The Maui Whale Festival

If you love Maui as much as we do, you must be well aquainted with our biggest crowd: Humpback Whales! So maybe there aren't as many of them as there are human visitors, but they sure make up for it in mass. Every winter we welcome them back with enthusiasm, and for us, the month of February this year will be the most exciting part of their stay.

The Maui Whale Festival is going to last from February 1st to February 28th. That's right, a whole month. Why celebrate the whales' return to their winter home here in the Maui waters? Well, why not? A colossal animal deserves an equally colossal celebration, don't you think?

So if you are planning your Maui vacation with the Whales in mind, shoot for any time in February. The Whales will be mating and giving birth to their young while they are here, and you don't want to miss it. Some of the festivities on land will include a Parade of Whales, a Run for the Whales, special talks, slide shows and a free "Whale Day" festival in the park. For more information, click here.

If you are a fan of Maui but never understood what the fuss was about with the whales, you must not have seen one close enough. Such experiences are life-changing for most people. We don't usually grasp how truly awe-inspiring these animals are when we see them on television or off in the distance. If, however, you are perched on a little 25 foot boat looking down at a 50 foot, 40 ton whale just below the hull, indifference should quickly become difficult. The unique, white outline of their pectoral fins makes their size especially distinguishable from above, even through the dark blue of the water.

An opportunity to go whalewatching should not be passed up, even if you are only mildly interested in these creatures at first. But don't worry, most whalewatching vessels are much larger than 25 feet in length. Organizations such as the Pacific Whale Foundation use whalewatching income to fight for the welfare of these animals, so you can make a difference just by going out on a whalewatch trip.

So you're sold on spending time with the whales, but where to stay while you're here? Well, you're in luck. Take a look at our Maui vacation rental home specials and our vacation condo specials. We also recommend The Whaler, located on Kaanapali Beach. For your convenience, you can even book your Maui stay online with us. Call (800) 676-4112 if you have any questions that are not answered on our website. We hope to see you soon. Mahalo for reading this week!