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Winter’s tails

By SARAH RUPPENTHAL 4 min read

Whale season is in full swing in Hawaii, and for marine mammal enthusiasts of all stripes, it's the most wonderful time of year.

In the fall, North Pacific humpback whales leave Alaska's icy waters and head south to Hawaii, where they breed, give birth, and nurse their calves before doubling back in the spring. While these large visitors are in town, researchers study their every move, gathering data on everything from mating behavior to habitat preference.

But you don't need a degree in marine biology to be a part of the action.

Have you ever looked at the ocean and wondered how many whales are out there? Satisfy your curiosity--and help researchers collect some important data--as a volunteer for the Pacific Whale Foundation's Great Whale Count, a long-term survey of humpbacks in Hawaii and one of the world's longest-running citizen-scientist research projects.

Determining the exact number of humpbacks in Maui's waters during peak whale season would be a massive undertaking. So, to provide a snapshot of trends in relative abundance, Great Whale Count volunteers go to designated sites and tally the whales they spot within three miles of shore (the same locations are used every year to ensure the data is consistent).

Here's how it works: Volunteers register in advance to count whales at one of 12 survey sites along Maui's shoreline. There, they spend a few hours watching for whale activity--tail slaps, spouts, breaches--and jot down their observations, which are then given to the Pacific Whale Foundation research team. Apart from honing their observational skills, volunteers provide valuable information to researchers, who can only collect a small amount of data themselves and are often hampered by budgetary constraints. There are three Great Whale Count dates in 2020: Jan. 25, Feb. 29 and March 28.

The Great Whale Count is part of the Pacific Whale Foundation's annual Maui Whale Festival, a celebration of all things whale. 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the nonprofit's signature event, which runs throughout the month of February.

The festival kicks off with the Run & Walk for Whales (participants can choose from a 1-mile, 5K, 10K or 10-mile distance) on Feb. 1, followed by the Parade of Whales and Whale Day on Feb. 8, at Kihei's Kalama Park. Pacific Whale Foundation partnered with Whale Trust, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources to revive Whale Day, which last took place in 2017. The Parade of Whales begins at 9 a.m. and marches down South Kihei Road from Kamaole Beach Park I to Kalama Park, where there will be interactive marine research, education and conservation displays and activities galore from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

"The 2018 passing of Pacific Whale Foundation founder Greg Kaufman necessitated a reverent pause and reassessment of the traditional Whale Day," explained Kelly White, Pacific Whale Foundation's marketing and development director. "The time and expense devoted to a 20,000-person annual event had begun to outweigh the foundation's mission-focused work on research, education and conservation. Through a groundswell in public demand and an extraordinary collaboration with Dayna Garland of Whale Trust, Patty Miller of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and Jeannine Rossa of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, we've designed a celebration that truly values our connection to our oceans, our community and our missions."

The Maui Whale Festival will feature other cetacean-centric events and activities, including the World Whale Film Festival at the Historic Iao Theater on Feb. 14; Maui Whale Festival concert cruises on Feb. 8, 9, 15 and 22; and "Trail of the Whale" information stations at the Wailea Beach Resort-Marriot Maui, Papawai Point and Maui Ocean Center for the duration of whale season.

"Working with our community to develop thoughtful and fun opportunities to celebrate, educate and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards has always been at the heart of the foundation," said Pacific Whale Foundation Executive Director Kristie Wriggles-worth. "Through this annual festival, we are able to reach the hearts and minds of a support network that allows us to continue this important work to protect our oceans."

For more information about the 2020 Maui Whale Festival, visit www.mauiwhalefestival.org. To register for the Great Whale Count, visit www.mauiwhalefestival.org/greatwhalecount. To learn more about Pacific Whale Foundation, visit www.pacificwhale.org.

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