Whale Trust is throwing itself a double birthday party this winter, with a five-day Whale Tales program returning to Maui from February 19 through 23 at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. The in-person festival, which will also be live-streamed, blends research talks, a mauka-to-makai science center, a community art expo, and benefit whale watches led by Whale Trust researchers. Organizers say this milestone edition is built for both residents and a worldwide crowd of whale obsessives following along online.
The whale-heavy lineup includes “Listening to the Ocean: An Evening of Conversation with Ocean Elders,” starring Dr. Sylvia Earle, Nainoa Thompson and Jean-Michel Cousteau, slated for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, as reported by Maui Now. Whale Tales 2026 also marks the event’s 20th anniversary, part of a broader slate of programming celebrating Whale Trust’s quarter-century of research and outreach.
A lineup of ocean elders and leading scientists
The presenters list stacks the deck with ocean elders, longtime researchers, and visual storytellers, including Flip Nicklin, Dr. Jim Darling, Dr. Denise Herzing, Dr. Sue Moore, and Ed Lyman, for three days of talks and panels. The Whale Trust presentation schedule shows sessions running Friday through Sunday with presentations, book signings, and moderated conversations, according to Whale Trust.
On-the-water and live-field programming
Saturday’s program will feature a live, in-field update titled “Gray Whales in Crisis? Live from the Calving Lagoons in Baja, Mexico,” with researchers Dr. Steven Swartz, Dr. Jorge Urbán, and Dr. Sue Moore checking in directly from the breeding lagoons, as reported by Maui Now. Additional highlights include Dr. Denise Herzing on dolphin intelligence and the intersection of AI and animal cognition, a guided snorkel at Olowalu’s Mission Blue Hope Spot with Dr. Sylvia Earle, and a free community screening of David Attenborough’s Ocean.
Registering, streaming and where the money goes
Registration is open now and is donation-based with a suggested contribution, and Whale Trust says it offers sliding-scale and complimentary options for students and kamaʻāina. Whale Tales will be accessible in person and online with live streaming and on-demand access for 30 days, and proceeds support the Whale Tales Beneficiary Fund, which Whale Trust reports has raised more than $1.2 million since the event began, according to Whale Trust.
Why it matters for Maui
Humpback season is baked into Maui’s winter rhythm, and Whale Tales is designed to connect that annual spectacle with local stewardship, education and research partners. As outlined by Maui No Ka ʻOi Magazine, the islands serve as crucial nursery waters for North Pacific humpbacks, and events like Whale Tales aim to turn that natural cycle into conservation action and community engagement.
Space at The Ritz-Carlton is limited, and organizers are urging early registration to lock in both in-person seats and whale-watch experiences. Between the live field updates, ocean elders and hands-on exhibits, Whale Tales 2026 packs research and storytelling into one long weekend that puts Maui’s whale season squarely in the spotlight.
