Project Pitch -Maui Whales & Ocean Tales
2026| 2027
A Visual Storytelling Platform of Maui's Winter Season - Humpback Whales, Big Wave Surfing, and the Magic That Transforms These Waters
authentic ocean immersion / community/ connection / education / inspiration / visual storytelling
The Mission
Connect. Educate. Inspire.
Imagine discovering Maui's winter season from above, on, and below the water
Humpback whales giving birth, mothers nursing their young, competitive mating pods, breaching giants, and surfers riding legendary swells.
Moments so extraordinary they transform how you see the ocean.
How you understand connection.
How you protect it.
The Vision
Every winter, Maui transforms. Humpback whales return from Alaska to raise their young. Big wave surfers await massive swells; such as, Jaws.
For two seasons, I'm capturing it all, above the water, on the surface, and below, creating Maui Whales & Ocean Tales, a visual storytelling project you can actually own and experience.
Your Impact
Your backing directly determines how many days I can be on the water capturing the behaviors that reveal why Maui's waters are irreplaceable - competitive pods moving through the channel, mothers nursing newborn calves, breaching juveniles, intimate communication. From drone footage showing how whales use the 'Au'au Channel, to surface photography capturing social interactions, to underwater documentation of rarely-witnessed moments, every image tells part of this extraordinary story.
Where the Funding Goes:
- Boat charters for whale season access
- Safety crew and marine protocols
- Professional magazine design/production
- Interactive website development
- Expert interview production
- The dedicated time to execute this two-year vision with the respect and professionalism these waters deserve
- % of proceeds go back to Maui's humpback whale and ocean conservation
Full Pitch can be found https://www.emilymcculliss.com/maui-whales-ocean-tales
