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Count the Humpbacks During Maui's Whale Festival

February 5, 2010 at 11:50 AM | by | Comments (0)

Plenty of marine mammals call the islands of Hawaii their home, but humpback whales usually only swing by during the winter. After all, wouldn’t you winter in Hawaii if you could afford it? To celebrate their arrival, the Pacific Whale Foundation has created the Maui Whale Festival; however, it’s not just a one-day thing—it’s more of a whale month.

There’s many options to both enjoy and support the whales throughout February and into March. February 20 welcomes the Parade of Whales where floats filled with all things whale will be on display along Alanui Keali’i Drive. Awards will be handed out in several categories, so expect a lot of creativity and a few off-the-wall entries.

After the parade, you’ll want to make your way to Kalama Park in Kihei where locals and tourists alike will be celebrating Whale Day. There will be displays to teach you a thing or two, food vendors, and plenty of live entertainment starring local musicians. It’s totally free to enjoy, and any cash that you do spend will go mostly to support marine education programs for kids on Maui.

If you’re up for actually seeing some whales, then be sure to sign up for the Great Maui Whale Count. On Sunday, February 27, volunteers will be situated up and down the coast of Maui to count as many whales as possible. You’ll be working with people who know what they’re doing so make sure you pay attention. Besides helping out a good cause, you’ll have a good shot of seeing some of these big creatures—last year there were over 1,000 sightings recorded.

Related Stories:
· Maui Whale Festival [Official Site]
· Where To Whale Watch Up And Down The California Coast [Jaunted]
· Whale Watching coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: justalexanders]

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