Whale seasonBIG WAVE SURFING
The Whales Are Here.
The water is waiting.
A Visual Storytelling Project by Emily McCulliss
Same water. Same winter. Two worlds most people never see.
Breach in winter mist · Maui
Whale seasonBig wave surfing
Maui transforms, every winter.
The whales
Humpback whales return from Alaska to mate and give birth.
Same water · From above
The big waves
Big wave surfers await massive swells, such as Jaws.
Inside a winter giant · Big wave
By the numbers
The most significant humpback whale breeding ground in the North Pacific
- Humpback whales returning every winter
- 10,000–12,000Humpback whales returning every winter
- Annual Maui visitors
- 2.35 MillionAnnual Maui visitors
- Annual whale participants
- Tens of ThousandsAnnual whale participants
- The protected Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
- 1 SanctuaryThe protected Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
Humpbacks in the channel · From above
01The Gap & the Vision
Millions are drawn to Maui. Tens of thousands seek authentic whale encounters.
- Science documents.
- Documentary tells.
- Experience transforms.
An interactive visual storytelling platform, newsletter, and publication project for this whale season that bridges all three — closing the distance between wonder and action.
Wonder becomes advocacy.The big goal: turn spectators into stewards →
Engagement becomes protection.
02The Documentation Approach
Above · On · Under
Aerial perspective
Above
Drone footage revealing spatial relationships and behavioral patterns.
Two humpbacks · From above
Vessel-based photography
On
Surface interactions, breathing patterns, social dynamics.
Head rising from the water · Maui
Underwater freediving
Under
Rarely-witnessed nursing behaviors, communication, social interactions.
White pectoral fins · Below
03The NOAA Permit
An honor, and a responsibility.
Credential · NOAA
Permit #29134
NOAA Educational & Commercial Photography Permit #29134
Under Ocean Storytellers: The Mystery of Maui's Humpbacks
I've earned a NOAA educational and commercial photography permit — a rigorous process that requires demonstrating marine mammal expertise, safety protocols, cultural respect, and commitment to conservation education.
It allows the aerial, vessel-based, and underwater documentation needed to capture complete behavioral sequences, with the utmost respect and minimal disturbance.
04Your Impact
Supporting this project directly protects Maui's humpback whales & innovates a new platform for connection.
ID # HW-MN0441239 01Research
A rare behavioral sequence library documenting individual whales through synchronized aerial, surface, and underwater perspectives. Observations and photo identification data are made available to NOAA researchers and sanctuary staff. Fluke identifications will be contributed to HappyWhale's global database.
Mother and calf · From above 02Education
Educational materials created specifically for Hawaii's schools, tourism operators, and hospitality sector: in-season weekly educational newsletters, classroom materials, in-person presentations, and an interactive platform featuring field documentation.
Rising at the surface · Maui 03Conservation & Entanglement Response
Detailed photographic documentation of scarring and entanglement cases flows directly to Ed Lyman's Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Team. Print sales, memberships, and experience* bookings fund humpback whale conservation, ocean cleanup initiatives, and entanglement response operations.
*Experiences in commercial application
The more people connect to the story, the more resources flow to protection. More documentation fuels more engagement, which sustains and expands the work itself.
Where the funding goes
Every contribution goes directly back to the water. A portion of all proceeds supports whale conservation and entanglement response.
- 01Boat charters for whale season access
- 02Safety crew and marine protocols
- 03Professional book design/production
- 04Interactive website development
- 05Expert interview production
- 06The dedicated time to execute this vision with the respect and professionalism these waters deserve
- 07Whale conservation and entanglement service donations
05What Is Being Created
Four ways into the season.
- 01
Fall 2027
Coffee Table Book
The record of this whale season in museum-quality print.
- 02
Archival
Collectable Prints
Whales and big wave surfing from aerial, surface, and underwater perspectives.
- 03
Open access
Interactive Educational Website
Behind-the-scenes content, expert interviews, and whale behavior insights.
- 04
Whale season
Weekly Newsletters
Images, videos, and interview previews throughout whale season (December–April).
06Project & Deliverable Timeline
One whale season, now to August 2027.
Now – Nov 2026
Preparation
- Season preparation and protocol refinement
- Community partnerships
- Pre-orders open
Dec 2026 – Apr 2027
Whale season
- Aerial, surface, and underwater documentation
- Weekly newsletters
- Expert interviews with ocean professionals
- Community engagement events
May – Aug 2027
Production
- Coffee table book production (book Fall 2027)
- Educational resource packages
07Shop the Season
You're not just buying art.
You're funding connection, education, and conservation.
MauiWhale Season
Spend a day with me.
The encounters, the experience, and coaching to bring the photographs home.
Experiences in commercial application
Breach, high key · Maui
08Join the Season
Follow the season, in real time.
Want to go deeper? Join The Pod or become an Escort.
See the memberships| What's included | Follow the SeasonFree | Most chosenThe PodThis season | The EscortThis season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The free whale season newsletter: weekly emails, December 2026 – April 2027 | |||
| Access to the season gallery | |||
| Public field notes | |||
| First looks at prints, the book and expeditions | |||
| Signed whale postcard mailed from Maui | |||
| Signed coffee table book at $90 pre-order (vs. $125 public), with dedication | |||
| Your name in the book's acknowledgments | |||
| Members-only season wrap premiere: live screening and Q&A in April | |||
| Members-only field notes, interviews and materials | |||
| 10% off all Open Collection prints | |||
| Expedition credit: any ELEM×HU expedition led by Emily | $100 | $200 | |
| Expedition subscriber rates and early invitations | |||
| Signed 12 × 18 framed whale print you choose (a $205 value) | |||
| Personal thank-you video recorded on the water | |||
| A Maui morning with Emily in Lahaina, if you're on Maui |
09Who is Emily McCulliss
The Complete Creator.
I'm Emily McCulliss — not just the photographer behind this project, but the visionary, curator, filmmaker, interviewer, publisher, and storyteller bringing every piece together. To connect you. Educate you. Inspire you.
Read Emily's storyEvery part of the production
Roles
Visionary
The project's mission, scope, and impact
Photographer & Filmmaker
Aerial, surface, and underwater documentation
Expedition Leader
Boat operations, safety protocols, field logistics
Interviewer
Marine biologists, surfers, and ocean professionals
Editor & Curator
Selecting and sequencing imagery
Publisher
The coffee table book
Web Developer
The interactive educational website
Newsletter Writer
Weekly educational content during whale season
Project Manager
Timelines, deliverables, and community partnerships
Credentials that enable this vision
- NOAA Educational and Commercial Photography Permit
- Big Wave Risk Assessment Group Surf Responder (2025)
- Hawaii Boat and Ocean Safety / Thrill Craft Operator (2025)
- FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot
- Adult and Child CPR/AED
- PADI Open Water Diver
- Nikon Professional Services member
- Ironman 70.3 finisher and Masters swimmer
- Bachelor of Science in Biology
The Team
Principal Investigator
Emily McCulliss
Maui-based nature photographer and expedition guide documenting cetaceans across Mexico, French Polynesia, Antarctica, and Hawaii.
The water is waiting.
The whales are here.
Transform spectators into stewards.
Humpbacks in open blue · From above