Marine Matters

Hawaii's Humpback Whale Sanctuary

Naomi McIntosh
Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 726 South Kihei Road, Kihei, Maui, HI 96753;
1-800-831-4888

Abstract

This article is Part II of a three part series on the endangered humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Sanctuary. The purpose of this article is to introduce the National Marine Sanctuary Program and discuss the goals and objectives of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Program. National marine sanctuaries are designed to provide leadership in development and implementation efforts to protect our nation's marine resources. Currently, 12 marine sanctuaries exist throughout the United States. The selection of these sanctuary site is based on their ecological, cultural, or historic significance. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was designated to protect a critical part of the humpback whale's habitat that is vital to its life history.