Maui Whales & Ocean TalesWINTER IN MAUI
A surfer making the drop on a big wave

Join the Season

Start free. Go deeper when you're ready.

01How it works

Visual storytellers, marine scientists, ocean advocates, surfers, and the winter Maui community all have a seat in this conversation.

  1. 01

    Start free

    Get the free whale season newsletter, weekly December to April.

    Follow free

  2. 02

    Go deeper

    The Pod opens every members-only note.

    Join The Pod

  3. 03

    Fund the work

    20% of every membership funds humpback whale research and conservation.

    Become an Escort

02Choose your way in

Why join

  • You're in the record

    Your name in the book, and a whale of your own if you sponsor one.

  • It's personal

    A postcard from Maui, answers from Emily, and the April premiere.

  • It does good

    20% to research and conservation, and documentation for entanglement response.

  • It opens doors

    Expedition credits and early invitations to Tonga, Norway and Mexico.

Season memberships cover this whale season only: December 2026 – April 2027.

20% of every membership funds humpback whale research and conservation.

Blow in late light · Maui
Blow in late light · Maui

Free

Follow the Season

Start here. Just the season, in real time.

Free

  • The free whale season newsletter: weekly emails, December 2026 – April 2027
  • Access to the season gallery: Emily's photos from this whale season, added as they're taken
  • Public field notes from the water, the science, and the people
  • First looks at prints, the book and expeditions
A pod at the surface · From above
A pod at the surface · From above

This season

Most chosen

The Pod

Travel with the pod for one whale season.

$150one-time

Includes the $90 signed book, so the season itself is $60.

  • A signed whale postcard mailed from Maui during the season
  • Signed coffee table book at pre-order pricing ($90 vs. $125 public) with a handwritten dedication (ships Fall 2027)
  • Your name in the book's acknowledgments
  • Members-only season wrap premiere: a live online screening and Q&A in April
  • All members-only field notes, interviews and materials
  • 10% off all Open Collection prints
  • $100 credit toward any ELEM×HU expedition led by Emily McCulliss, plus subscriber rates and early invitations
Mother, calf, and escort · Below
Mother, calf, and escort · Below

This season

Limited to 25

The Escort

In a humpback pod, the escort is the whale that travels with a mother and calf and guards them. Escorts make this season's work possible.

$295one-time

The Pod plus a $205 framed print you choose, for $145 more.

  • Everything in The Pod
  • Signed 12 × 18 exclusive framed whale print (a $205 value), chosen from three images of this season
  • A personal thank-you video recorded on the water
  • A Maui morning: a shore meet-up and photo morning with Emily in Lahaina, if you're on Maui
  • $200 expedition credit instead of $100

Season Gift Box

Give a whale season: The Pod plus a whale greeting card and a chocolate bar, shipped to unwrap.$165

The calendar ships as soon as it's printed, which may be after the rest of the box.

After checkout, send Emily the recipient's name, email and your message.

04Side by side

Compare memberships

The coffee table book

Season pre-order$90
Public price$125
Compare Follow the Season, The Pod, and The Escort
What's includedFollow the SeasonFreeMost chosenThe Pod$150 · This seasonThe Escort$295 · This 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

05Questions

A humpback rising to the surface
Rising to the surface · Maui