La ‘Ike Cultural Day and Beach Clean-Up

First thing Saturday May 23, Kahalu‘u Beach Park was bustling with families and friends all eager to talk story with Mayor Billy Kenoi and lend a hand cleaning up the beach.

Cindi Punihaole welcomed the group and extended a special thanks to Mayor Kenoi and his family for joining the effort. She presented him with a special basket woven by Kumu Sam Kama. Accepting the token of thanks, Mayor Kenoi shared some encouraging words with the group. He spoke of his pride in the incredible strength of the community here on the Big Island and the importance of events like this that give back to the ‘āina.

Volunteers of all ages donned rubber gloves and stepped out under the sunny sky ready to clean up the beach. Enjoying great music from Sam Kama, Jaimeson Wong, Jay Moses, Sam Kama Jr., and Lenard Kaniho while they worked, participants spread out around Kahalu’u Beach Park collecting all the unwanted rubbish that was strewn about in the sand.

The volunteers worked so well that before long, the beach was spotless and it was time to eat and be merry. La ‘Ike Day volunteers- Barbara Eldridge, Judy Quimby, Trish Malone, Sandy Kama, Mele Waikiki, and Annabelle Smith shared ‘ono food with all.

This wonderful event had a little something for everyone. Kumu Mele Waikiki taught Palapalai Wili Haku- stringless lei making, Sam Jr. and Sandy Kama taught coconut leaf weaving, George Place shared ‘Ohe Kapala- the making of bamboo stamps, and John Betlach helped with face painting and general clowning around. Of course, singing and dancing was a must as the band played into the afternoon.

For many, this was also an opportunity to gain some more insight into the enormous potential of Kahalu‘u Bay Project. Citizen Scientists conducted water quality analysis, ReefTeachers educated visitors on the precious corals at Kahalu‘u and interested visitors had a chance to look over the Kahalu‘u Bay Master Plan a design completed by University of Washington students in June 2008.

As this celebration of science and culture at Kahalu‘u came to a close, new friendships were forged, bellies were filled and participants joined hands singing Hawaii Aloha while looking out over beautiful Kahalu‘u Bay.

Mahalo to all who participated!

To read more about the Mayor’s visit and Kahalu‘u clean-up visit http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2009/05/24/local/local02.txt .

Photos by R. Magnus

Don’t miss the next La ‘Ike Day at Kahalu‘u Bay

Sunday, June 28, 2009 Noon-3:00 p.m.

Free Lunch 12:00 noon-12:45 at Kahalu‘u Beach Pavilion

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events, ReefTeach in the News | Comments (0)

Jun

2009

Thayer Academy ReefTeachers!

As summer quickly approaches, most high school seniors are winding down and getting ready for a long awaited break from school. This, however, is not at all the case for our most recent ReefTeach participants from Thayer Academy in Massachusetts. With graduation less than a week away, this group of students is kicking their learning into high gear on the Big Island.

Thayer Academy

As part of their senior research project, these ten Environmental Studies students opted to join their teacher Kendra King, for a twelve-day adventure studying Geology, Ecology and Marine Biology on Hawai‘i Island.

In the weeks leading up to their trip the class was very busy preparing for their Hawai‘i Island adventure. They completed their PADI scuba certification, practiced identification of many different reef fish and learned about the geology of this ever-changing Island. Upon arrival, their adventure began in Volcano for a week filled with hiking and lava viewing. They made the trek to Kona for some great scuba diving. The major highlight of their trip was seeing nineteen manta rays during their night dive.

The students dedicated one of their final days in Hawai‘i volunteering at Kahalu‘u as ReefTeachers. The day began bright and early with a training session just after breakfast at their house. Having done quite a bit of scuba diving over the last few days, the group was very interested to learn more about current threats to coral reef ecosystems in both Hawai‘i and globally.

Upon arrival at the beach, they were pleasantly surprised to see four turtles feeding right at the entrance to the water. They split up into groups manning the ReefTeach tent, talking to visitors about the turtles as they entered the water and snorkeling around the bay reminding people to be careful of the coral. Each participant got a chance to try all of the ReefTeach responsibilities.

ReefTeaching was an excellent way for them to impart all they had learned about coral reefs and get a real sense of the urgency of protecting this precious resource. It was clear how much they enjoyed giving back to the Island that has taught them so much over the last few weeks.

Our friends from Thayer were kind enough to leave ReefTeach with some parting words of encouragement:

Thanks for teaching my students about the reef and encouraging them to be more interested and aware of the amazing marine environment. They had a blast~ it was a great hands-on experience for all involved~ Kendra King, Environmental Studies Teacher Thayer Academy

I had so much fun snorkeling and teaching people about the coral and identifying fish! Hang loose Hawai‘i- Kendra, Forks, WA

ReefTeach has been a blast! People love learning about all the the fish and they really seem to be aware of respecting the marine environment. Glad we could help! ~ Molly, from Boston

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Mar

2009

Innovations Students Join ReefTeach

Watch out Wednesdays! As part of an on-going Oceanography Unit, twenty-one fifth and sixth grade students from Innovations Public Charter School are hitting the beach and impressing the masses as our newest ReefTeachers. Every Wednesday morning, led by their teachers Wrayna Fairchild and Amy Dawn, half the class boards a bus for Kahalu‘u while the other half heads to another coastal site for water sampling. It is during these trips that they apply what they have been learning in the classroom about coral reefs, marine food webs, marine debris, and water quality along the Kona coast.

The students spend the majority of time at ReefTeach speaking to beachgoers. They divide into groups of three or four and take turns holding the reference book while the others lead the discussion about coral reef etiquette. They impart their knowledge about turtles and reef fish as well. This week they broke their record by speaking to over sixty people in a half hour! The response has been tremendous. We have witnessed standing ovations and numerous requests for repeat performances. One excited visitor even ran to the car to videotape them in action. She has plans to share it with her second grade class on the mainland.

Despite their huge popularity as educators on the beach, it is clear that one of their favorite ReefTeach responsibilities is the Human Use and People Count. These kids can count! Armed with click counters they collect data on how many people are using Kahalu‘u Bay and how they are enjoying it. They tally people on the beach, swimming, snorkeling and surfing. The data collected is very important for ReefTeach reporting. It allows us to see just how many people are getting exposure to this excellent reef education.

In addition to ReefTeaching, this group is also doing their part to monitor the health of the bay. They take water samples and use their Lamotte kits to test them on site for temperature, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, phosphate, nitrate and coliform bacteria.

These weekly fieldtrips to Kahalu‘u are just one aspect of their Oceanography Unit. There are a number of other exciting fieldtrips planned during the semester. They have already been on a manta ray night snorkel and plankton collection, as well as a visit to Dolphin Quest. They will also be touring the UH Hilo Marine Center and joining a Hawksbill Turtle Education Program. Time spent in the classroom has been great too. They have hosted guest speakers covering various topics like submarines and deep sea animals, humpback whales and watershed demonstrations.

Their semester will culminate with a final research project on one of the topics they have learned about. Students will select a means to make a positive impact in our community for their issue. Some of the ideas already in discussion are creating a coral reef curriculum for educators, hosting a community information night, speaking at city council meetings, and writing letters to the editors of local newspapers. We are so grateful for their continued support at Kahalu‘u and look forward to seeing great things from these up and coming marine scientists! Keep up the good work.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments (0)

Jan

10

2009

Family Support Services of West Hawaii Students Lend a Hand

Wednesday December 10th was a busy day at Kahalu‘u Bay! Reef Teachers were paid a special visit by fourteen students from Kealakehe Intermediate, Kealakehe High School and Innovations Public Charter School. Although most of the students had visited Kahalu‘u many times before, this trip brought special purpose as they pitched in to clean up the beach for all to enjoy. This beach clean-up was a follow up to the in-class training session the students attended in November. During the class, students were introduced to the ReefTeach program and coral reef ecology.

The students arrived around three and gathered at the ReefTeach table where we discussed the importance of protecting our oceans by keeping the beach clean. In addition to affecting the beauty of the beach, trash in the water or washed up on the beach poses a major threat to the health and well being of humans and marine life.

Gloves and trash bags were distributed and the group got to work scouring the shoreline collecting rubbish. They recovered plastic wrappers, aluminum cans, cigarette butts and all sorts of things that would have otherwise ended up as marine debris for many years to come. Many commonly found trash items take a tremendous amount of time to degrade. Studies have shown cigarette filters can take up to five years to break down while aluminum cans take between 80 and 200 years!

We had quite a few honu basking on the rocks. The students got to see the turtles up close and shared what they had learned about the hazards trash on the beach poses for sea turtles. Turtles often mistakenly ingest or become entangled in debris. Ingestion can cut stomachs and cause blockage while at the same tricking them to think they’re full so that they slowly starve to death. Debris washed ashore can also prevent basking behavior or inhibit return to the ocean. Each piece of trash picked up that day could have potentially been a serious hazard for our honu friends.

Overall it was a wonderful afternoon and we are so thankful for all their hard work! It was a great opportunity for participants to enjoy Kahalu‘u and educate others about the importance of disposing of trash properly. Many beachgoers were encouraged about the great job the students were doing. For more information about marine debris and how you can help, visit www.marinedebris.noaa.gov.

References:

Gulko, David and Karen Eckert. Sea Turtles: An Ecological Guide. Honolulu: Mutual, 2004.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program. http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Spotila, James R. Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments (0)

Nov

10

2008

Citizen Science Project Begins!

After months of planning and preparation, the Citizen Science Project at Kahalu‘u Bay is successfully underway! With generous support from Kona Labs Analytical, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency, Citizen Scientists are now collecting water samples twice weekly to monitor chemical and biotic parameters in the water and to expand on testing already done by the Department of Health.

The first training sessions were held on Tuesday, October 14th and Thursday, October 16th with Kahalu‘u Bay ReefTeach volunteers. Dr. Richard DeVerse of Kona Labs demonstrated proper sample collection and documentation. ReefTeachers then had the opportunity to practice sampling in each of the sample locations. Over the last two weeks, student ReefTeachers from West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA) and The Foundation School at University of the Nations have joined the effort to become Citizen Scientists.

Participants collect samples on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at three predetermined sites in the bay. Citizen Scientists are responsible for collecting water samples using proper sampling protocol learned during training. Once collected, water samples are labeled and observations about water clarity, tide level, and weather conditions are annotated. Samples are then transported to Kona Analytical Labs for analysis; samples are not only tested for traditional water quality parameters but are also screened for washing detergent fluorophores and human pharmaceuticals.

We are hopeful this near shore water quality monitoring will help determine the effects of the surrounding coastal development on the water in Kahalu‘u Bay, including the effects of surface run-off and subsurface flow of pollutants into the shallow bay ecosystem. Over time, this data could also help to identify fluctuations and trends in water quality that may be associated with human activities.

This community-based environmental monitoring is a great opportunity for participants of all ages to learn how to properly collect water samples and, more importantly, understand the lab results and their implications. If you would like to become a Citizen Scientist or would like to learn more about this project, contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, or contact Caroline Neary at cneary@kohalacenter.org.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments (0)

Oct

15

2008

Starbucks Adopt A Day

Tom Madden, Shelley Steele, Bree Madden, Susan Nixon, Aaron Steurer and Kara Saunders join ReefTeach

Bright and early Saturday, September 27^th, employees from Starbucks Coffee joined ReefTeachers at Kahalu‘u as participants in the ‘Adopt A Day at Kahalu‘u Bay’ program. The Adopt A Day program encourages local businesses to send their staff to assist ReefTeach in educating visitors about proper reef etiquette.

Our Starbucks friends arrived laden with beverage dispensers full of ice coffee and ice tea, and ready to share. The day kicked off with a training session about our display set up, coral reef ecology and green sea turtles. The group asked great questions about the historical significance of Kahalu‘u Bay and the diverse marine ecosystem. The new ReefTeachers waded into the water and enthusiastically engaged snorkelers and swimmers with the ReefTeach Reference Books.

By sharing complimentary beverages as a gesture of Aloha, Starbucks did something very special for people at the beach that day. Their presence was felt all throughout Kahalu‘u. Our full service ReefTeach display was a big hit. Visitors sipped cold beverages as they browsed the storyboards and other outreach materials.

Stay tuned for the next Starbucks Adopt A Day! This will be a quarterly event and we look forward to Starbucks’ return to Kahalu‘u Bay.

Interested in Adopt a Day? Your organization can make a difference, one day a week, one day a month, or one day a year! Training sessions can be held either at our facilities or at your location. For more information about Adopt A Day please contact Caroline Neary, at 345-0238 or cneary@kohalacenter.org.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments (0)

Oct

03

2008

Cindi Punihaole on “Na Oiwi Olino” Radio Talk Show

On September 24^th, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs invited Cindi Punihaole to join their radio talk show “Na Oiwi Olino” (People Seeking Wisdom). This was a live broadcast that aired across the State on Talk Radio AM stations. During the two-hour talk Skylark and Kimo Kahoano asked Cindi a variety of questions about The Kohala Center and her role as the Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, a position that she commonly refers to as “the best job on the Island.”

They discussed the formation of The Kohala Center as a response to the community’s wish to create greater educational opportunities for residents and to diversify the economy by preserving and enhancing the Island’s natural environment. Cindi described how, since its inception in 2001, The Kohala Center has successfully formed regional, national and international partnerships and helped create a collaborative community of scholars here in Hawai‘i. She mentioned The Hawai‘i Island School Gardens Network, The Puana Ka ‘Ike Lecture Series, and the Mellon-Hawaiʻi Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship as just a few examples of the many educational opportunities currently available Island wide.

Particular attention was paid to The Kahalu‘u Bay Project and its role in educating our children and preserving our lands for generations to come. Cindi explained the cultural significance of Kahalu‘u Bay and the many efforts underway to protect and restore its natural resources. She discussed the success of the ReefTeach Program and how volunteers are working everyday to educate visitors about proper reef etiquette. Through programs like Adopt a Day at Kahalu‘u Bay and Train the Trainer, ReefTeach is not only raising awareness about the areas essential to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, but also empowering “aloha ambassadors with and making a lei around the world.”

In closing, Cindi introduced the 2^nd Annual Bay Concert on November 22, 2008. She shared how this concert directly benefits the preservation and restoration of our beloved Kahaluʻu Bay and Beach. She welcomed the community to help support the Bay Concert in the form of sponsorship. For more information about the Bay Concert, or about becoming a sponsor, visit www.kohalacenter.org/bayconcert08 or contact Cindi at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org

This was truly a wonderful show during which both Cindi and The Kohala Center were honored for the education and empowerment they have helped bring to Hawai‘i Island. To listen to the program in its entirety you can visit http://am940hawaii.com/ads/naoiwiolino.html and click the September 24th Broadcast. You may need to download Windows Media Player to hear the selection. Her interview begins about a third of the way through the broadcast.

The Nā ‘Ōiwi ‘Ōlino Radio Network can be heard on O’ahu, on Maui on KNUI-AM 900 and on Hawai’i Island on KHLO-AM 850 in Hilo and KKON-AM 790 in Kona. The “Best of Nā ‘Ōiwi ‘Ōlino” is aired each Saturday in Las Vegas on KLAV-AM and each Sunday on several FM stations throughout Hawai’i including KCCN 100.3 and KINE 105.1 on O’ahu; KPOA 93.5 on Maui; and KAPA 100.3 and KAGB 99.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach in the News | Comments (0)

Sep

28

2008

New Materials in ReefTeach Suitcase

Here is a list of some of the new things to keep an eye out for in the suitcase:

There is now a tide table attached to the clipboard. This will help us have a more accurate idea of the tide level for our data collection.

There is a cruise ship schedule on the clipboard as well. We have some busy boat weeks coming up!

We have new plastic display sleeves for our educational brochures.

We have added 3 new waterproof fish id books to the suitcase (the old ones are still fine, just a bit faded). Please feel free to bring them in the water with you as a tool to engage visitors.

We now have a booklet called Making a Difference- An Action Guide to Marine Conservation in Hawai’i, this is a great resource for what to do and who to call for any ocean related issues. If you need any phone numbers for turtle issues, DAR, DLNR etc. this is the place to look.

You will also see some colorful bookmarks in the basket with the Kahalu’u brochures. They are left over from the Coral Reef Taskforce and have some great information about protecting our marine environment. These are available for all to take.

If you have additional suggestions for materials that you would like to have put in the locker or suitcase, please email Caroline at cneary@kohalacenter.org.

By admin | Posted in Organizational Matters | Comments (0)

Sep

23

2008

Fishing Technology Letting Turtles off the Hook

All 7 species of sea turtles in the world are listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The green sea turtle (Chelonia Mydas), the most commonly spotted turtle at Kahalu‘u Bay and other locations on the island of Hawai‘i, is considered Endangered. Sea turtles have a number of factors that contribute to this status, including the destruction and alteration of their habitats, bycatch in commercial and recreational fisheries, entanglement in marine debris, nesting threats, fibropapilloma tumors, and strikes by vessels.

Currently, fishing activities represent one of the greatest threats to sea turtles worldwide. With modern fishing practices, it is estimated that thousands of kilometers of nets and lines are set in the world’s oceans daily. Turtle excluder devices (TED’s) greatly reduce the mortality of sea turtles incidentally captured in the shrimp trawl fishery – since 1989 the U.S. is required by law to embargo shrimp harvested in commercial fishing practices that may impact sea turtles.

However, juvenile and adult sea turtles are often incidentally caught in long-lines used for the capture of open ocean fish species, and may drown as a result. Up to 250,000 loggerhead and leatherback turtles are caught every year on long-lines that are set to catch tuna and swordfish.

Fortunately, in the wake of these staggering statistics, the fishing industry is incorporating new technology and working co-operatively to reduce these threats to marine turtles. A recent study released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), demonstrates the benefits of using circular hooks in place of the classic J hooks typically used in long-line fishing practices.

Circular hooks are less likely to be swallowed by turtles than traditional J-shaped hooks, and they are easier to unhook from a snagged animal. Data gathered over four years in eight countries in the Eastern Pacific showed that circular hooks resulted in a reduction of up to 89% in marine turtle bycatch per thousand hooks. In the same study, it was found that 95% of all turtles caught in long-line fishing were recovered alive and circle hooks did not decrease catch rates for the intended fish species.

Using this improved technology in conjunction with adequate training and tools to release turtles accidentally hooked, marine turtle bycatch can be dramatically reduced without impacting fishing activity. This calls for an optimistic outlook for the future of long-line fishing.

References:

Gulko, DA and Eckert, KL. (2004) Sea Turtles: An Ecological Guide. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, HI. 128 pp.

NOAA Office of Protected Resources (2008). Retrieved September 7, 2008 from http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/.

World Wildlife Fund (2008, August 27). Fishing Technology Letting Turtles Off The Hook. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/08/080825212118.htm.

World Wildlife Fund. (2007, November 9). What is ByCatch? Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.smartgear.org/smartgear_bycatch/index.cfm.

By admin | Posted in Coral Reef Science | Tagged coral, Coral Reef Science, fishing | Comments (0)

Sep

22

2008

Locker Clean Out and Other Organizational Matters

We are actively working to make the set-up at Kahalu‘u a little easier. Here are a few changes that we have made. Let’s see how they go!

The storyboard stands have been re-fitted and glued. The stakes should no longer fall out of the base and we are hopeful they will be easier to manage now that they are shorter.   A BIG THANKS to Ken and Barb Pool for putting the time into this.

Ken also designed new type of stand for us to try out. He has removed the stakes from one set of stands and in their place has cut grooves that fit the white boards perfectly. You can just slide them in and the boards stand straight up. This set of stands is much less cumbersome to carry. We tried it out today and they worked great.   Please give them a try and see how they work for you. Again, mahalo Ken and Barb for all your help.

The suitcase has been cleaned out. It is now lighter and, hopefully, easier to maneuver. There is a plastic basket inside that can be used to hold the brochures on the picnic table. There is a pencil sharpener and extra erasers in the pencil bag.

The extra nametags and lanyards can now be found in the plastic drawers inside the locker. There will soon be a list of all the supplies located in the drawers posted inside the locker. If you need any extra pencils or such let Caroline know.

The locker has been cleared out a bit.   There is now only one box with ReefTeach shirts. There is an inventory list inside and I will keep it accurate so we have plenty of shirts for visiting groups. This should help to make it easier to fit all the supplies inside.

By admin | Posted in Organizational Matters | Comments (0)

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