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Welcoming the whales

Maui’s most famous visitors ready for spotlight as businesses, resorts, nonprofits plan activities

9 min read

Fun, education combine for World Whale Day in Kihei

Pacific Whale Foundation's 37th annual World Whale Day & Parade of Whales will splash into Kihei on Saturday for the sake of marine protection.

Pegged "Maui's best outdoor festival," the daylong event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. honors the humpback whales that migrate to the islands each winter. By raising awareness and inspiring action, PWF hopes to protect marine wildlife and ocean habitats.

The Parade of Whales along South Kihei Road launches festivities at 9 a.m., featuring marching bands, youth and community groups, colorful floats, city and county dignitaries, and awards for participants.

Activities will continue into the sunset at Kalama Park with live music from some of Hawaii's top artists, including John Cruz, Lily Meola, Maoli, Darren Lee from "Burn'n Love," Haiku Hillbillys, Derick Sebastian, Dr. Nat & Rio Ritmo and Eli Mac.

Manutea Nui E will perform traditional and Polynesian dance. Special guest is Alto Reed, the saxophonist of the Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.

This year, World Whale Day also brings back the Keiki Stage, with special performances for the young and young at heart. Acts include Banana Slug String Band, Maui Aerial Arts, Chestermere High School Concert Band from Alberta, Canada, and a presentation from the cast of "Ulalena."

The Keiki Carnival area will include bouncy castles, keiki hula, lei po'o station, henna and face-painting, cotton candy and shave ice, plus Maui Spider Jump, Hawaii's only reverse bungee trampoline system.

Bring your appetites and dive into the lines at the numerous food booths and Maui's favorite food trucks. Farm-to-table booths will also offer fresh, locally grown take-home products. Bring an eco-friendly bag. Outside food, beverages, alcohol and coolers are not permitted.

World Whale Day is home to the original "Made on Maui" Artisan Fair, showcasing dozens of Maui artists and their unique, locally crafted wares.

Savvy shoppers and bargain hunters can also find great deals on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts through the event's online auction. You may bid on items such as gift certificates for world-class dining, entertainment and activities, artwork, jewelry and more. Bidding is open today through Feb. 25 on biddingowl.com.

The Wild & Wonderful Whale Regatta is a fun-filled race featuring little rubber whales on a fast-moving watercourse. Guests can sponsor a whale to win a free trip to Maui, the Mainland or a Neighbor Island.

You can enter to the Tidal Trash Treasures Art Contest, with a chance to win valuable prizes for original art created with marine debris found during beach cleanups. Artwork must be dropped off at Kalama Park the day before World Whale Day and will be displayed during the festival and on PWF's social media sites.

There will also be interactive displays, games and presentations on Maui's natural resources by PWF's research, education and conservations teams. Special exhibit space is also provided for local nonprofit groups, environmental agencies and green businesses in Eco-Alley within the park.

Parking is free at Azeka Center Mauka and at Hope Chapel, with free shuttles to and from Kalama Park all day. Admission to the event is free for keiki 12 and younger, and $5 for those 13 and older. Food, drinks and keiki activities within the park require scrip, which will be available for purchase on-site.

For more information, visit www.worldwhaleday.org or call 249-8811, ext. 1.

Kayaking made easy by Valley Isle Marine Center

With four decades of boating in Maui waters, Valley Isle Marine Center owner Mark Tracy has experienced countless whale sightings, from a complete out-of-water breach offshore of Waianapanapa near Hana to counting 144 consecutive pectoral fin slaps off of Molokai's north shore.

A particularly heartwarming encounter occurred during a friendly kayak trip from Maalaea to Thousand Peaks. With trade winds coming up, the kayakers stayed close to shore to avoid being blown out to sea.

"We were surprised by a small pod of humpback whales inside of our position near the shore. We stayed still and quiet as nature revealed its wonders. A calf was part of the pod and its mother kept eyeing us and assessing whether there was any threat."

The group stayed motionless for 45 minutes as the whale family bonded. "The placenta was still hanging from the baby, and I knew what a gift it was to see these great mammals in the wild. Wow."

Kayaking is an accessible, affordable, way to experience the ocean. Whether cruising, fishing, diving, riding waves or observing aquatic wildlife, kayaking here is like having a bicycle. You may not use it every day, but you are sure glad to have it.

Valley Isle Marine Center carries the full line of sturdy Ocean Kayaks, perfect for all skill levels, from the popular Malibu Two and Malibu XL, great for two people and the top kayak of choice for Maui's tour guides; to other popular models including the Frenzy and the Scrambler.

"Brand new is the Predator, that has an advanced fishing platform with a long features list," says Tracy. "Its propeller can be powered by bicycle-like pedals or a lithium battery. By back peddling, you can easily reverse the boat and land more fish."

Located at 1976 Wells St. in Wailuku, Valley Isle Marine Center sells boats from Sea Dory to Bayliner, and motors such as award-winning Honda 4-stroke outboards along with single, double or triple axel trailers that come in galvanized steel or aluminum.

Valley Isle Marine Center takes trade-ins, offers a boat brokerage service, technicians service what it sells, and it can provide both boat hauling and delivery. It also has a branch store, Hawaii Marine Center, on the Big Island.

The Wailuku store is open Monday to Friday. Call 244-2000 or visit www.valleyislemarinecenter.com.

Whale Trust Maui event

Top international scientists, photographers, filmmakers and conservationists will come together this month for the 11th annual Whale Tales event at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

The educational and fundraising event put on by international whale research organization Whale Trust Maui will be held from Feb. 24 to 27. It will feature presentations, whale watches, two films, a live auction and opportunities to meet world-renowned experts in whale and dolphin research. More than 15,000 people have attended the event since 2006 and have contributed more than $500,000 for whale research around Hawaii.

Presentations will be open to the public, however, a suggested $20 per-day donation is encouraged to support Whale Tales' beneficiaries.

The event's Education and Art Expo will run daily throughout the weekend, featuring hands-on learning opportunities with local nonprofit organizations, marine photography and art, and local businesses. Benefit whale watches with the experts and ocean activities will also be held, with daily whale watches each morning and whale watches all day Feb. 27. Additional events related to Whale Tales will begin Feb. 20.

For a full schedule and additional information, visit www.whaletales.org.

New experiences at Maui Ocean Center

For nearly two decades, Maui Ocean Center has shared the wonders of Hawaii's whales through presentations, telescopic viewing, and 1,500 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to educational whale displays and models. For the first time, the center will offer its own whale watch tour and aquarium experience in partnership with Aloha Blue Charters.

The Maui Ocean Center's Aquarium and Whale Watch Experience launched this whale season. The combo package includes an Aquarium Day Journey Pass and afternoon whale watch tour from 1 to 3 p.m. aboard Aloha Blue Charter's 40-foot catamaran Hokua, Hawaii's No. 1 eco-friendly whale-watch vessel. The tour cruises through the renowned Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, one of the world's most important humpback habitats for nearly 10,000 humpback whales that migrate to Hawaii each year.

Aloha Blue Charter's Hokua is one of Maui's only jet-driven (no propellers) whale watch vessels, making it Maui's safest whale-watch tour operator. With a seating capacity of 34 passengers, the Hokua offers an intimate experience with minimal crowds allowing for up-close viewing of whales. The vessel also features state-of-the-art hydrophone technology that enables guests to listen to whales singing beneath the ocean surface. Maui Ocean Center marine naturalists will be on board to provide extensive whale knowledge while pointing out and explaining whale behavior.

The Aquarium and Whale Watch Experience includes admission to the Maui Ocean Center where guests will encounter sharks, rays, turtles and tropical fish prior to their whale watch tour. The Hokua is docked in Ma'alaea Harbor and is within walking distance to the aquarium.

The Aquarium and Whale Watch Experience can be booked online at www.MauiOceanCenter.com/whales or by calling Aloha Blue Charters at 249-2583.

Hyatt Regency Maui's Whale Tales, boat cruises

In celebration of one of the most exciting times of year on Maui, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali invites you to celebrate whale season with special offerings of its popular Hyatt Whale Tales program and guided whale-watching cruises.

From 1 to 2 p.m. Mondays through the end of March, learn about the magnificent whales that journey to Maui each winter from a Maui Ocean Center expert at the Hyatt's Halona Kai lawn with expansive ocean views off the Atrium Lobby.

The visiting ocean naturalist will educate participants of all ages on the humpback whales that frequent island waters, and will teach how to spot whales in their natural habitat. For those who want to catch a close-up piece of the action, binoculars are available to spot whales right off the shores of Ka'anapali Beach.

For adventure seekers who want to get up close and personal with the visiting whales, the concierge at Hyatt Regency Maui can coordinate whale watching tours from cruises on large catamarans to smaller, lower rafts. Cruises embark sunrise to sunset from Lahaina Harbor or Whalers Village. Call 808-667-4727.

Whalers Village

The famous Whalers Village, a shopping center featuring more than 90 restaurants and shops, is home to one of Maui's most popular attractions -- the Whalers Village Museum.

Open daily, the museum houses all things whale, from one of the world's largest collections of scrimshaw to daily Marine Mammal Walk Tours through the museum.

For more information, visit www.whalersvillage.com.

Canoe rides for animals

In conjunction with Kihei Canoe Club, Maui Humane Society is hosting a whale-watch canoe ride fundraiser from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Cost of $50 includes coffee, juice and a one-hour canoe ride. All proceeds will benefit shelter animals.

For more details or tickets, call 877-3680, ext. 219.

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