Every winter the leeward waters of the island of Maui are home to the world's densest humpback whale population. They migrate from cold northern waters to mate, and give birth. A time when the whales and their offspring are at their most vulnerable.

Dr. Rachel Cartwright leads a team of researchers tracking and counting the whales. The current focus of their study; how have the whales been impacted by the devastating fire that swept through and utterly destroyed the seaport town of Lahaina in 2023?