Hawaii is still thankfully host to spinner, bottlenose, spotted and rough-toothed dolphins. Also, small and large dolphins 'termed' whales, including pygmy killers, false killers, pilot and melon-headed whales - up to 18 species of toothed whales in all. On a good day of sailing on these waters, a person may enjoy the spectacle of dozens, if not hundreds of dolphins dancing in the boat’s wake.

Hawaiian ancestors lived deeply interconnected to each other, the land, and the sea. Dolphin (Nai`a) were considered by some to be one form of the spiritual manifestation of the god, Kanaloa.

Humans are terrestrial animals, and our capacity to see and understand the importance and vulnerability of life in the sea has trailed our growing ability to harm it. Our very existence depends upon healthy oceans; dolphins and other cetaceans represent a critical piece to this huge ecosystem and in a world where so much that is wild and free has already been lost to us, we must leave these beautiful mammals free to swim as they will and must.

The Wild Dolphin Foundation is a Hawaii-based grassroots NPO, whose mission is protecting and restoring the natural habitats of dolphins through research, advocacy, public education and conservation and to create culturally-sustainable change in human behaviors which continue to threaten the well-being of dolphins and their host communities worldwide.

"Life in Taiji is not easy, though I can say wholeheartedly that the life of an activist is a good life. " Heather Hill

Follow WDF volunteer Heather Hill's blog "My Porpoise Driven Life" on her journey to Taiji's dolphin killing cove.