Maui resident and marine biology PhD candidate Jessie Hoffman says she’s “always been a little fish.” Originally from Iowa, she grew up surrounded by corn and soybeans. However, her first time in the ocean, she knew she was home. “When I look out at the ocean, I see a big hug, wrapping us all up in joy and magic,” Hoffman said while explaining her work. “My dissertation title, Quantifying the physiological impacts of negative human interactions on humpback whales in the North Pacific, is based on understanding how much people impact the health of humpback whales when they become entangled in fishing gear or get struck by boats.” 

With a Master of Science in marine sciences from Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Hoffman was selected as a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar in 2023 for her PhD research. The scholarship program is run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and it’s how Hoffman ended up collaborating with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, located in Kihei. In 2024, she did a three-month field study with the whales, research that will someday help complete her dissertation.

“I’m looking at the whale’s stress hormone levels, which come from their blubber and their breath, and I’m looking at how their energy use changes when they are entangled,” Hoffman explained. “Researchers have been able to obtain and share a lot of information about entanglements and vessel strikes, a leading cause of whale injury and death. Actions such as improper disposal of gear or debris can lead to whales becoming entangled in fishing lines and nets, which prevents them from swimming, feeding, and breathing properly.” 

Hoffman added, “Interacting with these marine mammals, sharing personal experiences with them, looking into their eyes and them looking back at you—there is nothing like it!  Humpbacks also taught Hawaiians how to voyage. They are a direct representation of Kanaloa, a major Hawaiian god of the ocean. They are ʻaumakua [ancestral guardians] to some families. They sing the songs and provide important ‘ike [knowledge]. We need to be aware of them and what our actions are doing to them. Never leave gear or trash behind in the sea, maintain a safe distance, and please be responsible!”