38th annual Maui Whale Festival
Must See: Friday through Feb. 24
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38th Annual maui whale festival JUMPS WITH EVENTS ON MAUI. Presented by Pacific Whale Foundation, the Maui Whale Festival is a series of inspiring events held during Maui’s peak humpback whale season designed to build awareness and share love of marine animals and their ocean habitat. Join a concert cruise on PacWhale Eco Adventures featuring John Cruz at 2:30 p.m. on Friday; HAPA at 1 p.m. Saturday; a special keiki cruise with Banana Slug String Band at 2 p.m. Saturday; and Amy Gilliom at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $99.95 for ages 13 and older; $71.95 for children ages 3 to 12; and children age 2 years and younger "get in" free. • Enjoy a special storytime at Kihei Public Library, 35 Waimahaihai St. at 10:30 a.m. Friday with a sing-along and a performance by Banana Slug String Band, and at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 24 meet Maui author Gill McBarnet for a whale-themed storytime. For more information, call Kihei Public Library at 875-6833. • If you're on the westside of Maui, you may attend the second annual World Whale Film Festival from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. Admission is free and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Reservations may be made by emailing events@pacificwhale.org, however tickets are not required. • If your tastes run to the "dress to impress" type of event, attend "An Unknown Future Masquerade Gala," a benefit for global efforts to save the endangered five -- the vaquita, Hawaiian false killer whale, Arabian sea humpback whale, Chilean blue whale and Maui's dolphin -- will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu. Tickets are $170 per person and are available online at www.mauiwhalefestival.org/benefit-gala. • From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, attend the free Maalaea Harbor Party at the Maui Harbor Shops. Music includes DJ Teddy Rux, Eric Gilliom, Banana Slug String Band, Polynesian entertainment by Manutea Nui E and the Haiku Hillbillys. Ono food from Brekkie Bowls, Three's Bar & Grill, Sumo Dogs Maui and Hawaiian Shave Ice, Da Nani Pirates and Big Wave Beverages will be available for purchase. • During the week-long festival, there's even an online auction, which allows you to bid on hundreds of unique gifts and experiences with proceeds benefiting whale research, marine education and conservation programs. • The festival ends on Feb. 24 with the Great Whale Count 2018 taking place at various locations on Maui. To participate in the count, email research@pacificwhale.org. For more information about all the events planned, visit www.mauiwhalefestival.org.