Public invited to book launch celebration honoring new book about Hawaii’s humpback whales

MAALAEA (MAUI), HI – A new book about Hawaii’s humpback whales – Humpbacks of Hawaii: The Long Journey Back – will be feted during a special evening celebration on Saturday, January 17 from 6:00 pm t

MAALAEA (MAUI), HI – A new book about Hawaii’s humpback whales – Humpbacks of Hawaii: The Long Journey Back – will be feted during a special evening celebration on Saturday, January 17 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Lokelani Ballroom of the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort. The evening will include a dramatic one-hour, multi-media journey through the fascinating world of Hawaii’s humpback whales, presented by the book’s co-authors, Greg Kaufman and Paul Forestell, PhD., noted researchers who each have more than 30 years of experience in studying whales in the field.

A cocktail reception (with no-host cocktails) and book signing party will follow.

The evening event is free and the public is invited to attend. No reservations are required, but it is recommended that you call in advance to reserve your seat for the multi-media presentation. For reservations, call Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 249-8811 ext. 1. (Pacific Whale Foundation members are eligible for front-row seating.)

“There are only a small handful of books about Hawaii’s humpback whales, but none compare with this extraordinary, four-color volume,” said Anne Rillero, communications director at Pacific Whale Foundation. “There are color photos of whales on virtually every page – more than 250 color photos in all – many of which were provided by avid whalewatchers and taken aboard Pacific Whale Foundation’s whalewatch cruises.”

“The information is the most up-to-date that you’ll find about Hawaii’s humpback whales,” she said. “Best of all are the personal stories that Greg and Paul included about their time with the whales, giving the reader the sense of being right there in the research boat watching whales with them.”

“Experienced whale researchers and casual whale enthusiasts alike will relish the adventures, discoveries, and insights provide by these two internationally-renowned whale researchers in this 216-page book,” said Rillero.

Humpbacks of Hawaii: The Long Journey Back is published by Island Heritage, and will first be available for public sale at this event. It draws upon Greg Kaufman and Dr. Paul Forestell’s thirty years of humpback whales research throughout the Pacific.

Greg Kaufman began traveling the United States and Europe to educate the public about endangered whales in the 1970s. He came to Hawaii to begin some of the first field studies on the behavior of live whales in 1975 and founded Pacific Whale Foundation in 1980. He has pioneered responsible whale- and dolphin-watching programs and conducted vital humpback whale research throughout the Pacific. In the summer of 2008, he was invited to participate in the scientific committee meetings at the annual International Whaling Commission in Santiago, Chile. He is the president of Pacific Whale Foundation.

Paul Forestell, Ph.D. joined Pacific Whale Foundation in 1981 and is currently provost at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. He is recognized internationally for developing formal training programs for marine ecotour naturalists and educators and for his research on the cognitive and social behaviors of whales and dolphins throughout the Pacific. He is a senior researcher and vice president at Pacific Whale Foundation.

Kaufman and Forestell’s photographs have appeared in hundreds of books, newspapers, and magazines around the world, and their video has been featured on news and documentary programs. They have authored more than 100 scientific papers, book chapters, reports, popular articles on humpback whales, dolphins, and eco-tourism. In addition, they have published three other books about humpback whales.

“Past talks by Greg Kaufman and Paul Forestell have resulted in standing-room only crowds,” said Rillero. “The multi-media presentation they have prepared for this book launch party is extraordinary, so we are expecting a record crowd.”

On the following morning, Sunday, January 18, Greg Kaufman and Paul Forestell will lead a very special “VIP” Pacific Whale Foundation whalewatch cruise. The cruise will take place on Pacific Whale Foundation’s double-deck catamaran Ocean Odyssey. It will depart from Maalaea Harbor at 12:30 pm and return at 2:30 pm. The adult price is US$49.95, children ages 7-12 are US$34.95, and children ages 6 and under go free. Book online and save 10 percent. Pacific Whale Foundation members save 20 percent. Each party will receive one autographed copy of the book (a US$16.95 value).

For more information about the reception or the cruise or to make reservations, please call (808) 249-8811 ext. 1 or visit www.pacificwhale.org .

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...