Aloha Reader, I often wonder and sometimes get frustrated about laws that are supposed to protect the natural world and its inhabitants. Why does environmental legislation (like the regulation of manta ray tourism) take so long to implement, even when there's overwhelming public support for it? In this episode of the Ocean Wings podcast, I sat down with Hawaii State Representative Nicole Lowen to talk about what happens behind the scenes. She chairs the Energy and Environmental Protection...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, So many kids say they want to work with animals when they grow up, but most end up doing something completely different. Our newest crew member, Ashley Jacob, didn't. At 12, she watched a movie about a dolphin with a prosthetic tail and decided she wanted to work with marine life in rescue and rehabilitation. Today, she's a swim guide at Manta Ray Advocates while finishing her master's thesis and training students in California to continue the elephant seal research she began....
21 days ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, As we enter 2026, I find myself reflecting on what motivates me after years of working with the manta rays. It’s not only the thrill of encountering the gentle giants underwater - which never loses its magic - but also the realization that people like you genuinely care. It’s inspiring to see that care translates into meaningful action. We can’t do everything, and none of us can be held responsible for the state of the world, but we can all take action in our own way. For me,...
28 days ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, For 27 years now (and counting), I have witnessed people from all walks of life as they meet the Kona manta rays in their natural habitat. The swim can be surprising and, for many, even transformational, and afterwards, at the beach shack, it often leads to deep conversations about life, our planet, and the relationship between humans and nature. For a long time, I've been looking for a way to share these stories - and now it's happening: today, I'm releasing the first 3 + 1...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, I am overjoyed to share the news with you: During the CITES conference, 185 countries voted to give sharks and rays the highest possible international trade protections. Per WCS Newsroom: All CITES shark and ray proposals pass – marking the most comprehensive advance in global shark conservation in CITES history. YES. 🤩🤩 FINALLY! 🥳🥳 12 years ago (June 2013), eight species of sharks and both manta ray species were included in CITES Appendix II, but it was not enough protection....
2 months ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, For the fifth year in a row, we've collected beautiful images of our favorite manta rays for our 2026 calendar. Each month, we feature high-quality pictures and heartfelt stories about our manta friends, who have unique and quirky personalities. For those in or traveling to Hawaii, the calendar also indicates when box jellyfish are likely to reach Hawaii's shores - usually 8-10 days after a full moon. With this calendar to guide you, you can avoid nasty surprises! You can either...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, Manta rays are still mysterious creatures simply because we still know so little about them. Today, I am happy to share a bunch of reading material we've gathered over time to shine a brighter light on the gentle giants—so buckle up. 😊 Here is the beautiful part: humans have increasingly spent time observing and collecting data on manta appearance and behavior, giving us a chance to learn more about them. As recent as July 2025, the discovery (or rather, recognition) of a third...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, One question we regularly receive is whether you can swim with mantas in Hawaii all year, whether they migrate, or do not show up during certain seasons. The short answer seems simple: reef mantas aren't migratory animals, so you can technically come to Hawaii and swim with them year-round... but there's also a longer answer. Manta ray sightings are lower during winter—not because the gentle giants aren't there, but because ocean conditions often turn adverse, making the swim...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Aloha Reader, Have you ever had the feeling that everything you thought you knew about the world just went out the window? The first time that happened to manta ray enthusiasts around the world, was around 2009, when scientists confirmed there was not just one, but two species of manta rays. There were enough differences between reef mantas (Mobula alfredi) and pelagic or oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) to identify them as two different species. Reef mantas are the ones we see almost...
5 months ago • 1 min read