Whale Festival: Celebration of Ocean Giants

February 14 – March 22, 2026

February 14 – March 9: Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays | 10:00am – 2:00pm

Learn about humpback whales and their remarkable migratory journey to the Hawaiian Islands through weekend activations, hands-on learning, and some of the best land-based whale watching on East Oʻahu.

Sea Life Park Hawaiʻi invites the community and visitors alike to kick off 2026 with meaningful, family-friendly experiences that celebrate marine life, conservation, and Hawaiian waters. Through immersive exhibits, daily educational talks, and seasonal events, guests are encouraged to deepen their connection to the ocean, Hawaiian culture, and the Waimānalo community. Anchoring the park’s early-year programming is the SLP Whale Festival: Celebration of Ocean Giants, a multi-week event honoring the annual return of humpback whales (koholā) to Hawaiian waters.

Daily activities during Spring Break March 14-22

Beginning on World Whale Day Weekend (February 14, 15 & 16), guests of all ages are invited to experience one of Oʻahu’s premier land-based whale watching locations. Overlooking the Kaiwi Coast, Sea Life Park offers elevated ocean viewpoints where humpback whales are frequently spotted breaching, tail slapping, and spouting just offshore during their seasonal migration. Festival activities take place at Seaside Gardens, where guests can join the park’s education team for guided whale watching, engaging presentations, and interactive learning. A limited number of shared binoculars will be available on site, and guests are encouraged to BYOB — Bring Your Own Binoculars.

March 8 - Jana Phipps, Health and Stranding LAB

Topic: Dolphin and Whale Stranding Response in Hawai’i
Location: Festival Tent at Seaside Gardens

Jana Phipps is a PhD Candidate at the University of Hawai’i studying blubber and body condition.

As a member of the UH Health and Stranding lab she is a part of a team that responds to dolphin and whale strandings in the Hawaiian Islands and conducts cause of death investigations.

This work contributes to identifying and understanding threats that our Hawaiian marine mammals are facing in the marine environment.

March 9 - Clara Orr, Hawai’i Marine Animal Response (HMAR)

Topic: HMAR Rescues, Responses and Strandings of Marine Protected Species around O’ahu.
Location: Festival Tent at Seaside Gardens

Clara Orr is responsible for performing field response, rescue, and stranding support activity; public, commercial operator, and tourism industry education activity; managing external communications; and coordinating HMAR’s participation in the State of Hawaiʻi Marine Debris Rapid Response (MDRR) Program.

Clara has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and her prior work experience includes involvement in Hawaiian monk seal research conducted by the University of Hawaiʻi Marine Mammal Research Program and as an Environmental Education Leader with KUPU in Honolulu.

March 18 - Sara Wood, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Topic: Discover the work of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
Location: Festival Tent at Seaside Gardens

A 1,300-square-mile protected area established to safeguard humpback whales in the waters where they breed, give birth, and nurse their young each year. This presentation will explore how the sanctuary conducts cutting-edge research, protects critical marine resources, engages communities through education, and helps coordinate responses to entangled whales.

Sara Wood is the Sanctuary Programs and Operations Specialist at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. She previously spent three years managing NOAA research vessel Koholā on Maui, conducting field research on humpback whale behavior, health, risk assessment, and conservation threats. She is a certified Level 3 Large Whale Entanglement Responder and brings extensive on-the-water experience to her work protecting humpback whales in Hawaiʻi.

Keiki Sunday – March 22, 2026

The festival culminates with Keiki Sunday, one of Sea Life Park’s popular quarterly family events focused on ocean appreciation and hands-on learning. Special live keiki hula performances by Halau Hula 'O Puka'ikapuaokalani; complimentary face painting, a photo booth with a free printed photo, live DJ music at Beachboy Lānai, and interactive educational games throughout the park.

Keiki Sunday begins with a community beach cleanup directly across from the park at "Baby Makapu'u Beach" in partnership with 808 Cleanups, from 8:00am – 10:00am. Recommenation: Volunteers interested in the beach cleanup are asked to park at the beach for the cleanup with 808 Cleanups, then drive over to the park for Whale Festival activities afterward.

Prior to your visit, be sure to follow us on Instagram @sealifepark and hashtag your photos with #slpwhalefest and #slphawaii