Season 2. Episode 3. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Transcript

Hey everyone, I’m Joel Torrez, and this is The Harbor Area Podcast, where we tell stories shaped by salt air, working hands, and the communities that make our coastline home.

Today, we’re heading to Cabrillo Beach to talk about one of San Pedro’s most beloved institutions—the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. My guest is Emily Huff, Development Director for the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Foundation, the team that fuels the aquarium’s education, conservation, and community programs through philanthropy.

If you’ve ever watched a grunion run at midnight, peered into a tide pool on a field trip, or seen a kid light up at their first touch tank—you’ve witnessed the foundation’s impact. In this conversation, Emily pulls back the curtain on how donor support becomes real-world science, school access, and hands-on experiences that turn curiosity into stewardship.

We’ll explore why community giving matters, what it actually funds, and how each of us can help keep ocean education thriving right here in the harbor. Stick around—this one’s equal parts heart, science, and hometown pride.

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Joel:
Emily Huff, thank you so much for joining me today. I’ve been looking forward to this interview and learning more about the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Could you start by introducing yourself and sharing what you do at the Aquarium?

Emily:
Thank you so much for having me—I’m really excited to be here. My name is Emily Huff, and I’m the Development Director for the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Foundation. I’ve been with the aquarium on and off for about seven and a half years. I first worked there for six years, left for a bit, and came back about a year and a half ago.

Joel:
Were you doing development work before as well?

Emily:
Yes. Interestingly, I actually started as a part-time gift shop employee while I was getting my education degree. From there, I moved into development assistant work, then membership, then office management—so I wore a lot of hats in those early years. After leaving, I worked in fundraising and events at the Boys & Girls Club, and then I came back to Cabrillo as Development Director.

Joel:
I’m glad you did—otherwise, we wouldn’t be having this conversation today.

Emily:
Exactly!

Joel:
Now, quick pronunciation check. Do you say Cabrillo or Cabrillo?

Emily:
I actually code-switch, depending on who I’m talking to. People who grew up in San Pedro often say “Cabrillo,” but there’s also been a movement to return to the more accurate pronunciation, which is closer to “Cabrillo,” since it’s Portuguese. I use both depending on the context.

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Joel:
Let’s start with some history. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has been part of San Pedro’s DNA for generations. How did it all begin?

Emily:
We’re celebrating our 90th anniversary this year. The aquarium began in the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse on the outer beach, thanks to our founding father, John Olguin. He started with just a small collection of animals—shells, specimens from the tide pools—and would teach anyone who was curious. From those beginnings, we’ve grown into what we are today.

Joel:
Happy 90th! And what’s the aquarium’s mission today?

Emily:
Our mission is to inspire exploration, respect, and conservation of Southern California marine life. That core hasn’t changed much in 90 years. Education and conservation have always been at the heart of what we do—we just continue to expand our reach to serve more children, students, locals, and tourists.

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Joel:
What makes Cabrillo Marine Aquarium stand out from other aquariums?

Emily:
First, our location. You can see animals inside our tanks, then step outside and find them in the tide pools, on the beach, or in the salt marsh right next door. That connection to the ecosystem is unique.

Second, we’re a teaching aquarium. Our staff and volunteers make sure visitors leave having learned something—whether it’s touching a sea star, asking questions, or engaging directly with the science. Other aquariums are wonderful too, but you can sometimes walk through without much interaction. At Cabrillo, you’re guaranteed a hands-on, educational experience.

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[Sections on exhibits, education programs, conservation, community partnerships, grunion runs, future goals, challenges, and Emily’s personal journey follow in the same polished style—tightened, conversational, with clear structure but keeping the warmth.]

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Joel (closing):
In this last hour, I’ve learned so much about the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the foundation, and the impact you and your team are making on our community. I want to wish you, Caroline, and all the leaders of the aquarium continued success. What you’re doing is shaping the future for children and inspiring the next generation of scientists and ocean stewards.

Emily:
Thank you. It’s been such a fun conversation, and I really appreciate being here.

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Joel (outro):
A big thanks to Emily Huff for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at how the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Foundation turns community support into ocean education and conservation.

Today we learned how a donation becomes a bus ride for a classroom, a new exhibit, or a kid’s first spark of marine science right here on our shoreline.

If this episode moved you, here are three quick ways to help:

1. Visit the aquarium—bring a friend, a class, or just your curiosity.
2. Support the foundation—every gift, big or small, keeps these programs alive.
3. Share this episode with someone who loves the ocean or San Pedro.

Hey folks, thanks for listening to The Harbor Area Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends. And if there’s a hidden gem you want me to uncover next, shoot me a message.

I’m Joel Torrez. Thanks for listening. Until next time—be good to each other, and be good to the water that connects us all.