February 9 - 15, 2026
MISSION STATEMENT
To inspire and advance conservation for whales, dolphins and the ocean.
VISION STATEMENT
A world where people and ocean life thrive harmoniously.
A MESSAGE FROM Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr.
Aloha mai kākou,
Aloha and welcome to the World Whale Day Opening Ceremony as our community gathers together to celebrate this special week on Maui.
World Whale Day, founded on Maui in 1981, highlights the connection among science, culture and community while promoting respect for whales and the ocean environment they depend on. The observance brings residents, visitors and partners together through education, engagement and shared responsibility for marine stewardship.
This also marks the 45 anniversary of Pacific Whale Foundation, a Maui-based organization recognized for its leadership in marine science, ocean protection and community education. Through its work, the foundation has expanded understanding of marine life, informed conservation efforts and strengthened Maui’s role in protecting ocean ecosystems.
On behalf of the people of Maui County, I extend sincere appreciation to Pacific Whale Foundation and to all who are participating in this celebration. May this week continue to inspire care for the ocean and reinforce our shared commitment to proctecting marine resources for future generations.
Mahalo nui loa,
Richard T. Bissen, Jr. MAYOR, COUNTY OF MAUI
A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Friends,
Welcome, and thank you for being part of Pacific Whale Foundation’s World Whale Day: A Week of Celebration. As we honor 45 years of mission and impact, I am deeply grateful to our supporters, partners, and sponsors whose generosity and commitment have made this milestone possible. Your presence makes this week more than an anniversary—it is a shared expression of care, connection, and responsibility for the ocean we all depend on.
Our story began here on Maui in the late 1970s with our visionary founder, Greg Kaufman, during the early Save the Whales movement and the creation of World Whale Day itself. Greg believed deeply in protecting whales and the ocean ecosystems they depend on, and in changing how people understood their relationship to the ocean and their responsibility to care for it. That belief led to the founding of Pacific Whale Foundation in 1980 and continues to shape everything we do today. His legacy lives on through our research and protection efforts, our education programs, our advocacy, and our work to engage communities in caring for the ocean.
As you explore the timeline included in this program, you’ll see how that founding vision has grown over the past 45 years—from a grassroots effort to an organization with global impact. Along the way, we have advanced science, inspired stewardship, and protected marine life. Each chapter reflects the dedication of people who chose to show up and take action.
After navigating profound change in recent years, this milestone also invites us to look ahead. Guided by a strategic roadmap grounded in science, education, community connection, and organizational resilience, we are evolving to meet the future with intention and hope. Your continued support makes this possible.
Thank you for celebrating 45 years of impact with us, for honoring the legacy that brought us here, and for helping ensure our work continues for generations to come.
With gratitude, Dayna Garland
Pacific Whale Foundation
FULL SCHEDULE
OPENING CEREMONY
February 9, 2026 |
Mākena Golf & Beach Club
TASTE & TUNES
February 12, 2026 | OCEAN Organic Farm & Distillery
A TOAST TO WHALES: SPONSOR RECEPTION
February 10, 2026 | Montage Kapalua Bay
9TH ANNUAL WORLD WHALE FILM FESTIVAL
February 11, 2026 | ʻIao Theater
BIG BLUE SOIRÉE
February 13, 2026 | Mākai Glass
COMMUNITY DAY:
February 14, 2026 | Māʻalaea Harbor Shops
WORLD WHALE DAY PARADE
February 15, 2026 | South Kihei Rd. MĀLAMA PONO SERVICE PROJECT
February 9-13, 2026
SPECIALTY PACWHALE ECO-ADVENTURES CRUISES
February 10 and 11, 2026
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF IMPACT
1980s - THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT
In 1980, when fewer than 1,000 humpback whales remained in the North Pacific, a small group on Maui chose to act. Led by founder Greg Kaufman, Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) was born. From the first educational whalewatch tours, PWF blended groundbreaking research with public engagement, turning awe into understanding and inspiring ocean stewardship. Greg’s humane approach to research helped launch one of Maui’s earliest photo-identification catalogs, revealing critical insights into whale behavior and migration. Today, 45 years later, thanks to supporters like you, North Pacific humpback whales number more than 21,000, and PWF’s work continues to protect whales and the ocean worldwide.
In the 1990s, PWF invited the public to become part of the solution. Through initiatives like the Great Whale Count, residents and visitors became community scientists tracking whales from Maui’s shores. What began as a grassroots effort grew into one of Hawaiʻi’s longest-running community science projects. Along with PWF’s ongoing conservation work, it continues to inform policy that safeguards whales, dolphins, and their habitats, proving that when people take part in conservation, they become lifelong guardians of the ocean.
Makai Glass is thrilled to celebrate whales, art, and ocean conservation with Pacific Whale Foundation!
Watch our artists create a Whale Tail glass sculpture LIVE!
This masterpiece will be auctioned at the end of the evening,with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Foundation.
Sculpture vaLued at $3,000. Winner chooses between the Whale Tail on display or the one created live tonight.
Take home a centerpiece!
Shop the online gallery to purchase, and feel good knowing that tonight, Makai Glass will be donating 10% of all gallery sales to the foundation.
SHOP THE ONLINE GALLERY
Get hands-on! Create your own glass art with Glass Experience Maui during an hour-long private session, guided by one of our amazing artists.
CREATE GLASS ART
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF IMPACT
EARLY 2000s - INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
PWF was born from the idea that when people, especially children, experience whales up close, they begin to care deeply about protecting the ocean. In its early years, PWF launched Keiki Whalewatch, introducing Maui’s youth to whales in the wild and helping them see themselves as ocean stewards. By the 2000s, that early spark grew into momentum, as education programs expanded and Ocean Camp became a cornerstone of hands-on learning. Forty-five years later, those beginnings continue to inspire new generations to protect the ocean they love.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EDUCATION
2010s - SCIENCE SAFEGUARDS OUR OCEAN
LEARN MORE ABOUT RESEARCH
The 2010s marked a defining chapter for PWF. During this decade, our scientists helped identify critical habitats, tracked more than 15,000 humpback whales, and strengthened protections for whales and dolphins around the world—protections that are still in place today. Years of research and advocacy led to a historic milestone in 2016, when humpback whales were removed from the U.S.
Endangered Species List, one of the greatest marine recovery stories of our time. Today, PWF’s science continues to inform laws, protect species, and safeguard whales and dolphins for generations to come.
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF IMPACT
2020s
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A TALE OF COMMUNITY & RESILIENCE
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUTREACH
From navigating the global pandemic to responding to the 2023 wildfires, one truth has guided our work: when we protect our ocean, we strengthen our community. During this decade, PWF expanded outreach through programs like Mālama Pono and Mauka to Makai, restoring reefs and native habitats, while education programs continued to inspire young ocean stewards. These efforts—powered by supporters, volunteers, educators, and partners—have connected people across cultures and generations, building a global community united by a shared love for marine life and a commitment to protecting our ocean for the future.
THE FUTURE - LOOKING AHEAD WITH HOPE
As Pacific Whale Foundation celebrates 45 years, we pause to reflect with gratitude and look ahead with hope. Guided by our vision of a world where people and ocean life thrive together, our work continues to meet the most urgent challenges facing the ocean today. With the support of our community, we are expanding ocean education, strengthening conservation through science and Indigenous knowledge, offering responsible ocean experiences that support both people and place, and operating as a strong, accountable organization. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping shape a healthier future for our ocean.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for being part of Pacific Whale Foundation’s extraordinary 45-year journey and for celebrating World Whale Day with us.
This past week of celebration was made meaningful because of you. Whether you joined us for a single event or celebrated alongside us all week long, your presence and support are what fuel our mission and make this community so powerful. Every connection, every moment of participation, helps ensure our work continues for generations to come.
What began in 1980 as a small, determined effort to protect humpback whales has grown into a global movement rooted in science, education, and community. Over the decades, Pacific Whale Foundation has helped advance whale recovery, empowered people of all ages to become ocean stewards, and proven that conservation works best when it brings people together.
As we mark World Whale Day and celebrate 45 years of impact, we also look ahead with hope. The challenges facing our ocean are real, but so is the strength of this community. Because of your continued support, Pacific Whale Foundation will keep protecting whales and dolphins, educating future leaders, and working toward a world where people and ocean life thrive together for the next 45 years and beyond.
Thank you for standing with us, this week and always.
With gratitude,
Jen Delgadillo Bevington Pacific Whale Foundation
For Volunteer opportunities: emailkaitlyncole@pacificwhale.org
MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors for your generous support and belief in our mission. Your partnership makes this work possible and helps create meaningful impact for our community. We are truly grateful for your commitment.
