Whales were spotted at a rate of more than 50 per hour across the state yesterday, as volunteers made the final count of the season, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

Working from 68 sites statewide, more than 500 volunteers took part in yesterday's count.

Information collected in this year's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count will be used to collaborate other studies that suggest the state's humpback whale population has been increasing at an annual rate of approximately 7 percent, officials said.