#Pacific Whale Foundation

A total of 1,935 whales were observed across all islands, during the second Ocean Count and Great Whale Count for the 2026 season. On Maui, 847 whales were observed, the most of any location.

Volunteers counted 694 humpback whales off the shores of Maui during the annual Great Whale Count, the highest number recorded among the islands during the first coordinated survey of the 2026 season. The Pacific Whale Foundation and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary coordinated the event, mobilizing 433 volunteers across 43 sites throughout […]

Pacific Whale Foundation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced a new partnership to expand the Keiki Whale Watch program, significantly increasing access to hands-on ocean education for Maui students in grades 2-8.

NOAA is asking Maui’s on-water community to be on the look out for a recently-entangled 40-foot female humpback whale off Lahaina, Maui. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s monitoring team encountered the whale, referred to as Palette, on Thursday, Jan. 22. She was found to be in poor to moderate condition, showing moderate to strong emaciation and widespread carpets of red-colored cyamid amphipods (whale lice) across her otherwise light-colored body. If she is spotted, please call 888-256-9840 to report her location and share photos or videos if possible, but do not approach closer than 100 yards.

Pacific Whale Foundation celebrates its 45th anniversary in conjunction with the return of World Whale Day, marking a full week of community, culture, and conservation from Feb. 9-15, 2026 on Maui.

Pacific Whale Foundation reports it has successfully retrieved a rare, nearly intact whale placenta—the most complete specimen it has ever had the opportunity to study. This is the second full placenta that has been collected in Hawai’i, the most recent one was in 2020 by Pacific Whale Foundation. 

The Maluhia Maui Rotary Club will host Pacific Whale Foundation Development Director Kagan Jenkins at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday in Kīhei.

The Pacific Whale Foundation, the designated Marine Debris Rapid Response partner for Maui Nui, is reporting more progress in its ongoing effort to remove harmful debris from local waters.

Pacific Whale Foundation has opened registration for its winter Ocean Camp, a week-long science and culture program for students in grades 2-5. This year’s theme, “Marine Mammal Mania,” will focus on whales, dolphins and seals.

For its fifth year in a row, Imua Family Services is once again hosting its annual Keiki Halloween Festival. The family-friendly fun runs from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. This free community celebration is designed especially for children ages eight and under and promises to be an evening packed with Halloween magic.

Maui Ocean Center will host “Fins & Frights Night” from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, featuring a marine-themed costume contest, trick-or-treating and showings of the “Humpbacks of Hawaiʻi” 3D experience.

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Pilikahakai Foundation and partners invite the community to take part in a weekend of events dedicated to protecting Maui’s coral reefs and ʻāina.

Pacific Whale Foundation invites young ocean explorers (grades 2 through 5) to join a one-of-a-kind Halloween-themed science adventure, Creatures of the Deep, running Oct. 6‑10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This special week of ocean camp blends marine biology, Hawaiian culture, field trips, crafts, and seasonal thrills beneath the waves.

A vital marine conservation asset used by Pacific Whale Foundation, Sharkastics, and the Center for Marine Debris Research was stolen from Māʻalaea Harbor early Friday morning, dealing a serious blow to ongoing marine debris removal and recycling efforts across Maui and Oʻahu.

The Pacific Whale Foundation hosts “Race for Whales” on Sept. 1, a virtual endurance challenge supporting the organization’s vital programs in research, education, conservation and outreach. Whether you walk, run, bike, paddle, swim, or hike, every mile helps protect whales, dolphins and marine ecosystems.

Pacific Whale Foundation announced that it has recovered 8,281 pounds of marine debris from Maui’s shores and waters so far this year.

Pacific Whale Foundation, the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Hawaiʻi and Maui Ocean Center present the Hawaiʻi premiere of “Call of the Dolphins” — a new IMAX documentary narrated by Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress Mary Steenburgen and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jonathan Bird.

Aloha Maui Pride has announced the 2025 Pride Month Events June 1-14, with many activities for the first two weeks in June leading up to the Maui Pride Festival 2025, held in partnership with the Maui AIDS Foundation on June 14. 

Pacific Whale Foundation is marking Earth Day 2025 with an expanded effort to remove marine debris from Maui’s nearshore reefs, including an ongoing campaign at Keoneʻōʻio (La Perouse Bay) and a new net removal mission off Molokaʻi.

Maui Ocean Center will host its second annual “Earth Night” event from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025.