Our lives depend on the sea; the future of the sea depends on us. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>We live on a planet covered by 70% water. Since ancient times native Hawaiians have considered dolphins the tribe of the sea for their cognitive abilities and the way they hunted collaboratively with their tribes of the earth.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"earth's](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/earth-surface.jpg\" "\\"earth’s")
<\/span><\/div>Sources : UN Statistics Division, Protected Planet<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Native](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Native-Hawaiians.jpg\" "\\"Native")
<\/span><\/div>ph: kingdom hearts unlimited fandom<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>By listening and understanding the changes it is experiencing we can give a voice to the Ocean, safeguarding the splendor and biodiversity of this planet. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Our Mission<\/h2><\/div>Deepen our knowledge of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins’ social structure and bioacoustic repertoire to understand their modes of communication\u2014essential to preserving this Hawaiian species and protecting the biodiversity of the precious habitat where they live.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"hawaiian](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hawaiian-spinner-dolphins-home.jpg\" "\\"hawaiian")
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Project Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Dolium](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mollusc.png\" "\\"Dolium")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>We are conducting a long-term cognitive behavioral study using cutting-edge AI technology to obtain critical information on the ecology of Spinner Dolphins living off the coast of L\u0101na\u02bbi.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"Spotted](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manta1.jpg\" "\\"Spotted")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Leveraging new technology, we will gain a comprehensive view of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins’ social structure and bioacoustic repertoire to understand the modes of intra\/interspecies communication. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Communication is the glue union that holds animal societies together. By filming and recording their individual voices in their home bay we will relate their behaviors with their vocalizations and better understand dolphins’ communication and their social associations. Understanding the mechanisms of their communication will enable us to better protect the habitats in which they live. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Why Spinner Dolphins<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>Cetaceans such as dolphins, are vital for maintaining the ecological balance of marine ecosystems due to their movements and position in the food chain. Together with other large pelagics like sharks, tuna, and sea turtles, they help regulate the populations of the fauna they feed on. Maui Nui spinner dolphins, part of the O\u02bbahu\/4-islands stock, are genetically distinct from other Hawaiian islands and display unique patterns of habitat usage due to the shallow bathymetry of the coastal region.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"hawaiian](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/spinner-dolphins-hawaii.jpg\" "\\"hawaiian")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"spinner](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/spinner-dolphins.jpg\" "\\"spinner")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins in the Maui region have historically not been as well studied or understood as other keystone species, yet they are just as critical to the ecosystem.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>As tourism grows in Maui Nui, the dolphins of L\u0101na\u02bbi are under increased pressure from human activities, including dolphin watching. Moreover, the pollution from the tragic fires of Lahaina may have an ongoing impact on the Maui Nui dolphin population. We need to better understand how this population interacts with their habitat, what their needs are, and how humans are impacting their world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
M\u0101lama i ke kai, a m\u0101lama ke kai i\u0101 \u02bboe<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nTake care of the ocean and the ocean will take care of you.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Our Aim<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>Obtain data and information on the behavior and distribution of Spinner Dolphin populations to:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"dolphin](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/behavior.jpg\" "\\"dolphin")
<\/span><\/div>Observe<\/b> and comprehensively understand<\/span> their behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"dolphin](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/dolphin-face-1.jpg\" "\\"dolphin")
<\/span><\/div>Identify<\/b> individuals by their distinct morphological and vocal features.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"spectrogram\"](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/spectogram.jpg\" "\\"spectrogram\\"")
<\/span><\/div>Advance<\/b> the understanding of\u00a0 their acoustic repertoire.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"guide\"](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/guide-2.jpg\" "\\"guide\\"")
<\/span><\/div>Enhance<\/b> species recovery and inform local habitat management decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"marine](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/marine-lab-education.jpg\" "\\"marine")
<\/span><\/div>\u00a0Promote<\/b> ocean conservation through education and outreach.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"\u00a9](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/\u00a9-Don-McLeish-Jumper-Spinner.jpg\" "\\"\u00a9")
<\/span><\/div>ph: \u00a9 Don McLeish<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Project Objectives<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>- <\/i><\/span>
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Generate and develop a database of Spinner Dolphins <\/b>identified through AI-assisted facial recognition technology and individual acoustic repertoire. This will enable us to determine and monitor the residency and loyalty to specific sites of L\u0101na\u02bbi Island, characterize the group dynamics between individuals, and identify the presence of specific specimens within particular social groups.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>- <\/i><\/span>
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Analyze and catalog the bioacoustics repertoire of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins.<\/b> We will Investigate distinctive signature whistle (SW) development and use it to help expand individuals’ identification to determine whether the population exhibits a specific signature whistle distinctive to the population. Furthermore, we will document the process of interspecies interaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>- <\/i><\/span>
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Leverage AI to examine and relate individual animals’ vocalizations<\/b> and behaviors to study the Spinner Dolphin social structure: sexing, behavioral sampling, and group dynamics.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Hawaiian](\"https:\/\/kaleookekai.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Hawaiian-fauna.jpg\" "\\"Hawaiian")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>Outcome<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>The knowledge and information we gain will be used to\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n