Set for Saturday, Feb. 2, Pacific Whale Foundation’s annual Run & Walk for Whales is one of Maui’s largest and most scenic running and walking events. With newly designed courses safer than ever, people of all abilities and ages are encouraged to join in this fun and rewarding event. Choose from a one-mile, 5K, 10K or ten-mile course. The event includes a free continental breakfast, door prizes, post-race entertainment with Marty Dread and the Wild & Wonderful Whale Regatta. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit foundation’s mission to protect the ocean through science and advocacy. Online registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at mauiwhalefestival.org/runwalk/. If you have any questions, e-mail the race director at run@pacificwhale.org.

MAALAEA – The 39th annual Maui Whale Festival, presented by Pacific Whale Foundation, is a month-long celebration of the marine mammal that inspired the creation of the organization, the humpback whale.

This year’s festival offers a series of fun-filled events that are meant to inspire ocean stewardship and support PWF research, education and conservation initiatives to protect the ocean.

Keep your keiki educated and entertained at special presentations of Kihei Library Storytime events.

Choose from a one-mile, 5K, 10K or ten-mile course for the annual Run & Walk for whales event.

Be moved by powerful stories of ocean and wildlife conservation around the globe at the World Whale Film Festival.

Become a citizen scientist by joining in the Great Whale Count, providing a valuable long-term snapshot of Hawaii’s humpback whale population.

Enjoy a special Concert Cruise with Grammy Award winner John Cruz, or for the keiki, the Banana Slug String Band.

Join the festivities as Kihei Fourth Friday celebrates Maui Whale Festival at a special town party in February with music, local vendors and food.

For more information on all events offered during the festival, visit MauiWhaleFestival.org.

With a mission to protect the ocean through science and advocacy, and to inspire environmental stewardship, Pacific Whale Foundation conducts research, education and conservation programs for the communities in which it serves.

Founded by Greg Kaufman in 1980 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the world’s whales from extinction, PWF now operates a social enterprise that offers fee-based programs and services through PacWhale Eco-Adventures to help fund its nonprofit work.

Combined with memberships, donations, charitable grants and a remarkable group of dedicated volunteers, PWF now reaches more than 400,000 individuals each year through its Maui and Australia offices and research projects in Ecuador and Chile.