The Pacific is heading into what could be the strongest El Niño on record. In its October 8 update NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center put the odds at 83% that this October through December beats every El Niño since 1950 [1]. As the Pacific warms, it shifts weather and climate patterns around the globe. We’ve been … Continued
From preparing an area that would be home to a 133-tree coconut grove to the beginnings of building a rock wall by hand along the Waiheʻe River, here’s what our Mālama Pono volunteers accomplished alongside Hawaiʻi Land Trust between January and August. In January, a group of volunteers laid out 44 triangular motu — small … Continued
Here’s what our Outreach Team and volunteers accomplished alongside the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) between January and July. Earlier this year, at Olowalu, a small group of volunteers planted ʻulei, maʻo, and ʻākia; three of the hundreds of native plants that would eventually number in the thousands along this stretch of coastline. By … Continued
From Papawai to Lānaʻi, Pacific Whale Foundation’s volunteer divers are hauling recreational fishing debris from Maui’s reefs, one dive at a time. The entry point is a familiar one: Papawai Scenic Lookout on Maui’s south shore, where whale watchers often gather on the cliffs above. But below the surface, a different kind of watching is … Continued
The Heart of Protecting Maui’s Ocean Environment April is the time to celebrate Volunteer Month! We are beyond grateful to all the volunteers who give their energy to create positive change. At Pacific Whale Foundation, volunteers are at the heart of protecting Maui’s ocean environment. Every cleanup, research observation, educational experience, and community event helps create a healthier future for ocean life. Let’s jump into the ways our volunteer efforts make a difference! Mālama Pono This community stewardship initiative welcomes residents and volunteers on vacation. Mālama pono … Continued
How Impact Moves Policy Change and Community Engagement If you haven’t read our first blog covering the first five steps of the Science-to-Action Pipeline check it out! Pacific Whale Foundation’s Science-to-Action Pipeline begins with rigorous research designed to better understand whales, dolphins, and the ecosystems they depend on. Through long-term monitoring and collaborative studies, our … Continued
How Pacific Whale Foundation Achieves Impact At Pacific Whale Foundation, our approach to conservation connects science, education, and action. Research provides the foundation, but meaningful protection for whales and dolphins happens when scientific knowledge is translated into public awareness, community engagement, and informed management decisions. To ensure this happens, we follow a process that links the … Continued
In a changing marine environment with increasing human threats, it is important for scientists and those working in conservation management to consider the larger level connections that keep ecosystems functioning. To address this, we wanted to better understand how spinner dolphins might contribute to the functioning of marine ecosystems around Maui Nui. Marine mammals have … Continued
A deeper connection to the place you occupy cannot be bought, it must be earned. Join our Mālama Pono program to learn how volunteering at local non-profits can help the ʻāina, the community, and most importantly, yourself. At Kīpuka Olowalu, you start the day with gratitude, connection, hand tools, excessive sunscreen, and an attitude to save the world. The host explains the evolution of native plants that took millions … Continued
The Global Movement That Saved the Whales Whales have long stirred the human imagination. From their presence in Hawaiian legends to their portrayal in classics like Moby-Dick, these giants of the sea embody both mystery and inspiration. Yet by the late 1970s, reality overshadowed myth: humpback whales were on the brink of extinction. In the … Continued
