The HWRF is a small nonprofit group of dedicated volunteers conducting field research on humpback whale social affiliation, behavior and communication in the belief that if the needs of these magnificent animals are more fully understood we may better offer recommendations that protect and preserve them. Five winter months of data collection and photo-documentation in Hawaii are augmented by year-round analysis, frequent scientific publications, public service seminars and educational presentations.

The HWRF's activites were begun by Dr. Dan R. Salden, Ph.D., president and research director. Dr. Salden is Emeritus Professor and past department Chair at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and is now occupied full time with research of humpback (and other) whales that he began in 1978. The Hawaii Whale Research Foundation was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1988. Since that time, numerous reports have been published in refereed journals or presented at various national and international conferences. Copies of those reports are available upon request.

The HWRF operates in Maui on a restricted budget composed mainly of donations of equipment and services and our own personal resources. The field team includes only those individuals absolutely necessary for the completion of our mission. All HWRF team members volunteer their services without any form of compensation.: Throughout each season, Dr. Salden is present in the field to oversee data collection activities. From January through May, while the North Pacific humpback whales are wintering in the Maui waters, the research team dedicates approximately eight hours per day, six days a week, conducting observational studies on and in the waters off Maui. These ongoing activities require great devotion and need constant funding for support.

The research team's time in Maui is dedicated solely to field work. The HWRF is possibly the only whale research organization in Hawaii that does not have an "internship" program, a potentially substantial source of funding, because we believe that it would interfere with our research efforts. Because the HWRF has no direct or indirect involvement with any commercial ventures or operations as resources of funding, we are totally dependent upon grants and donations for support of our research and educational activities. To date, all support received has been used in the direct support of research and educational activities.

Marine Life Studies is a new research project supported by HWRF. Please see the MLS website for details.