Kyleigh is a master’s student in marine biology with the Marine Mammal Research Program. Her research focuses on estimating the abundance of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) around the islands of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, specifically targeting the island-associated western community. To do this, she uses photo-identification and spatial capture-recapture methods, which allow for more accurate population-level abundance estimates. Short-finned pilot whales are highly social, deep-diving cetaceans vulnerable to threats from fisheries interactions and anthropogenic noise. Recent studies indicate the presence of multiple subpopulations, or demographically independent populations (DIPs), within the Hawaiian stock. These DIPs experience different threats based on their spatial use, highlighting the need for subpopulation-specific assessments. By applying spatial capture-recapture techniques to long-term photo-identification data, this research produces robust abundance estimates for the western community. These data will improve NOAA stock assessments and support targeted conservation strategies for island-associated pilot whales.