Hawaii Uncharted Research Collective

06/16/2026

NOW LIVE: Track Hawaiʻi’s Whale Sharks! 🗺️

Have you ever wondered where the whale sharks of our waters travel? We are incredibly thrilled to announce a brand new interactive tracking map is officially live on our website!

Through collaborative telemetry research, this map allows you to follow along with the movements and real-time paths of tracked whale sharks across the Hawaiian Islands. It is an amazing tool for ocean lovers, schools, educators, and community scientists to see how these incredible animals navigate our waters.

Our mission is to better understand their migration, habitat use, and seasonal patterns so we can advocate for their long-term protection.

Want to follow their journeys? Head to the link in our bio to explore the live interactive map!

A massive mahalo to our research partners, supporters, and community contributors who make mapping these uncharted paths possible. Special thanks to , , , and for their support of this project.

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to the countless volunteers who helped make this project possible and continue to support our research efforts every day. Your dedication, time, and passion are at the heart of everything we do. 🩵

Funded by Ninmah Trust.

06/09/2026

NEW OCEAN FRIEND ✨🐋

We have a brand new individual in our research database! Meet Grammie, HI-Rt-509, a beautiful whale shark recently documented off Hawai’i island!

A massive mahalo to citizen scientists Mikey Lynch and Andy McQuade for capturing and sharing this incredible encounter with us.

Let’s keep exploring! 💙

06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day from all of us at Hawaii Uncharted Research Collective! 🌊🐋

Here in Hawaiʻi, the ocean isn’t just a beautiful backdrop…it’s a vast, deeply interconnected ecosystem that supports life both beneath the surface and along our shores. For our team, today isn’t just about celebrating the magic of the sea, it’s a reminder of why we dedicate ourselves to marine conservation, citizen science, and shark advocacy every single day.

From monitoring and tracking our local whale shark populations to studying the health of our reefs, our mission is to better understand these incredible species so we can help protect them for generations to come.

But true conservation isn’t a solo mission! Every piece of data contributed, every community conversation, and every choice to protect our waters makes a massive difference.

Today, we want to say a huge mahalo to our incredible community of ocean lovers, researchers, and citizen scientists who stand alongside us. Let’s keep working together to keep our oceans wild and healthy. 💙

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

05/18/2026

🌊🦈 Whale shark watch is underway again today!

Our team is back out on the water continuing research and monitoring efforts with support from , and !We’re incredibly grateful for the collaboration and community that help make this work possible and keep conservation efforts moving forward.

If you see a whale shark, send us your photos, videos, and sighting details! Reports from the community are a vital part of our citizen science program and help us track, study, and protect these gentle giants.

Thank you to everyone who supports our mission, shares sightings, and helps spread awareness for whale shark conservation. Your support truly helps make every sighting count. 💙

05/17/2026

🌊🦈 Another great day out on whale shark watch!

Our team is back on the water today continuing research and monitoring efforts alongside , and ! We’re so grateful for the partnerships, support, and shared commitment to ocean conservation that help make this work possible.

If you spot a whale shark, we’d love to hear from you! Photos, videos, and sighting details from the community are incredibly valuable to our citizen science efforts and help us better understand and protect these amazing animals.

Thank you to everyone who supports our nonprofit, shares sightings, and helps grow this conservation community. Every report, share, and contribution truly makes an impact. 💙

05/16/2026

🌊🦈 Another beautiful day to be on whale shark watch!

Our team is back out on the water today continuing our ongoing research and monitoring efforts with the help of , and ! We’re incredibly thankful for the support, collaboration, and shared passion for ocean conservation that makes days like this possible.

If you happen to spot a whale shark, don’t hesitate to reach out with photos, videos, and sighting information. Community reports play a huge role in our citizen science efforts and directly contribute to protecting and understanding these gentle giants.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our nonprofit, share sightings, and be part of this growing conservation community. Every contribution makes a difference. 💙

05/15/2026

🦈👀 Keep your eyes peeled, ocean friends — there’s a chance whale sharks are cruising through our waters today!

Our team is heading out on the water to continue our ongoing research projects alongside the amazing support of , and ! We’re grateful to collaborate with people who care deeply about marine conservation and helping us better understand these incredible animals.

If you spot a whale shark today, call us, send us your photos/videos, location, and sighting details! Every report helps contribute to our citizen science efforts and supports local whale shark research right here in Hawai‘i. 🌊

Mahalo to our community for continuing to support our nonprofit, share sightings, and help make this research possible — we truly couldn’t do it without you. 💙

05/12/2026

Eyes in the sky. 🌊🚁

From May 15–18, Hawaii Uncharted Research Collective is teaming up with Mauna Loa Helicopter School for an exciting new chapter in our ongoing whale shark research efforts.

Students and instructors will take to the skies off the Kona Coast, building valuable flight hours and real-world search-and-rescue style experience while helping spot whale sharks from above. These aerial track-line surveys give us a whole new perspective in the search for these elusive animals — expanding our ability to document, and better understand their movements in Hawaiian waters.

This partnership/collaboration we’re incredibly excited about.

Keep your eyes on the ocean… and the skies. 👀🦈🚁 #
If you’re in the water and see a whale shark Friday - Monday, call the HURC hotline at 808-465-4872