. These tags record movement, sound, and video, allowing us to gain a better perspective and learn more about how to better protect whales in this critical habitat without needing to closely approach them.

Media: NOAA; Permit 26593

05/04/2026

🐋 Join us for a special family-friendly event in Hilo at the Hilo Palace Theater!

NOAAʻs Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) and Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary invite you to a special screening of Stories from the Blue: Saving Koholā.

This film offers an intimate look at the HIHWNMS team's high-stakes work monitoring and disentangling koholā, humpback whales, from dangerous marine debris—a major global threat to marine mammals. The film documents the urgency and precision of this critical conservation work, while honoring the deep cultural and ecological connection Native Hawaiians hold with these ocean ambassadors.

Event Highlights:
-Film Screening: Stories from the Blue: Saving Koholā
-Special Guest: Maria Harvey, HIHWNMS Large Whale Rescue, Resource Protection, and Monitoring Assistant
-Bonus: Tour of a life-size inflatable humpback whale!

Details:
-Where: Hilo Palace Theater
-When: Saturday, May 9
-Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

We hope to see you there!

05/02/2026

🌊Now Recruiting: Sanctuary Advisory Council Members 🌊

We’re seeking applicants for three primary and four alternate seats, including:
-Conservation
-Fishing
-Native Hawaiian
-Youth

The Sanctuary Advisory Council plays a key role in guiding sanctuary management and ensuring public voices help protect humpback whales and their habitat. Your experience and perspective can make a difference!

📅Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. HST on May 18, 2026.
🔗Learn more and download an application:
https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/advisory/recruitment.html

Photo Credit: Brian Hauk/NOAA

05/01/2026

During the 2026 30th Anniversary of at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, volunteers went to their designated sites on the islands of O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Molokaʻi and Hawai‘i to count koholā, or humpback whales, and record any other species seen. 🐋 At the same time, Pacific Whale Foundation Great Whale Count volunteers collected data from Maui and Lānaʻi, ensuring the data from all the main Hawaiian Islands were collected simultaneously!

While the annual counts provide a snapshot of koholā presence in Hawaiian waters, 🌊 researchers combine these valuable community science efforts with other research and long-term monitoring to truly dive deeper into the data and understand broader ecological changes.

👉Check out the data collected during this annual program: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/notes/2026/ocean-count.html.

04/28/2026

Happy National Volunteer Day from Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! The true superheroes behind the sanctuary are our amazing volunteer force, who support our research, whale rescue, education and outreach programs across the islands.

Mahalo nui loa to our very dedicated team of talented volunteers! You are very much appreciated! 💙🤙🐋

Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA

04/27/2026

Interested in diving deeper into the fascinating world of whales?

Stop by our free Kīhei Visitor Center, located on Maui, to learn all about humpback whales and their habitat! We have activities for all ages, and the perfect view to spot late season whales and green sea turtles year-round from our lanai. Visitor center hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

See you there!

Photo: Lizzy Beato/NOAA

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary! We had a blast last night with Dr. Kat Owens at our monthly Sanctuary Sea Chat, where she shared stories about her amazing work around the world highlighting and raising awareness about how marine debris threatens the health of marine life. Today we are so excited to help her host a hands-on workshop as she works on her latest piece, an 80-ft long portrait of a fin whale!

Join us at 5:00 p.m. tonight in Kīhei to gather as a community to share our support for her work in spreading awareness about plastic pollution this Earth Day. We hope to see you there!

Photo: Lizzy Beato/NOAA

04/19/2026

Looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day this year?

Look no further! The sanctuary will be hosting a FREE marine debris art workshop this Wednesday, April 22, beginning at 5 p.m. at our site in Kīhei! Join us for a night of fun, as artist Dr. Katharine Owens guides you, along with other members of the community, to create a life-sized portrait of an 80-foot-long fin whale made completely from non-recyclable plastics diverted from the ocean.

No prior experience is necessary, just bring yourself and your enthusiasm, and we will create something beautiful while having fun! We hope to see you there.

Photo credit: Katharine Owens

04/17/2026

Join us next Tuesday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. for our monthly Sanctuary Sea Chat in Kīhei! This month, the sanctuary welcomes visiting artist, Dr. Katharine Owens, who will be presenting "Entangled and Ingested: Using Plastic Waste to Create Community Art and Awareness." We can't wait to see you there!

Photo: E. Lyman/NOAA, Permit 774-1714

04/09/2026

Our Kīhei Visitor Center will be CLOSED today and tomorrow, April 9-10, due to inclement weather on Maui. For up-to-date information on site closures and events, make sure to follow our page and check our website at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov!

Photo: Lizzy Beato/NOAA

Address

726 S Kihei Road
Kihei, HI
96753

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 2:30am
Tuesday	9:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 2:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 2:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 2:30pm

Telephone

+18088792818

Website

http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/

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