Celebrate 25 Years with $25 a Month
As whale season on Maui draws to a close, the presence of the koholā leaves a lasting impression – one that extends far beyond the months they spend in our waters. Each season offers only a brief window to observe, learn, and deepen our understanding of these remarkable whales. This year, as Whale Trust celebrates 25 years of whale research, education, and outreach, we are especially grateful for the community that has made this work possible.
Mahalo for being part of our journey. We invite you to celebrate this milestone with us by making a summer donation in support of Whale Trust’s next chapter.
Songs of the Pacific
Our Songs of the Pacific research continues to grow, with new research locations added to our expanding network of collaborators. As this work reaches new regions, so does our ability to track how whale songs evolve and move across the Pacific. This season marks the final year of data collection for this project, and this year on Maui alone, 18 new full cycle songs along with at least 10 additional samples that will that will help us better understand how songs connect across space and time on the breeding grounds.
This season also signifies an important step forward in strengthening international partnerships, with Whale Trust co-founder Dr. Jim Darling traveling to Japan to deepen collaboration and advance this shared research effort. Because of support like yours, we’ve doubled the amount of locations involved since this study began. Recent additions in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Northern British Columbia show just how far this work has grown, and how far your support has reached.
Responding When Rare Research Moments Happen
As whale season drew to a close, rare opportunities emerged to collect time-sensitive data that can only be gathered while whales are here. Whale Trust researchers successfully collected two rare milk samples from a nursing mother – an important opportunity to learn more about maternal health, calf development, hormones, toxins, and overall milk chemistry. One sample was collected directly by our team, while the other came through our partnerships with local whale watching companies. These community relationships are vital, helping us to respond when rare and meaningful research opportunities arise. We were also able to identify the mother through the HappyWhale database and collect a biopsy sample as part of our ongoing hormone research, providing even more valuable context. Samples will be sent to the Smithsonian Milk Repository and shared with other researchers for analysis. These moments are fleeting, and your support ensures we are ready when they happen.
Connecting People to Science and Stewardship
Even the whales have made their migration north, their impact remains here. Through Whale Tales and ongoing outreach, Whale Trust continues to bring science into the community, creating opportunities for Maui’s residents and visitors to better understand and care for the ocean. This year, the 20th anniversary of Whale Tales welcomed more than 1,000 registered participants and reached 165 keiki through dedicated children’s programming, sharing whale science and ocean stewardship with audiences of all ages.
More recently, Whale Trust participated in the Earth Day Celebration at University of Hawai’i Maui College to deepen our connection to the community and the ocean environment we all depend on. These connections don’t end with whale season; they carry forward into action, including the distribution of Whale Trust’s new ‘Barnacle Buddies’ children’s educational booklets to local schools, helping keiki learn about humpback whale anatomy, behavior and environment.
In honor of Whale Trust’s 25th Anniversary on July 19th, we invite you to join our summer challenge to raise $250,000 in donations and pledges. If 1,000 of the people receiving this appeal pledges just $25 dollars a month for one year (about the cost of a monthly streaming subscription) we can reach this goal together.
To make your donation recurring, simply select the “monthly” option from the dropdown below under “Donation Schedule”.
Please join us in celebrating 25 years of Whale Trust and carrying this work forward—beyond this season and into the next chapter.