Last weekend Hawai’i Keiki Museum celebrated Mother’s Day in a BIG way – it was the stylish weekend getaway location for a 45-foot blow-up humpback whale.
Museum patrons were welcome to walk the perimeter of the impressive display, as well as inside the whale through an entry at the pectoral fin of the fan-powered creature, to see the placement of organs inside. Visitors of all ages learned about humpback whales (Hohola) which commonly swim off the coast of Hawai’i between November and May, after migrating South from Alaska’s waters to mate and give birth. Once the calves are strong enough, the humpbacks migrate back toward Alaska with their new additions in tow.
The giant display whale is named Kamakai, which translates to “Child of the Sea”. It is an educational installation managed by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in support of the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Kamakai made her debut at the Kona International Marketplace amid much fanfare – the museum saw over 350 visitors over the course of the weekend, all of whom left impressed and wondering when Kamakai would again return to Kailua-Kona.
Museum Founder and Executive Director Dana McLaughlin became aware of the traveling whale two years ago when she began planning the Hawai’i Keiki Museum. After several attempts at tracking down Kamakai’s caretakers, she finally succeeded in locating the group that made this visiting exhibit dream come true.
Hawai’i Keiki Museum hopes to welcome Kamakai and other impressive traveling exhibits in the future. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to know what’s happening
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www.hawaiikeikimuseum.org