We had a great time at Whale Day this year, and we’re fans of all the work the Pacific Whale Foundation does. Now that the Great Whale Festival 2009 is officially over, I thought I’d share a few press releases from PWF on a few of the events that I found on their website (and their newsletter).
PWF Press Release - Whale Day Draws Record Crowds
While we were at the festival, they were estimating about 10,000 people in attendance. I was never good at estimating crowd sizes, but at first it didn’t seem like there where that many people there. Yet, by around 3pm when the bands really started rockin’, I took another look around and the place we surely packed.
According to the press release, the final numbers came in at over 13,000 people, which was a new record for the event. Now that is impressive. There were so many great sponsors and even more local merchants and booths setup, so I’m hoping all of them came away with a good day at the register (so to speak).
PWF Press Release - Great Maui Whale Count: 1,010 Humpback Whales!
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to participate in the Great Maui Whale Count this year. It was held on Saturday, February 28th, which was the day we were leaving. It also marked the final day of the 2009 Maui Whale Festival activities. While the number for the annual volunteer count was down from last year, the press release has some pretty neat details about how the count is conducted around the island and the coordination involved.
The press release also concluded with a quote citing that almost 50,000 individuals participated in the Maui Whale Festival events and the PWF Eco-Adventures tours in the month of February. Personally, we were at the Whale Day celebration as well as taking a dinner cruise and two whale watch tours with PWF. I pretty excited to see so many others shared in the different activities and offerings that the Pacific Whale Foundation offers, their proceeds are aimed at conservation, protection, and education programs both locally and throughout the world.
While we might not make it back to Maui next February for these festivities, we’re certain this won’t be the last time.
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Did you participate in any of the Maui Whale Festival activities? The fun run or the parade, perhaps? Have you attended the festival in years past? Do share.
Tags: whales
