Celebrate Maui’s most famous visitors, the Kohola (humpback whales), who migrate every winter from the North Pacific to continue their breeding cycle in our island’s warm waters.

Now’s your chance to assist the Pacific Whale Foundation with several great events happening all month long.

The Great Whale Count

This is one of the world’s longest-running community scientist projects, as volunteers gather at specific points and times around the island coastlines to count the humpback whales. This long-term survey provides a snapshot of relative abundance of the whales and helps gauge the success of ongoing protection programs. This year’s dates are Jan. 28, Feb. 25, and March 25. Be sure to sign up for your choice of location/time.

Race for the Whales

In past years, there was a 10K, 5K, and Walk event held in Maalaea, which is dedicated to protecting whales and dolphins, and inspiring environmental stewardship.

This year instead will be a month long “Virtual Race” which allows participants from around the world to join in. Sign up and log your miles, whether they are via running, hiking, biking, walking, or swimming. T-Shirts are available and commemorative medals will be awarded.

The Great Beach Cleanup

We all love and benefit from spending lots of time at the beach. It can be very therapeutic and healthy. It’s also a very rewarding feeling to give back and help make our beaches even more clean and safe for everyone (and for the Ocean itself!).

The PWF has 4 scheduled sites and times this month, but if you are on-island you can organize your own group’s Beach Day, and then submit a debris collection form.

Or virtually, anyone around the world can help clean your own local beaches, and then also submit debris collection forms back to the PFW. This will aid in on-going research and help formulate plans for future mitigation. Beach Clean-up Tees are available for purchase.

Please try to join in some (or all) of these very worthwhile environmental programs this month, in support of the Maui Whale Festival

For more info, please check out the Pacific Whale Foundation website

Mahalo and aloha!

Dennis O’Donnell
Romvari Realty
Maui, Hawai’i
Dennis@romvari.net
808-280-6596