A whale placenta floating off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, might sound like the beginning of a strange story, but for Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation, it became an opportunity to rethink how science and Indigenous knowledge can work together. In this episode, Kaya Heimowitz speaks with marine scientists and cultural practitioners about conservation, Native Hawaiian values, and what it means to care for the ocean through more than one way of knowing.

Guests are Jens Currie, Chief Scientist, and Ka’apuni Aiwohi, Indigenous Knowledge and Science Integration Manager at Pacific Whale Foundation.

Whale recordings provided by Pacific Whale Foundation.

Kaya Heimowitz is a graduate student at the International Master's Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) at National Chengchi University (NCCU).

“Speak Up” is a podcast program by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Season 1 features student work from the class, “Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts” in Spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.

Additional Resources:

• Information on Pacific Whale Foundation: https://pacificwhale.org/who-we-are/press-rooms/#

• Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/edited-volume/9780128043271/encyclopedia-of-marine-mammals
• Humpback Whales 101: https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/learn/humpback-whales-101.html
• NOAA Humpback Whale Info: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/humpback-whale
• To learn more about indigenous connection with whales, you can watch the film Whale Rider

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