Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary protects a vital migratory corridor and breeding area for *Megaptera novaeangliae* in Hawaiian waters.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Pacific |
| Subregion | Central Pacific |
| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| County | Kona District |
| District | North Kona |
| Timezone | PacificHonolulu |
| Latitude | 19.65 |
| Longitude | -156.25 |
| Maps |
9:53 AM LOCAL TIMEHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary spans approximately 19,700 km² of offshore waters and coastal habitats around the Big Island and other Hawaiian islands. The sanctuary is best known for seasonal congregations of *Megaptera novaeangliae*, or humpback whales, during their winter migration from high-latitude feeding grounds to warm-calving and nursing bays. Key areas include sheltered coastlines and shallow bays where whales rest, breed, and calve. Visitors and researchers visit to observe breaching, tail-slapping, and spyhopping from boats or shoreline vantage points. The sanctuary also protects critical habitat for sea turtles, nectar-feeding tropical fish, and seabirds, serving as an important marine and coastal transition zone. Activities such as whale-watching cruises, snorkeling, and scientific research benefit from enactments of marine protected area regulations and habitat conservation efforts.
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