The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area (SBCWHA) is proud to announce a heartfelt contribution to marine science and conservation: the naming of three individually recognized whales—a blue whale, a gray whale, and a humpback whale—each honoring remarkable community leaders whose lives have been intertwined with our ocean.
These gifts support the research and cataloging efforts with Cascadia Research Collective, American Cetacean Society-LA Chapter and Happywhale. By contributing funds to these organizations, we are empowering researchers, educators, and citizen scientists with vital information about whale movements, migration patterns, and long-term health. And it celebrates the people in our community who have championed our waters for decades.
Three Whales, Three Legacies: The Power of Personal Connection in Ocean Conservation
Blue Whale – Hiroko Benko
Named in honor of the owner of the Condor Express, this blue whale symbolizes Hiroko’s dedication to sharing the magic of the Santa Barbara Channel with thousands of residents and visitors with all year-round whale watching opportunities.
John Calambokidis, lead researcher at Cascadia Research Collective was excited to share, “we’ve identified a wonderful candidate for the name Hiroko: blue whale ID 785. Although we haven’t confirmed her sex through sampling, her behavior strongly indicates she’s female—she has been documented in the lead position of blue whale pairs five times, a role more than 98% associated with females. First sighted in the Santa Barbara Channel in 1992, she has since been seen 37 times from San Diego to Baja and as far north as southern Oregon, including a recent appearance on June 29–30, 2024, observed by both Cascadia Research and the Condor Express. She was even paired with the well-known whale Fred (ID 1139), named after Fred Benko, back in 2013.
Gray Whale – Greg Gorga
Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Greg has spent years preserving our maritime heritage and supporting the expansion of ocean education. This Pacific gray whale, CRC-718, now named GG, is a traveler of thousands of miles each year, mirroring Greg’s tireless journey to connect our community with the stories and stewardship of our marine environment. GG, the gray whale was first seen in 2001, and was seen in 2006 off of San Miguel Island, Channel Islands National Park and most recently in January 2025, photographed by Alisa Schulman-Janiger. Alisa is the Director/Coordinator of the full-season shore-based ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project (Point Vicente) since 1984. She, along with Alie Perez from Cascadia Research Collective, were thrilled to help us find the perfect whale to name in honor of Greg. This gray whale was confirmed female and sighted with a calf in 2024, and therefore represents a beacon of hope amid the challenges facing the declining gray whale population.
Humpback Whale – Lillian Mae Connally
Named and sponsored by Cherryl Connally, President of Island Packers, this humpback honors her late mother, Lillian Mae, who—alongside Cherry’s late father Bill—founded Island Packers back in 1968. Lil’s legacy built a lasting bridge between people and the Channel Islands, inspiring generations to discover and care for the ocean and the Channel Islands. On November 23, 2025, Cherryl joined the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area’s chartered cruise, where CRC-22850 delighted the 105 passengers on board. This whale spent over an hour feeding close to Island Packers’ Island Adventure, offering an extraordinary moment that felt like a beautiful connection between generations of ocean-loving families.
Why Naming Whales Matters
At its heart, naming whales is about more than recognition. It’s about connection. When we personalize individual whales—when a blue whale is no longer “CRC-#####” but Hiroko Benko—people feel a deeper sense of responsibility and empathy.
Scientific studies and years of community experience show that personal stories foster action. A named whale becomes your whale:
• You follow its sightings.
• You care about its well-being.
• You advocate for the protections it needs.
For researchers, naming also supports data collection and public engagement. It turns science into storytelling—making migration maps, life histories, and conservation challenges accessible and compelling to all ages.
Strengthening Conservation Through Community
By naming these three whales, the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area is supporting both scientific understanding and community connection. Each name carries a legacy of stewardship, inviting all of us to see whales not just as species, but as individuals with stories worth cherishing.
When we recognize whales as unique beings, we deepen our commitment to safeguarding the habitats they depend on—from reducing ship strikes and noise pollution to protecting feeding grounds and migration corridors.
This is what the Santa Barbara Whale Heritage Area stands for: honoring our past, engaging our present, and inspiring collective action for the future of our ocean.
Together, We Protect What We Love
We invite you to join us in celebrating Hiroko Benko the blue whale, Greg Gorga-GG, the gray whale, and Lillian Mae Connally the humpback whale. Their names remind us that conservation is personal—that every whale has a story, and every person has a role in protecting the Santa Barbara Channel and its extraordinary wildlife.
These three newly named whales now further the growing mission of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area by supporting ongoing research on the whales that call the Santa Barbara Channel home. Additionally, the two humpback whales named in 2024—CRC-12290 Jean-Michel Cousteau and CRC-21686 Mimi Michaelis—were both re-sighted this past year, making any whale watching trip especially meaningful when one of these familiar, beloved whales appears once again.
Together, we can ensure these whales—and all who venture out on a local whale watching boats—continue to thrive for generations to come.
Holly Lohuis, Luisa Hyatt, and Adam Ernster
SBCWHA team