By Maui Now Staff

Image courtesy Pacific Whale Foundation.

Tickets are currently on sale for a benefit dinner cruise with whale researcher, activist and author Greg Kaufman on Saturday, Feb. 8.

During the cruise, pioneer whale researcher, “save the whales” activist and four-time author Greg Kaufman, the founder and executive director of Pacific Whale Foundation offers insights from his four decades of work with whales.

Kaufman discusses the humpback whales of Hawaii, Ecuador, Australia and other parts of the world and details include his recent travels to Oman, Brazil and other parts of the world to promote sustainable, responsible whale watching.

He’ll also be available for one-on-one conversations to answer guests’ questions and address specific areas of interest about whales, whale research and the International Whaling Commission.

The two-hour dinner cruise will depart from Lahaina Harbor at 5:30 p.m.

“We’ll keep an eye out for whales during this cruise, and we’ll stop to watch any that we encounter,” says John Gaskins, customer care general manager at Pacific Whale Foundation. “Bring your camera for the incredible sunset views of the West Maui Mountains and neighbor islands during this beautiful time of day.”

Image courtesy Pacific Whale Foundation.

The four course chef-prepared dinner will be served table-side.

The evening begins with cocktails and tropical well drinks, chilled chardonnay, cabernet, iced-blended cocktails and ice-cold locally brewed beer from Maui Brewing Co.

Helping you soak a bit of that up is baked spinach and artichoke dip served with fresh-baked foccacia bread.

The salad course features a fresh salad of farm-fresh organic salad greens and fresh vegetables from Upcountry Maui, served with a creamy mango lillikoi dressing.

For an entrée, choose from lemongrass and curry marinated fresh Kauai shrimp with lilikoi butter sauce; grilled teriyaki marinated boneless chicken breast with Big Island papaya salsa; chimichurri marinated flat iron steak with wild mushroom demi glaze; and char-grilled honey-miso glazed tofu with Big Island papaya salsa.

Each entree is served with coconut whipped Molokai purple sweet potatoes with butter and char-grilled vegetables with macadamia nut pesto.

As a finale, enjoy triple chocolate brownies accompanied by fresh Kula strawberries for dessert, along with tea and Maui-grown coffee.

All guests are guaranteed outdoor seating on the upper deck of the catamaran and seats are extremely limited.

Tickets are $150 per person ($135 if you book online and 20% off for PWF members) and all profits go to support Pacific Whale Foundation’s research, education and conservation efforts.