Pacific Whale Foundation
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
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MAALAEA (MAUI), HI -- Pacific Whale Foundation is issuing a call for volunteers for a month-long series of events known as The Maui Whale Festival. The festival is held in honor of the humpback whales that come to Maui each year to mate, give birth and care for their young.

Some of the events are Whale Day (February 20), Run for the Whales (February 6), Maui's Parade of Whales (February 20) and The Great Whale Count (February 27).

"Quite frankly, without the help of volunteers, we would simply not be able to hold these worthwhile events," says Kelly Vough, Programs and Volunteer Manager at Pacific Whale Foundation. "We hope that individuals or groups in the community will donate some time to help with one or more of these events."

"We can promise that you'll have fun -- and that you'll meet other wonderful folks who care about whales and the marine environment," she says.

"As a special bonus, we are offering a FREE Maui Whale Festival T-shirt if you volunteer for three hours or more at Whale Day," notes Vough. "The Whale Festival T-shirt sells for $17, and is a fun collector's item as well."

Whale Day is a free, all-day festival that benefits marine education programs for kids on Maui. It's held at Kalama Park in Kihei on Saturday, February 20, and includes free entertainment. The day begins with a Parade of Whales at 9 am along South Kihei Road. It also includes the Keiki Whale-a-thon, Keiki Carnival, Wild & Wonderful Whale Regatta, food booths, silent auction, craft fair and eco-displays. Volunteers are needed to help with Pacific Whale Foundation's soda/food booth, silent auction, keiki carnival, litter control and more. In addition, volunteers are sought to help with the parade, including walking the life-sized humpback whale balloon down South Kihei Road and helping with traffic control along the parade route.

Volunteers who assist with the 5K/Half Marathon Run for the Whales on Saturday, February 6 will be able to enjoy a free post-race victory breakfast with the runners. The event also includes a 2K Keiki Run and a 5K Walk. Help is needed to staff the aid and water stations, monitor the course, check-in runners and assist the professional timers. The race takes place in Makena, at the Makena Beach Resort. Volunteers are needed between 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

About 100 volunteers are needed for The Great Whale Count, Pacific Whale Foundation's annual citizen's count of whales that can be sighted from Maui's shores. No experience is necessary; all tools and training are provided. This event is held from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, February 27.

To volunteer for any or all of these events, please contact Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 856-8320, fax (808) 243-9021, email kelly@pacificwhale.org or visit www.pacificwhale.org.

To learn more, call (808) 249-8811 or 1-800-WHALE-1-1

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