The Keiki Kohola Project was founded in 1997, by Rachel Cartwright. Our group was originally comprised of concerned boat captains, naturalists and other local people involved in the whale watching industry on Maui; today our group is expanding, to include experienced scientists, university students and additional volunteers.
The project started out – and remains today – as a community based, grass roots effort; donations of time, boats, fuel, camera gear and moral support were endlessly provided by many members of the local Maui whale watching community.
We are also now working in close collaboration with members of the faculty and students of California State University – Channel Islands. They are contributing time, expertise and logistic support to all aspects of the project.
Additional Boat Captains: Captains Eric Fletcher, Chris Howard, Winston Warr, Colby Lawrence, Brad Kintz and Ted Mickowski.
Maui Volunteers: Amber Geffre, Chris Mangold, Maria Mangold, Sue Leisure, Kristy Hawes, John Hawes, Beth Pike, Renee Weber, Scott Balogh and our newest recruit, Kate
Co-operating faculty at CSUCI: researchers: Dr. Blake Gillespie, Dr. Charles Sackerson; GIS specialist: Kristin LaBonte.
Student research assistants : Andrew Wilson, Bonnie Rodgers and Corie Hill.
And introducing our newest team member, Muktuk, our new, Hawaii based, research vessel