Thinking his wanderlust satisfied, Hays married and settled down, only to find himself restless for adventure once again. On Whale Island tells the story of how he packed up three boatloads of supplies, his wife, stepson, and two dogs and moved to a remote island off the coast of Nova Scotia, fulfilling a lifelong fantasy of escaping from the confines of civilization and living by his wits.

On Whale Island tells three stories. In the foreground, we see Daniel who, not unlike one of Peter Pan's Lost Boys, joyfully lives this permanent boy's life. He generates electricity from solar power, creates a toilet seat from whale vertebra, and greets every storm with enthusiasm. But while Daniel is building windmills and funneling rainwater for showers, his spirited son feels isolated and his wife longs for the life they left behind.

Funny, tender, and filled with the details of an unconventional life, this is the story of how the Hays family lived on Whale Island, and how, finally, they had to leave.