Whale Tales

What Whale Tales does

Whale Tales is the signature annual community outreach and fundraising event organized by Whale Trust, a nonprofit whale research and education organization headquartered in Maui, Hawaii. Established in 2006 and held each February, the five-day gathering celebrated its 20th anniversary in February 2026 and is scheduled to return February 11-15, 2027. Whale Tales combines scientific presentations by leading whale researchers and visual storytellers with a Mauka to Makai Science Expo featuring local organizations and hands-on activities, a Community Art Expo showcasing Maui artists and businesses, Benefit Whale Watches hosted by presenters, film screenings, and sponsor receptions. Over two decades, the event has reached tens of thousands of individuals both locally and globally and serves scientists and marine researchers, ocean enthusiasts, Maui residents, local artists, and families with children.

The organization is small (1-10 employees) and discloses no proprietary technology stack or platform. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: tiered corporate and foundation sponsorships at Legacy, KOHOLĀ, and Keiki Program levels; paid Benefit Whale Watch excursions requiring separate registration; individual donations, including a summer 2026 25th Anniversary fundraising campaign tied to Whale Trust's organizational milestone; and merchandise sales through the Whale Trust Store. Named 2026 sponsors include Makana Aloha Foundation (Legacy), Weis Family Trust, Lindblad Expeditions, Encore, and RCMK (KOHOLĀ), and Bendon Family Foundation (Keiki Program). Registration is quote-based by sponsorship tier, while individual event registration and Benefit Whale Watches require separate paid registration, and pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led, relying on Whale Trust's website and email newsletter, volunteer networks, sponsor amplification through their own customer bases, local community partnerships, and outreach programs. Distribution combines in-person attendance in Maui with digital channels; Whale Tales 2027 will introduce live-streaming for remote attendees, marking the first scheduled digital attendance tier. The organization additionally monetizes year-round engagement through Photo Expeditions, which offer premium whale photography experiences outside the annual event window. Whale Trust is incorporated in Hawaii as a nonprofit organization with no disclosed parent company, investors, or venture backing.

Name

Whale Tales

Legal name

Whale Trust

Website

https://whaletales.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whale Tales is the annual flagship community event of Maui-based nonprofit Whale Trust. The February five-day gathering unites humpback whale researchers, local artists, families, and enthusiasts through scientific presentations, science and art expos, and benefit whale watches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine science education events

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

Keywords

• Marine science events
• Whale research education
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Community outreach programs
• Wildlife conservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Juneau, AK

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Sponsorships: Corporate and foundation sponsors fund the annual event at various tiers (Legacy, KOHOLĀ, Keiki Program), receiving benefits including pre-registration, sponsor receptions, and branding exposure.
2. Benefit Whale Watches: Paid whale watching excursions hosted by event presenters, with separate registration required beyond general event attendance.
3. Donations: Individual donations supporting Whale Trust's research and education mission, including summer 25th Anniversary fundraising campaigns.
4. Merchandise Sales: Whale Trust Store sales including Whale Tales merchandise.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Whale Tales is the flagship annual community outreach and fundraising event of Whale Trust, a nonprofit whale research and education organization based in Maui, Hawai'i. The event features scientific presentations by leading whale researchers and visual storytellers, a Mauka to Makai Science Expo, a Community Art Expo, Benefit Whale Watches hosted by presenters, and film screenings. It operates primarily as an annual in-person gathering with live-streaming planned for 2027, supported by sponsorships, donations, paid excursions, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Whale Tales is a single annual event product organized by Whale Trust, a whale research and education nonprofit in Maui, Hawai'i. The event serves as Whale Trust's largest annual community outreach and fundraising initiative, bringing together whale researchers and enthusiasts from around the world. The event includes the core Whale Tales gathering with presentations by scientists and visual storytellers, complemented by sub-components: the Mauka to Makai Science Expo featuring local organizations and hands-on activities, a Community Art Expo highlighting Maui's artistic community, and Benefit Whale Watches hosted by presenters. Additional offerings include photo expeditions. The 20th anniversary was held in February 2026, with the 21st anniversary scheduled for February 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whale Tales Annual Event Multi-day annual marine science gathering in Maui, Hawai'i featuring scientific presentations by leading whale researchers and visual storytellers, the Mauka to Makai Science Expo, Community Art Expo, Benefit Whale Watches hosted by presenters, film screenings, and sponsor receptions. Targeted at whale researchers, marine science enthusiasts, Maui community members, families, and event sponsors.
• Photo Expeditions

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered legacy and core.

• Makana Aloha FoundationlegacyGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Legacy sponsor of Whale Tales event, providing ongoing support for the annual marine science gathering and Whale Trust's mission.
• Weis Family TrustcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KOHOLĀ level sponsor supporting Whale Tales 2026, contributing to the funding of whale research and community outreach programs.
• Lindblad ExpeditionscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KOHOLĀ level sponsor at Whale Tales 2026, aligning their expedition brand with whale research and marine conservation education.
• EncorecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KOHOLĀ level sponsor supporting the annual event and Whale Trust's research and education mission.
• RCMKcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026KOHOLĀ level sponsor of Whale Tales, supporting marine science education and community outreach efforts.
• Bendon Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Keiki Program sponsor supporting family-focused whale education activities and children's programming at the annual event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Whale Watch Cabo (operated by Baja Bella) / local Maui whale watch operators: Whale watch excursion operators comparable to Whale Tales' Benefit Whale Watch sub-product (boat-based whale watching experiences selling per seat). Operates in a different region but commercially overlaps on the Benefit Whale Watch SKU.
• Na Pali Riders / Hawaii ocean tour operators: Hawaii-based ocean adventure tour operators running snorkel, dolphin-watch, and whale-watching experiences. Comparable at the operational SKU level for the Benefit Whale Watches sub-product.

Broad incumbents

• Hawaii Ecotourism Association: Industry association promoting sustainable tourism in Hawaii. Comparable as a Hawaii-tied ecotourism and education network that connects marine operators, sponsors, and community programming.
• World Cetacean Alliance: Global alliance advancing marine mammal conservation through responsible whale and dolphin watching tourism. Comparable by mission overlap on marine conservation tourism, though operating as a global certifier/umbrella rather than an event.
• National Geographic Society (Ocean / Conservation programs): Major science and conservation organization running marine education programming, photography expeditions, and nature storytelling. Comparable as a venue for the 'visual storytellers and scientists' format Whale Tales features, though at vastly larger scale.
• Surfrider Foundation: Coastal conservation nonprofit running education, advocacy, and community events. Comparable as a nonprofit that operates annual community outreach events tied to ocean conservation, sharing sponsorship, donation, and volunteer models.

Direct peers

• Pacific Whale Foundation: Maui-based nonprofit dedicated to whale research, education, and conservation, including eco-adventures like whale watching tours. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and product mix (education + whale watches), and operates as Whale Tales' most direct local peer.
• Maui Ocean Center: Maui's marine education attraction combining aquarium exhibits with ocean education, conservation messaging, and immersive marine experiences. Comparable as a marine science education venue with similar audience of families and Maui visitors.

Emerging players

• Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary: NOAA-operated sanctuary focused on humpback whale education and research in Hawaiian waters. Comparable in mission and ecosystem focus, though federally operated rather than nonprofit-driven, and a likely speaker/partner pipeline for Whale Tales.

Others

• Lindblad Expeditions: Expedition cruise operator that is both a Whale Tales sponsor (KOHOLĀ tier) and a peer in marine wildlife experiences. Comparable as a provider of premium marine wildlife experiences including whale encounters globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whale-tales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whale Tales