Every Winter, Something Extraordinary Happens

Above and beneath Maui's waters, a world unfolds that few people ever witness.
Rare. Unpredictable. Gone in an instant.
A 40-ton mother teaching her calf to breathe. Competitive males locked in an underwater ballet. A breach so powerful it defies physics. Big wave surfers conquor the unfathomable. 
These moments don't wait for cameras. They happen in seconds. 
They rely on teamwork, preparation, knowledge, and professionalism. The results are brought by curiosity, trying, passion, persistence, and respect for these waters.


The Reality
We know humpback whales migrate 3,000 miles to Maui every winter to give birth, nurse their young, and compete for mates. We know massive winter swells roll in, drawing big wave surfers to breaks like Jaws. We know that excitement that occurs when you see the exhale of the humpback whale on the horizon, we know that heart pounding astonishment we are left with seeing big wave surfers surf the seemingly impossible. 

Why This Project Exists 

Visual storytelling that inspires connection and action.

Most people experience humpback whales from a boat deck, catching glimpses of backs and tails. Winter swells activate breaks across the north and west shores, creating conditions that challenge even the most experienced watermen and keep the community in the water all season long.

Maui Whales & Ocean Tales reveals the complete story: what's happening underwater when mothers nurse their calves, how whales use the 'Au'au Channel's unique geography, why competitive pods form, and what the raw power of Maui's winter swells means to both the watermen who chase them and the whales who navigate them.

By synchronizing aerial, surface, and underwater perspectives of the same moments, we create narratives that help you see the ocean not as scenery, but as a living, interconnected system where whales, waves, and humans coexist.

Connection. Education. Inspiration.

Connecting People to Place and Ocean.

What I'm Creating
Two years of documentation from above, on, and below the water:
The deliverables:
Two 60-page digital magazines (2026 & 2027)
Museum-quality coffee table book (Fall 2027)
Hand-signed collectable prints
Weekly newsletters during whale season
Expert interviews
Narratives that help you see the ocean not as scenery, but as a living, interconnected system where whales, waves, and humans coexist.
Connection. Education. Inspiration.

The Challenge
The approval is gained. The experience to capture this is had and able to grow. A trusted network of marine scientists, big wave surfers, watermen, boat operators, and researchers who share the same questions.

Permit activities begin mid-February when whale season is in full swing.

What I need: Funding to be out there when these moments happen. Boat charters. Safety crews. Equipment. Time to wait for what can't be scheduled.

Your support makes this possible.


Join Maui Whales & Ocean Tales: Subscribe 
Project shop: Shop now
Instagram: @mauiwhales_oceantales
Website: www.emilymcculliss.com
Questions? emily@emilymcculliss.com
PS: The whales are already here. The season has started

Connect with Maui’s winter like never before