FEBRUARY14-17,2025
Proud Legacy Sponsors of
Presenting Sponsors of Mahalo
Weis Family Trust
MAUKA TO MAKAI SCIENCE CENTER
We love supporting our Maui community by highlighting the incredible work of other local environmental organizations. Mahalo to these dedicated groups for the important work you do!
KEIKI PROGRAM
186studentsfromthreewestsideMauischoolsparticipatedinourannualWhale TalesKeikiProgramClassroomvisitsbyWhaleTrustprecededthehalf-dayfield tripatTheRitz-CarltonMaui,Kapalua,wherestudentsrotatedthroughfivehandsonSTEAMworkshopsfocusedonarangeofexperiences,including:
Steppinginsidealife-sizedinflatablehumpbackwhaletolearnanatomy. LearninghowtodisentangleawhalefromfishinggearwiththeHawaiian IslandsHumpbackWhaleNationalMarineSanctuary.
ExploringhumpbackwhalesongswithWhaleTrust,culminatinginstudents creatingtheirown“original”whalesongfor2025.
EngagingwithDutchfilmmakerEllenvandenHonert onhowartimpactsconservation. ConnectingwithJean-MichelCousteauaboutthe roleofstorytellinginconservation.
Theprogramaimedtoinspirestudentstobecome stewardsoftheoceanwhilefosteringasenseof connectiontothemarineecosystemthatsurroundstheir islandhome.
186
STUDENTS
3 WESTSIDE SCHOOLS CLASSES
We extend our gratitude to MakanaAlohaFoundation for making this program possible!
Wearedeeplygratefulforthesupportofthewhalewatch communityonMaui. Many of these companies were directly impacted by the Lahaina fire and continue to navigate the challenges of decreased tourism. Despite these hardships, many generously donated trips at no cost, allowing us to continue to offer our Whale Tales Benefit Whale Watches.
AllproceedsfromthesetripssupportourWhale TalesBeneficiaryFund,whichhasraised$1.25 milliondollarsforwhaleresearchsinceits inceptionin2006.
Our Community Art Expo featured creations of 13 local businesses and artists from our Maui community. Twenty percent of proceeds were donated back to the Whale Tales Beneficary Fund.
Specialthanksto:
OceanJazz
JellumWoodworks
LokelaniEssentials
EastWindPrintCo.
RomanoArtistry
AIMEEVDESIGNS
ShakaShapes
DanielSullivan
JulesTrowbridge
NaniShells
CCArt&Designs
FreshAlohaArt
TailsofStellwagen
13 ART EXPO
BUSINESSES
VOLUNTEERS
WhaleTaleswasmadepossiblenotonlybyourhardworking WhaleTrustteam,butalsobytheunwavering supportofour dedicatedvolunteers.From gathering supplies to selling event t-shirts, every volunteer played a vital role on our team and the success of Whale Tales. Mahalo nui loa to each of you for all you do!
Amy
Annalesa
Beth
Christine
Conde
Daniel
Dave
Jackie
VOLUNTEERS
Kandalynn Naidl Karen
Karen
Katy
Kimberli
Kimberly
Martha
Robin
Sherry
Sophia
Steven
Sue
Sue
Valerie
SPECIAL EVENTS 6
Sixspecialeventsand networkingopportunities fosteredmeaningfulconnections andcollaborations.
Founder’sDinner
The 2025 Founder’s Dinner was hosted in partnership with Hua Momona Farms and Chef Zach Laidlaw.
VIPWhaleWatch
Trilogy Excursions welcomed our sponsors and presenters with a VIP whale watch the night before presentations kicked off.
FlipandFriendsWhaleWatch
Presenters and attendees gathered for the annual Flip and Friends Whale Watch with Trilogy Excursions on Saturday morning.
SponsorandPresenterReception
Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate hosted a special reception for presenters and sponsors.
FilmScreening
Sunday evening featured a special showing of Ellen van den Honert’s Film, There is a Place on Earth, followed by a Q&A with the director and Ed Lyman.
VolunteerMahaloWhaleWatch
Hardworking volunteers were treated to a Mahalo Whale Watch for volunteers on a PacWhale Eco-Adventures vessel.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Our19-YearLegacyofGiving
WhaleTaleshasproudlycontributedapproximately$1.25milliontowhaleresearch andconservationinitiativesinHawai’i,andmorerecentlyaroundtheNorthPacific.
2025:NavigatingEconomicChallenges
Whilewewouldhavelovedtocontributemoretoexternalgrantsthisyear,our profitssupportedtheadvancementoftheNorthPacificSongProjectanexciting collaborationinvolving18researchersthatemergedfromWhaleTales2023
LookingForward
Althoughthisyear'sfinancialoutcomediffersfromourusualgivingpattern,we remaincommittedtotheWhaleTalesmission.
Ourfocusremainson:
Sustainingthiscommunitygathering-andcelebrating20yearsin2026 Ensuringaccessibilityforparticipantsatalleconomiclevels
Rebuildingcapacitytoincreasefundingforwhaleresearchinfutureyears ThetruemeasureofWhaleTalesextendsbeyondtheevent’sfinancial contribution.Withover800participants,theknowledgeshared,connections made,andinspirationgeneratedcontinuetodrivemarineconservationin countless,immeasurableways.
Weaimtomakeour20AnniversaryEventourmostimpactfulyet,andthankallof ourWhaleTalessponsorsforyourvaluedcontributions!
BENEFICIARIES
This year’s beneficiary is the groundbreaking North Pacific Song Project, launched out of the 17th Annual Whale Tales in 2023. Led by Whale Trust, this project now spans 13 regions across 7 countries and involves 18 researchers. Running through 2026, it’s mission is to track how whale song evolves across both breeding and feeding grounds over space and time.
ParticipatingResearchers
Canada:John Ford, Jude Abrams
ElSalvador:Melvin Castaneda, Paula
Cabanilles Benito
Japan
MikuraIsland:Kazunobo Kogi, Kie
Inoue
Ogasawara:Manami Yamaguchi
Okinawa:Nozomi Kobayashi
Hokkaido:Yoko Mitani
Mexico:Jorge Urbán Ramírez, Pamela
Martínez Loustalot, Nicole Ransome
Nicaragua:Joëlle De Weerdt
Philippines:Jo Marie Acebes
USA
Alaska:Christine Gabriele
California:John Ryan
Hawai’i:Jim Darling, Meagan Jones, Flip Nicklin, Haley Robb Spears
Pictured (left to right): Nozomi Kobayashi, Jim Darling, Meagan Jones, Jorge Urbán Ramírez, Jo Marie Acebes, Joëlle De Weerdt
KOHOLĀLEGACYSPONSORS
The Makana Aloha Foundation
PRESENTINGSPONSORS
Encore | Weis Family Trust
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic
BLUEWHALE/PREMIERSPONSORS
Brad & Sherry Eichhorst | Jeff Herbst & Marge Erwin
Jim & Cathy Maxwell | John & Melissa Meier
William Kronenberg III
HUMPBACKWHALE
Curtis and Julie Robb
GRAYWHALE
Anderman Family Foundation
David & Helen Jean Hamernick
Joan Greenfield and Karol Gardner
Timken-Sturgis Foundation
SPERMWHALE
Carolyn Schaefer
D. Joy Howell
Jackie & Rodney Lyons
Mark & Anita Udager
ORCAWHALE
Bob & Linda Caldwell
Brian Melzian
Florence Foundation
Robert Haskell
Eduardo Pena-Herrera
Fred Litt
Mark Lefkin
Nancy Fulkerson
Scott & Sandy Mubarak
Patrick & Pat Muffler
Donna & Dan Peterson
Tom and Barbara Wright
For nearly 20 years, Whale Tales has celebrated the work of scientists, artists, filmmakers and conservationists around the world. This annual community outreach and fundraising event has grown over the years to become a beloved gathering of ocean and whale enthusiasts from all over the world. The goal of Whale Tales is to inspire collaboration and bring the latest discoveries in whale research to the forefront! As a fundraising event, Whale Tales has raised over $1.25 million for whale research and conservation efforts, and has been viewed by thousands since its inception in 2006. Next year marks our 20 anniversary of Whale Tales. We hope you join us in 2026 for a celebration of how far we have come in 20 years.
Whale Trust is a Maui-based non-profit organization whose mission is to conduct, support, and promote scientific research on whales and the marine environment. Our vision is a world that understands, appreciates, and protects the ocean planet we share. Our founders are passionate scientists and explorers who believe that science - the quest for answers to the most intriguing questions about our natural world lies at the heart of environmental education and conservation. Whale Trust’s research programs focus on exploring the natural communication, behavior patterns, and social organization of whales. Results from Whale Trust’s research programs focus on exploring the natural communication, behavior patterns, and social organization of whales. Results from Whale Trust’s research are the bases for a broader program of outreach and education that involve the public, educators, and a new generation of researchers whom Whale Trust hopes to inspire.
For more information, visit www.WhaleTrust.org.