Hōkūmoanalani is back in the ocean! Stay tuned.

We had a perfect launch of the buoy today. Many thanks to Steve Hogan and Makena Coast Dive Charters for delivering her to her mooring site in perfect condition! Shelly reset the anchor with new line. We had a great crew today. We worked into darkness to bring the songs to the website, but couldnʻt finish the job. Weʻll continue work this week. Anna Kim took some great pictures weʻll share later. Please stay tuned.

We try again tomorrow....weather permitting

We're ready to go. I finally have a better understanding of why our "aqua-acoustic" pool was not replicating our test audio music accurately. My friend Karl, who produces sound tracks for Sony Motion Pictures, explained that the round chamber produces "spiderwebbing" as the acoustic signal bounces "all over the place." A smaller chamber actually produces a more authentic test. The end result will be how good (and authentic) the whale songs sound. We hope we will all get to witness this tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned! Thanks Karl!!!

We launch tomorrow morning if the weather is favorable

One of our younger volunteers, Nari, is shown testing the buoy system which includes the dish antenna, receiver and audio amplifier for the shore side of the operation. Note the "accoustic pool" we have been using to simulate the ocean environment. Everything is working well and we hope to launch in the morning if the weather is good.
The "shaka" is a Hawaiian greeting. Obama used it to wave to the Punahou band at the Inauguration Parade. We use it to say Aloha and stay tuned for live whale songs soon!!!!

Inching closer to the launch ramp

We have been fine tuning the hydrophone and running some tests. The weather has cleared, after closing schools and government offices this week, but our launch boat is broken. We are looking for a boat and hoping to set a launch date for midweek. Pictured here (l to r) are Shelly, our diver and anchorwoman, Leanna, who is a boat captain and environmental educator on Maui and in Santa Fe, Sher, a Whalesong Board member. Leanna talks about our project to visitors when she takes them out into the ocean. I thank each of these fine women for their help, inspiration and support of the project.

And I want to thank BJB Charitable Trust for their substantial financial support of the project. The economic situation is a challenge for our project, as it has been for many. Each of you out there who has sent money has our deep gratitude. We have been running on $5,000 to $15,000 per year, all volunteers, no salaries......all costs above what comes in are carried by me and our other volunteers. We would very much like to move this project substantially forward, and that is going to require us focusing some time on fund raising. The buoy is the first priority so we are going on credit cards until she is working.

I also want to welcome President Obama. We look forward to working with him to keep the oceans healthy.

I've been very uncomfortable in many ways with our outgoing president, but I want to thank him for creating and providing protection to Papahānaumokuākea, the Northwest Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument, and adding three other National Marine Monuments in recent days. Mahalo, George Bush, for these important gifts to the world. I hope Democrats and Republicans can now work together and with other world leaders to create the peace, stability, awareness, and proactive programs required to further protect our precious oceans.

We Keep Getting Closer

Aloha everyone! I have a friend from the film/music industry coming by tomorrow to do a sound check with me on the system. We have an aqueous sound chamber set up, and everything seems to be working pretty darn well. Our launch boat is in the shop, so if you know anyone with a boat who would like to help launch please let us know. Stay tuned. Thanks for your patience. Much aloha, Dan

Happy New Year!!! (The buoy is doing better)

Well, a lot of people are wondering why the buoy isnʻt webcasting this yearʻs whale songs yet. She was working and looking great a week and a half ago. Well, the ocean has taken a toll on some of the electronics and things that were working became intermittent or quit working as we tested. The testing is important because itʻs really hard to fix things out in the ocean, and itʻs not easy to bring her in. We have been giving her a lot of TLC, and we are grateful for the launch crew who has been standing by faithfully. We wanted her in the water by Christmas. We worked some late nights through the holidays, and I got a cold...and that is slowing the launch date right now. Pictured in this post are Shelly Stevens, our anchorwoman, with the line that will tether the buoy, me testing the electronics, the audio section of the buoy being repaired on my kitchen table on Christmas day, Pualani Cabral and Samual David with the buoy, parts, etc.

Expect her to be working very early in the New Year. And please take good care of your precious selves and our precious planet. Aloha, Dan

Happy Holidays! (The buoy is almost ready)

We have been working through the holidays to get Hōkūmoanalani back in the ocean.  We had some unexpected issues with the audio and radio components of the system.  As of last night, I think all issues are resolved except putting it all back together.  I am trying to restrain myself from working too much on Christmas day, but some progress is being made.  I hope we will have her back in the ocean as early as this weekend, after a little more testing.  It's tough to service her in the ocean, so we hope to have everything working well enough to last the whole season.

Thanks to every one who has helped refurbish her.  She's looking good!  Pictured here are Pualani Trisha Cabral, who has put major time into the project this year, and Shawn Ardoin, our artist.  Shawn has added a playful touch to Hōkūmoanalani this year.  Shawn's art is featured in galleries in Hana and Paia, Maui, Honolulu, and Tahiti.  Thank you Trisha and Shawn, and special thanks to Samuel David, who did a lot of heavy lifting, electrical wiring and painting this year, and is pictured in my last post.  Samuel's CD of whale music is just being released.  He and his partner Amber are donating some money from each CD sold to The Whalesong Project. 

Much aloha to all of our friends out there,

Dan

Entering a New Season

We are entering a new whale season, and optimistic that our new President and Congress will move America in a direction that is healthier for America and the World.  In recognition of the fact that what happens on land affects the health of the oceans, we are working on some initiatives related to clean energy and sustainability we will share with you as this season progresses.

You can see from these photos that we are on the move and working on getting Hōkūmoanalani back in the ocean.  Samuel David (blue shirt) and Gerhardt (in blue jeans, a visiting volunteer from Germany) opened her up for inspection.  Sheʻs looking good inside, and Samuel has given her a first coat of paint.  I put a microphone in the ocean yesterday and heard a lone distant whale singing.

We are saddened by news of the Supreme Court decision on Navy sonar use, which we feel is unbalanced.  I want to repeat that we at The Whalesong Project believe that national security is important, AND that national security depends on a healthy environment and healthy relations with other nations on the planet we share.  We feel more emphasis should be placed on international cooperation to protect the environment and to reduce the need to use dangerous technologies that are harmful to the whales and other sea life.  I met recently with Senator Daniel Inouye, and again expressed to him these concerns, and reminded him of the need to fully investigate whether sonar use is related to the recent whale strandings in Hawaiʻi.

We are grateful to be here, amazingly, for our ninth season of bringing the live songs of Mauiʻs Kohola (humpback whales) to the world.  Thanks to all of you who help make this possible with your contributions of money, time, wisdom.

These photos were taken by Anna Kim.  Thanks Anna!

Sonar Issue goes to the Supreme Court

This Wednesday the Supreme Court will hear presentations from the U.S. Navy and NRDC over the Navyʻs use of sonar off of Southern California. It is an issue that involves national security and the health of cetaceans and the ocean itself. Read more here.

Markus and Silke, of Whalesong Germany, have been visiting California. We were able to spend some precious time together. They are really wonderful friends, and care deeply about the worldʻs oceans and the future of the planet for our children. They have redesigned the website for this season, and it looks really good. Stay tuned to see improvenments as the season progresses. I am attaching a picture of Markus, Silke and their beautiful son Samuel.

The first whale of the season has been spotted off of Molokini. We will be working diligently to get the buoy back in the water as early as possible this year. Thanks to all of you who help to make this all work.

Science Journal reports ocean dead zones growing

Our friend and Whalesong Project contributor, Katie Grove-Velasquez, just sent a report from Underwater Times with a summary of an August 15 Science journal article about the growing ocean dead zones, which are referred to as the "key stressor on marine ecosystems."  Once again we see, as the ancient Hawaiians and other cultures did, that the things we do on land are reflected in the health of the oceans.  We seem to need to make a lifestyle change towards sustainable agriculture, transportation, energy production fairly rapidly.  From Hong Kong,  I wish you all a good day.

Queen of Thailand advocates environmental protection

Here in Thailand, I am grateful to see positive action to protect the environment.  The main plaza downtown is showcasing environmental issues and solutions in a large photographic story board that covers almost two blocks.  A group called "Green World" paraded through town yesterday encouraging people to protect the environment.  The Queen Mother of Thailand, on her birthday,  encouraged people to "love each other and take care of the environment."  Read more.  She is especially concerned about "water and the forests."  The ocean has been the focus of The Whalesong Project, but we know that what people do on land affects life in the ocean, and it's good to see people caring.

Perspectives from 30,000 feet

I'm writing from the upper deck of a jumbo jet overlooking vast ocean as I write.  It's a different perspective on the world from up here.  I am heading to Asia to work on a couple of projects.

It was hard to leave Maui...it's always hard to leave my home there....but particularly hard to leave while the mystery of the whale who died recently on Molokai is unfolding.    An article in yesterday's Maui News describes the incident.  I'm not confident that the cause will be fully investigated in an impartial way.

I don't want to harp on the bad news too much.  Here's some good news:  Japan, where I am heading, is making major commitments to creating green belts, to solar and wind technologies for generating electricity.  China, where I will be soon, is investing in electric cars and wind energy systems.  I picked up a Forbes Magazine at the airport and most of the issue is dedicated to green technologies from electric cars to solar panels.  The Wall Street Journal says that some of the major obstacles to fuel cell technologies are being addressed successfully.  Maybe we can turn things around if good news keeps coming in like this.

The view of America, as seen by the rest of the world, is a bit disturbing.  With Guantanamo Bay, lack of action on global warming, etc., they seem to think we have lost our way.   One whale lost its way last week and I hope we can find out if it is a result of our human actions.