It is with deep gratitude and admiration that we share the news of Hiroko Benko’s resignation as Co-Director of the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area. For the past four years, Hiroko has poured her heart, wisdom, and energy into helping our community achieve something truly remarkable: the global designation of the Santa Barbara Channel as a Whale Heritage Area.
From the very beginning, Hiroko believed in the vision of celebrating our whales and dolphins while bringing people together to protect the ocean that sustains us all. Thanks to her dedication and generosity, the Santa Barbara Channel is now globally recognized as a place where whales are respected and celebrated, and where conservation and community go hand-in-hand. She has helped establish a foundation of collaboration and pride that will carry this initiative forward for years to come.
As we continue this journey, we know that Hiroko’s legacy will remain woven into the fabric of the Whale Heritage Area. The designation we now hold is a reflection of her vision, her passion, and her unwavering belief that whales deserve to be honored and protected and that responsible tour operators, like her business, the Condor Express, need to continue to work together in offering opportunities for people to get out on the water and enjoy their own emotional connection to whales and dolphins.
Hiroko also championed opportunities for young people, supporting efforts to get students from a Title 1 school out on the Condor Express this past March, giving them the unforgettable experience of seeing whales and dolphins in their natural home.
While we will miss Hiroko’s leadership in this role, we are forever thankful for the foundation she has helped create. She leaves us with a lasting gift that will inspire generations, and we are committed to carrying her vision forward as dedicated stewards of the Santa Barbara Channel—protecting the whales and dolphins who call it home, as well as those who rely on its safe passage during their migrations.
Thank you, Hiroko, for everything.
SBCWHA team and steering committee
