Fellows mentioned in this story: Autumn Ness

From Maui Now:

PacWhale Eco-Adventures, the social enterprise of Pacific Whale Foundation, will resume ocean operations from Lahaina Harbor beginning June 1, 2026, marking a meaningful milestone in Maui’s ongoing recovery following the 2023 wildfires.

Lahaina has been the home of Pacific Whale Foundation for more than 40 years and is where its earliest operations began — a place of deep significance for the organization and for the broader community.

​In the immediate aftermath of the August 2023 wildfires, PacWhale Eco-Adventures vessels were deployed to deliver essential supplies — including fresh water and food — to families and community members in Lahaina. Simultaneously, Pacific Whale Foundation established the PWF Maui Community Relief Fund, a restricted fund dedicated entirely to supporting survivors and the organizations rebuilding the Lahaina and Maui communities. With the support of Pacific Whale Foundation’s global network, the fund raised over a quarter of a million dollars in direct contributions to community organizations working on the front lines of recovery.

​“PWF’s Maui Community Relief Fund supported us when we were just getting started and helped lay the foundation for our success. How operations come back to Lahaina Harbor is as important as what comes back and when, and we are grateful to partners like Pacific Whale Foundation for understanding the important role they play in our wider community recovery. Culturally grounded, reciprocal relationships are a vital part of our collective healing and the future Lahaina we are working to build,” said Autumn Ness, Executive Director of Lahaina Community Land Trust.

Continue reading at mauinow.com.