Protecting Hawaiʻi’s Marine Wildlife
Pacific Whale Foundation’s team monitor endangered species and remove marine debris across Maui waters.
By Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Staff
On Maui, ocean conservation takes several forms.
Offshore, a research vessel may be tracking a group of endangered false killer whales along the windward coast. Along the shoreline, staff and volunteers may be hauling a 2,500-pound mass of abandoned fishing net from the sand. In classrooms and on whale watch boats, students may be encountering the living ocean in a new way for the first time.
Together, those efforts reflect Pacific Whale Foundation’s daily work in research, debris response and education.
Over decades of work in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, Pacific Whale Foundation has built its mission around three connected pillars: research, education and advocacy. On Maui, that approach turns conservation into something active and participatory – science in the field, restoration in the community and public engagement that invites both residents and visitors into caring for the ocean.
The Decline of Hawaiʻi’s False Killer Whales
Research remains at the heart of that mission.
Beyond its long-running humpback whale studies, Pacific Whale Foundation, along with collaborators, is leading research on one of Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable marine mammal populations: the main Hawaiian Islands stock of false killer whales. Fewer than 140 individuals are estimated to remain in this island-associated population, and recent assessments indicate a steady annual decline.
Chief Scientist Jens Currie, who leads the organization’s marine mammal research, describes the urgency plainly: “139 individuals are left declining at an average of 3 1/2 percent per year. They’re likely going to be functionally extinct within the next 20 to 30 years, unless something’s going to change.”
Unlike offshore populations, these false killer whales have adapted to Hawaiʻi’s nearshore waters. They live in tight social clusters and display complex cooperative behaviors. Currie has documented prey sharing within the population, noting, “Not one single false killer whale eats the entire piece of fish that’s caught. It’s always broken up.” The behavior underscores the depth of their social bonds – and what could be lost if the population continues to decline.
False killer whales surface and exhale through their blowholes. As the whale exhales, warm, moist breath rapidly condenses in the cooler air, forming the visible spout. The plume may also include small droplets of seawater pushed upward from the blowhole.
Scientists have documented evidence of interactions with fishing gear in a significant portion of the population, raising urgent questions about how commercial fisheries overlap with critical habitat. Currie notes that “about 30 to 40% of those 139 individuals have had a non-lethal interaction with fishing gear,” evidence that has intensified calls for improved monitoring and management. Add your voice by signing the petition here: Save False Killer Whales
To better understand survival pressures, researchers deploy temporary suction-cup tags that function like activity trackers. The devices record dive depth, movement and energy expenditure, allowing scientists to assess whether whales are finding sufficient prey and how environmental or human pressures may affect their condition. Combined with drone measurements and long-term photo-identification, the data builds a clearer picture of population health.
The findings do more than expand scientific knowledge. They inform conversations with state and federal agencies about fishery oversight, monitoring requirements and recovery planning. As a result, research becomes a tool for protection, translating field data into evidence that can shape policy decisions.
Marine Debris and Direct Response
Conservation also begins with direct action.
Pacific Whale Foundation serves as Maui’s marine debris rapid response group, responding when large fishing gear washes ashore. In one response, Conservation and Outreach Manager Brianna Simon recalls of a buried conglomerate of tangled nets, “It weighed 2,500 pounds,” a recovery effort that required days of excavation, heavy equipment and teams of volunteers.
The organization works with approximately 50 to 100 volunteers each month across its marine debris and outreach programs. Community members assist with shoreline cleanups, in-water reef dives to remove fishing tackle and the sorting of recovered materials. A public reporting hotline – 833-4DA-NETS (833-432-6387) – allows residents and visitors to alert responders when large debris appears along the states coast. Note: this number works for all of Hawaiʻi.
Collected materials are carefully documented and, when possible, repurposed. Lead weights recovered from reefs are melted down by community members and recast for reuse, while nets and plastics are transported to the Center for Marine Debris Research on Oʻahu, a program under Hawaiʻi Pacific University, for analysis and processing. Some materials are shredded with the long-term goal of contributing to a more circular, island-based system of reuse.
This tracking effort helps researchers identify where debris originates and how it travels across the Pacific, informing policy discussions about waste reduction and international oversight. Visitors and community members can report marine debris through the 833-4DA-NETS hotline, or contribute to removal efforts by signing up to be a marine debris response volunteer: Marine Debris Rapid Response Program
Education and Community Stewardship
A humpback whale spyhops near a whale-watch vessel, lifting its head above the surface to observe its surroundings.
Education forms the third pillar of the organization’s work.
On Maui, conservation is often understood as kuleana – a responsibility expressed through action. Shoreline cleanups, research expeditions and time spent teaching keiki on the water become practical expressions of that obligation.
Through programs such as Ocean Camp and Keiki Whale Watch, Pacific Whale Foundation brings young people onto the water for hands-on learning. Last season, some students on whale watch field trips shared that they had never seen a humpback whale before, despite growing up in Hawaiʻi. For many, that first sighting becomes a turning point – a moment that opens the door to marine science and a deeper connection to the ocean.
Science, restoration and youth engagement working together strengthen conservation efforts across Maui.
Endangered species are declining. Marine debris continues to accumulate. Climate pressures are reshaping Hawaiʻi’s marine ecosystems.
Those realities shape the work on the water every day.
Pacific Whale Foundation links field research with community action and policy engagement, turning data gathered at sea into protections that extend across the islands.
Support Pacific Whale Foundation’s ocean research and endangered species recovery efforts: pacificwhale.org
FAQ
What is happening to Hawaiʻi’s false killer whale population?
The main Hawaiian Islands population of false killer whales has fewer than 140 known individuals and has experienced documented interactions with fishing gear, raising concerns about long-term survival without improved monitoring and management.
How does Pacific Whale Foundation help protect Maui’s ocean?
Its work includes marine mammal research, endangered species monitoring, marine debris rapid response, reef cleanup dives, youth education programs and policy engagement informed by scientific data.
How does marine debris affect reefs and marine wildlife?
Abandoned fishing gear and plastics can entangle marine animals, damage coral reefs and introduce long-lasting pollution into nearshore ecosystems.
How can residents report large marine debris on Maui?
Community members can report large debris through the marine debris rapid response hotline: 833-4DA-NETS, allowing rapid response teams to assess and remove hazardous materials.
How can visitors support ocean conservation in Hawaiʻi?
Visitors can choose responsible ocean experiences, reduce waste, respect wildlife guidelines and contribute to organizations conducting research and restoration work. Sign the petition here: Save False Killer Whales
Pacific Whale Foundation
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