The first three months of the year are the best for whale watching in Hawaii as the humpbacks arrive in the islands to breed, calve, and nurse their young. It’s an ongoing free show, but for those who simply can’t get enough of these amazing beasts, here’s an opportunity that can’t be beat.

The 2010 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary ocean counts will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. January 30, February 27 and March 27. Volunteers count the number of humpback whales seen around the islands over a four-hour period, recording their behavior. For more information and to register, visit http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or call (888) 55-WHALE, ext. 253.

Even if you’re not available to help with the counts, you can take advantage of the wonderful whale watching on the Big Island. Jeanne Cooper at Hawaii Insider offers a list of great viewing spots statewide. You can also often catch a glimpse of these behemoths from the Akoni Pule Hwy (270) between mile-marker 7 and Lapakahi State Historical Park.

(photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssanyal/ / CC BY 2.0)