Free for everyone who loves the whales
The Whale Community
This season is better shared. Ask me anything, show me your whales, and meet the people who love them as much as I do.
The Whale Community is the free side of Maui Whales & Ocean Tales, open to everyone who loves these whales, whether you watch them from a Maui beach every winter or have never seen one. There is nothing to join and nothing to pay.
There are four ways in. Ask Emily anything about humpbacks, the season or how she photographs them, and she replies to every question personally by email. Share your own whale moment, with photos and the story behind them. Send a photograph of a humpback's tail for a fluke ID check, and Emily will compare it with her fluke ID photos and tell you what she finds. And grown-ups can send a young whale fan's question for Kids ask Emily.
Moments and answers Emily chooses to feature appear on this page. Everything shared here follows a few simple guidelines, the first of which is to watch whales from at least 100 yards.
01Four ways in
Ask Emily
Every question gets a personal answer from me.
Ask a questionShare your whale moment
Photos, stories, first encounters.
Share a momentFluke ID check
Send me a photo of a humpback's tail and I'll check it against my fluke ID photos.
Send a fluke photoKids ask Emily
Grown-ups, send your young whale fan's question.
Send a kid's question
For young whale fans
Questions from kids, answered by Emily, and whale things made for young readers.
02Ask Emily
Every question gets a personal answer from me.
Questions about humpbacks, the season or the photographs. Every one gets a personal reply by email.
Loading the form…
04Fluke ID check
Send me a photo of a humpback's tail and I'll check it against my fluke ID photos.
The underside of every humpback's tail is unique. Send a clear photo and Emily checks it against her fluke ID photos.
Loading the form…
05Kids ask Emily
Kids ask Emily: grown-ups, send your young whale fan's question
For young whale fans: a grown-up sends the question, with the child's first name and age only.
For a parent or guardian to fill in on the child's behalf. We ask only for their first name and age, never their email or any other details about them.
Loading the form…
Community guidelines
- 01Be kind.
- 02Share only your own photos.
- 03Watch whales from at least 100 yards (NOAA).
- 04Share general areas, not exact live locations of mothers and calves.
- 05No pursuit or drone harassment.
Moments that don't follow these aren't featured.