 | The Hawaii Whale Research Foundation staff, composed of highly skilled and professional individuals, is entirely volunteer. During our winter field season (January through May) we operate on the water six days each week, six to nine hours each day near the Hawaiian island of Maui. Throughout the year HWRF staff manage research data, produce reports for peer-reviewed journals, and deal with the logistical and funding requirements of field research. Click here for information about volunteer research opportunities. | |
 | Dan R. Salden, Ph.D., Founder and Research Director.
Dr. Salden is Emeritus Professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. For sixteen years, he served as Chair of his academic department. In 1997, he returned to full-time teaching in order to allow more time for his research activities with the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation, and in 2000, he retired from the university in order to give the foundation his full attention. His study of humpback whales and other marine mammals began in 1978. After several years of independent work, Dr. Salden co-founded with Clancy Greff of Captain Zodiac Expeditions the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation in 1987. In 1988 he applied for and received a National Marine Fisheries Service Research Permit. Subsequent permits were issued in 1993 and 1998. The principal focus of his humpback research in Hawaii and Alaska has been on long-term social affiliation patterns. Most of his work has concentrated on an attempt to discover such relationships on the winter breeding/calving grounds in Hawaii.
Dr. Salden has directly participated in field work for 25 years. Over this period he has amassed over 6000 hours of research time on the water. Results of his studies have been reported to peer reviewed scientific conferences (such as the Society for the Study of Marine Mammals and the Animal Behavior Society) and/or published in scientific journals (such as Marine Mammal Science, the Canadian Journal of Zoology, Journal of Wildlife Management, etc.). As a result of his speaking engagements, Dr. Salden has distinguished himself before numerous national and international organizations, such as the Whales Alive programs sponsored by Earth Island and the International Dolphin and Whale Conferences. Similar presentations and seminars have also been given at universities throughout the United States and before many non-academic civic and environmental groups.
He has also assumed an active role in promoting cooperative research ventures among colleagues in the North Pacific Working Group, which is an assembly of active humpback whale researchers from Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. This cooperation in field data collection and the resulting mutual publication efforts has enabled significant progress in promoting knowledge of the humpback whale and its needs for survival. |
 | Jill Mickelsen has been an active volunteer since 1992. She holds a USCG license with sail endorsement. As a commercial boat captain, Jill has mastered both power boats as well as sailing catamarans. In her work with HWRF, she has served as Secretary/Treasurer for the organization. In terms of research activity, Jill’s time is usually spent as a local volunteer coordinator, driver, underwater videographer, and data recorder. She was a co-author on our right whale paper in Pacific Science. After we purchased Deep Blue, Jill has been in charge of overseeing maintenance operations. Jill received a B.S. degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado. |
 | Peggy Stap became involved with HWRF in the late 1990’s. Her enthusiasm characterizes the work that she has done. Peggy’s strengths lie in the area of photography and videography (underwater and surface). She also was the primary person processing data for our involvement with the SPLASH program, and our principal coordinator for our role in Whale Quest Kapalua. In 2006, Peggy began Marine Life Studies, her own project under the HWRF umbrella in Monterey, California. Her work in Monterey Bay focuses primarily on the abundance estimates and movement behaviors of toothed whales.. |
 | Kevin Carter has served as a data recorder for us for several years. He also contributes as a reserve surface videographer and driver. Kevin makes for the perfect crew member—in private life he is a great chef and bartender!. |
 | Kristen DeCrausaz joined us in 2007 as a data recorder. She certainly qualified as the “rookie of the year.” She has shown interest in becoming more involved with data analysis. Apart from her work with us, she is by the Ritz-Carlton employed in banquet services. Maybe she could plan events for Kevin Carter’s cooking!. |
| Lisa Diaz has been associated with HWRF for over 10 years. She works with Doug Perrine on the Big Island operation. After a long career with American Express, Lisa pursued her life-long ambition to become a school teacher. After completing an education degree at the University of Phoenix, she began teaching in the public school system on the island of Hawaii. Lisa has also been very active within the community—especially with environmental causes.. |
 | Rebecca Eldridge King. Bec King came to us as a full time intern in 2002. She hails from Australia, where she had done some work with the Southern Hemisphere humpbacks. She proved to be an exceptional data recorder and made many contributions to how we recorded data. In her spare time, she met a young man, fell in love, and subsequently got married. In 2006, Bec returned to the US from Australia and resumed her voluntary service. We are thankful that she did. |
 | Janna Schlag joined us as a data recorder in 2003. Before becoming a volunteer, Janna was a naturalist on a cruise ship. She also worked as a crew person on commercial boats operating out of Lahaina. Her husband, Steve, has also volunteered as a relief captain (he has a USCG license). Currently, they live upcountry on Maui. Steve owns and operates the Dolphin Gallery business.. |
 | Beck Straussner joined us in 2006 as a data recorder. He quickly expanded his scope of service to include driving and inderwater videography. He was a clear winner of the 2006 Rookie of the Year. Two years ago, Beck purchased the 50 ft sailing catamaran Glass Slipper 2. He has spent the last two years restoring the boat to her original beauty. On occasion, we have used the Glass Slipper 2 as a research platform.. |
| Phillip Colla has been a researcher with HWRF since 1994, collecting written, photographic and videographic data, assisting with the logistical challenges of field research and with the constant search for funding and support, and maintaining HWRF's website. He is most interested in understanding the dynamics of competitive humpback whale groups. He holds a MS in engineering from UC San Diego. He is a scientific programmer specializing in nonlinear, nonparametric and tree-structured modeling with application in many statistical, mathematical, graphical, design and optimization fields. Additionally, he is a wildlife photographer, videographer and natural history writer focusing on marine mammals and animals of the eastern Pacific. His images have appeared on television and in books, magazines, exhibits and aquaria worldwide. |
| David Glickman is one of the original volunteers (1992). He has had extensive experience with several research organizations, but HWRF has been his primary research home. David was our first videogrpher, and he has been instrumental in training other divers on the “do’s and don’ts” of diving in close proximity of the whales. David is one of two non-USCG licensed captains that we have authorized to drive the research boat. He is also one of our most effective surface videographers. David has assisted with maintenance operations (particularly with our inflatable boats) and occasionally assists in data recording. After joining us, David went back to school—completing an associates degree at Maui Community College and a B.S. in Psychology at the University of Hawaii. He has since obtained his Masters degree in religious studies. In private life, David is the Rabbi for Maui. |
 | Jeff Kalbach has been a volunteer research associate with HWRF since 1993, serving as boat captain and videographer He is a commercial boat captain and professional naturalist with 20 years experience in the Hawaiian islands, Mexico and the Pacific Northwest conducting whale watching tours and observing dolphin and other marine mammals. In addition to his work with HWRF and humpback whales, he has conducted research and naturalist work with Southern right whales in Argentina and gray whales in Baja California. He has extensive sailing experience and has logged over 5,000 bluewater miles. He has a degree in Agronomy from Cal Poly SLO. |
 | Doug Perrine has been a volunteer photographer with HWRF since 1990. His primary duties are above water and underwater photography for purposes of fluke identification, sex determination, and recording of behavioral interactions. Doug brings to HWRF both the technical skills of a professional photographer and the observational abilities of a trained marine biologist. His education includes a B.A. from the University of Hawaii and B.S. and M.A. degrees in marine biology from the University of Miami. He has participated in research on mud crabs, stone crabs, mullet, sharks, and sperm whales as well as humpback whales, and has co-authored papers for the Bulletin of Marine Science on such diverse topics as spawning behavior of dog snappers and parasitism of reef fish by sea snails. He has also written numerous articles on marine life for popular publications, and is the author of the books "Sharks" and "Mysteries of the Sea". Doug has one of the worlds finest collections of cetacean and shark photographs, and founded (and still serves as advisor to) the stock photography company Innerspace Visions / Seapics.com in Kona, HI. |
| Dr. Linda E. Silvers has been a member of the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation since 1994. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of North Carolina (UNC), a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU) and a Masters in Public Health concentrating in epidemiology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). While at the University of North Carolina, she received the Robert E. Coker Award for outstanding research focusing on a fungal parasite. While at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine she received the IAMS award for her seminar on dolphin medicine. Most recently, Dr. Silvers was presented with the Richard C. Hooper Award for research on ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne disease which afflicts animals as well as people. In addition to practicing small animal / exotic animal medicine, Dr. Silvers has been a part of marine animal rescue programs which serve to rescue, treat and rehabilitate marine mammals with the goal of returning them back to the wild. Dr. Silvers'publication record includes articles on cetaceans and communicable diseases. She volunteers her time lecturing to college students, young children and other individuals about Humpback whales and the importance of preserving them and the environment. Aside from being a research associate for the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation, she is currently an epidemiologist with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, working in a program jointly operated by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
 | Harrison "Skip" Stubbs, Ph.D. has been an HWRF researcher since 1993. His primary duty is video recording of humpback behavior, especially underwater. Dr. Stubbs also serves HWRF as biostatisticain, fundraiser, video editor and producer. To date, he has produced all HWRF video presentations in collaboration with Dr. Salden. Dr. Stubbs has a dual career as a biostatistical consultant in the areas of biotechnology and clinical trials and professional underwater videographer whose work has appeared frequently on the Tokyo Broadcasting System and NHK networks in Japan, the Discovery Channel in the US and Canada, and on ProSieben television in Germany. |
 | Robert Heil has been an HWRF research associate since 1997, collecting written and photographic data and assisting with the legal and business affairs of the Foundation. He is a retired attorney, who practiced law in San Francisco for 20 years, and he holds a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in mathematics and physics from Yale University. He has been diving for 35 years and taking underwater photographs for 25 years, and his photographs have appeared in numerous national and international publications. From 1995 to 2000, he was Chair of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries in San Francisco, and he personally developed a training program that now trains 500 homeless persons annually. He is presently a trustee of the Sierra Club Foundation, a member of the Sierra Club National Advisory Council, and Fundraising Chair of the Sierra Club Environmental Law Program. |
 | Adam Quinn hit the road in 1990 after growing up in the Philadelphia area, studying physical education and physical therapy at Temple University and assisting with youth leadership seminars with the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation. When the adventure of Hawaii called, Quinn found himself working on boat charters for Maui’s Ocean Activities Center, Lahaina Divers and volunteering for The Hawaii Whale Research Foundation. He soon achieved a U.S. Coast Guard-Masters License, as a PADI-certified SCUBA dive master he has logged over 1,000 dives in Hawaiian water’s, and most recently became a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician with an additional Wilderness qualification.
A quintessential “people person,” Quinn’s work in Maui’s service-oriented tourist industry clicked with his thirst for adventure. By 1993 he applied his skills and local contacts as a first-class “Club Concierge” at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. In an effort to fulfill guest requests for experiences “off the beaten path,” Quinn found himself designing and directing the resort’s comprehensive hiking and eco-tour programs. In 1998, recognizing a growing niche in Maui’s adventure tourism industry, he continued to refine his skills with intensive training with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. in Washington State and became co-owner of the independent LATAtudes & ADAtudes, Maui Eco-Adventures.
Quinn continues to work hard to play hard and travel the world sharing new adventures with his wife Leslie. He coached AYSO soccer on Maui for over eight years, along with the Lahainaluna High School boy’s varsity soccer squad in 1993-94. Quinn continues to assist the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation captaining winter research vessels and the Kapalua Nature Society in their ongoing trail maintenance program in and around the Maunalei Arboretum. In addition to his love for SCUBA, sailing, skiing, mountain climbing and flying, Quinn does claim to enjoy a good book once in a while. |
| Honor Roll of Past Volunteers |
The following individuals have been active or part-time volunteers with the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation. While they are not currently active with us, each made his/her contribution to the attainment of HWRF’s mission and goals. We acknowledge their contributions and extend our most sincere appreciation for their efforts.
Steve Beresford
Matt Biondi
Bill Clark
Brad Curtis
Aline Schaffer Delaney
Melinda Gohn
David Hoopah
Mikako "Micky" Kotani
Ryan Lakovich
Heather Ronek
Tanya Shober
Sabrina Sturman
Carol Takashima
Dawn Terminel
Mike Terminel
Tif Thomas
Jim Walsh
Alona Wood
Andrew Wood
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