I have been involved with this organization for more than 10 years and can only say great things about them. I've helped with their marine education programs for local schoolchidren on Maui. You might think of Maui as a rich place, but there are many families who are scraping by, even with parents working two jobs in the hotel industry. Thanks to Pacific Whale Foundation, these kids get to go out on the ocean to view whales and other marine wildlife and learn about conservation. Pacific Whale Foundation also built an Ocean Discovery Center with classrooms and lab equipment for school classes; their staff does a great job with leading hands-on science programs. Pacific Whale Foundation also has research projects to study whales in Hawaii, Australia and Ecuador, and a study of wild dolphins and toothed whales in Hawaii. They are a hard-working, dedicated group of people who are really passionate about protecting the oceans.
Review from Guidestar
Over the past 30 years, Pacific Whale Foundation has taught more than 3 million people about the ocean and established educational whalewatching and ocean ecotourism to Hawaii. It has become an international organization, with 30 years of ongoing research in Hawaii, Australia, Ecuador, Tonga, and other parts of the Pacific. It works with the international community to promote whale research and protection, and it leads the field in environmental education, and conservation. This doesn't sound like the organization you are describing. Perhaps you have the wrong name? How long did you work there and what did you do for them?
Review from Guidestar
To my understanding, after reviewing and working for this organization my opinion is that majority of the money in this organization is funneled away to pay the CEO and Founder large salaries, to promote there tourism snorkel business, and to expand and promote there store. Compared to salaries and tourism, very little of there cash flow goes into actual research and conservation here in Hawaii. I am very surprised as I thought this organization was top notch, but now im very disappointed. I am also currently trying to get ahold of there 2010 & 2009 federal tax records to see exactly how this money was spent.
Review from Guidestar