Feb
25
2010

Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Adopt a Day at Kahalu‘u

We are very excited to welcome Vivian Landrum, Carrie McKnight, and Cathy Spitzenberger of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce as new ReefTeachers. The Chamber embarked on their first ReefTeach adventure when they Adopted-a-Day at Kahalu‘u on Friday, January 29th.

Despite the potential threat of beach closure from big surf, these ladies would not be discouraged and arrived bright and early Friday ready to ReefTeach. They not only assisted with normal ReefTeach set-up but also contributed a few of their own resources to the display. This was a great opportunity for visitors to the beach to learn about all of the great services that the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce provides. The Chamber monthly newsletter was available for viewing as was their annual member magazine-The Source: A Guide to Business & Lifestyle in West Hawai‘i.

These new ReefTeachers jumped right in and got their feet wet. The Chamber group was so successful at ReefTeaching it was hard to believe this was their first experience. Vivian and Cathy talked with new snorkelers while entering the water, sharing with them the ReefTeach reference books and fish identification cards. Carrie assisted ReefTeach volunteer Dick Shlegeris, sharing turtle facts with the quickly growing crowd. The turtles were a big highlight for many visitors that day as quite a few gathered in the shallow tidepool areas to feed. At one point we counted 10 turtles resting close to shore! The day turned out to be pretty busy at Kahalu‘u as volunteers counted over sixty people snorkeling and close to two hundred people on the beach at noon.

The three hours spent ReefTeaching went by so quickly, no one even realized it was time to pack up. A total of 95 visitors to the beach that day were ReefTaught. We are truly grateful to the unyielding support the Chamber has shown ReefTeach and the Kahalu‘u Bay Project. We look forward to a repeat visit in the months to come.

For more information about the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce visit www.kona-kohala.com. The Chamber kindly shared a number of copies of The Source magazine with ReefTeach for visitors and residents to view. Please contact Caroline if you would like a copy.

Interested in Adopting a Day at Kahalu‘u - Your organization can make a difference—one day a week, one day a month, or one day a year! Contact Cindi at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org or Caroline at cneary@kohalacenter.org.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Dec
13
2009

ReefTeach in the Christmas Parade

The ReefTeach golf cart underwent an exciting holiday transformation Saturday, December 12th with the help of some very enthusiastic volunteers. For the last few months, we have been looking forward to the opportunity to participate in the 25th Annual Kailua-Kona Community Christmas Parade and the day finally arrived!

The preparation started early Saturday morning with the golf cart being loaded onto a flatbed tow truck and making the journey from The Keauhou Beach Resort to the Kona Kekuaokalani Gymnasium. Volunteers were ready with 30 empty boxes wrapped in Christmas paper and a vision of the decorating scheme.

That afternoon, Barbara and Mike Tschop, Connie and Gary Monell, Ken and Barb Pool, Linda and Leroy Prange, Danelle Rickels, Lisa Bidinosti and Caroline Neary met at the gym and went to work. All the roof support posts were wrapped as candy canes with red and white streamers. Presents were loaded onto the roof and secured with tape and ribbon. Cardboard fish were strung along the roof. Masks and snorkels were hung from the posts. Fins were secured to the back deck and the front end was wrapped in Christmas paper. The final touch was adding palm fronds to the roof.

Before the parade began we had the chance to check out all the different entries while waiting in the line-up. With well over 70 entries, this parade had something for everyone. Floats, trucks, cars, carts, dancers, singers and even a gecko proved very entertaining. As the 38th entry, the ReefTeach cart was positioned behind the students of Innovations Public Charter School (many of whom are veteran ReefTeachers).

As we made our way through the parade route we waved at enthusiastic supporters. Candy and bubbles were a big hit amongst keiki and holiday cheer was shared with all. Announcers introduced ReefTeach and the work we do at Kahalu‘u Bay at eight different stations throughout the parade. One announcer even encouraged all the students watching the parade to apply for the Kohala Center’s Brown University Leadership Lab scholarship.  If you’d like to learn more about this scholarship click here.

This wonderful night came to a close as we loaded our trusty golf cart back onto to the flatbed and took it home to sleep. Great times were had by all.  Stay tuned, ideas about next year’s decorations are already in the works. For more information about the Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade click here .

We would also like to extend a special thanks to the staff at the Keauhou Beach Resort for their support getting the golf cart ready for its journey.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments Off
Dec
08
2009

Raising Awareness About Water Quality Monitoring


Awareness about the importance of water quality monitoring at Kahalu‘u has been growing tremendously over the last few months. One event that helped this along was the Girls Exploring Math and Science (GEMS) day at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort on October 29th. Organized by the American Association of University Women Kona Branch, this annual event hosts 300 fifth grade girls from all over the Island. The students gather for the day attending hands-on exhibits and workshops led by professional women in the community.Workshops focus on science, math and technology helping to stimulate the girls’ interest in these subjects.

Samantha Birch, Caroline Neary and Cindi Punihaole participated in this year’s GEMS event with a marine science exhibit for students and a Citizen Science parent/teacher workshop. This was a great opportunity to discuss Citizen Science accomplishments over the last year. Teachers and parents practiced sampling and discussed reducing run-off and pollution of near shore ecosystems. Handouts and online resources were shared with the participants. It was great to see how much these teachers wanted to share with their classes. For more information about GEMS and AAUW click here.

Even more recently, as part of the Kohala Center’s Hawai’i Island Meaningful Outdoor Experiences for Students (HI-MOES) program, 14 teachers and about 600 students are beginning to design research projects that include water quality monitoring at Kahalu‘u. HI-MOES is supported by NOAA’s B-WET funding and focuses on Bay and Watershed education. Students are designing projects that will include testing of salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and nitrate levels. For the remainder of the school year they will be working on these research projects. Support from Citizen Scientists at the beach also be available for students. We look forward to seeing the students performing their research. This will surely bring about more of the much-needed awareness about water quality at Kahalu‘u. For more information about HI-MOES click here.

Photos from GEMS, October 29th.

By admin | Posted in Coral Reef Science | Comments (0)
Sep
14
2009

ReefTeach at LavaKids Aquathon!

Early Saturday morning, ReefTeach joined forces with the LavaKids Aquathon for a fantastic day promoting the health and wellness of our community and Kahalu‘u Bay. Hosted by the Keauhou Beach Resort, this Aquathon preceded Sunday’s Lavaman Triathlon with events for kids of all ages.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteers and County Lifeguards, Kahalu‘u Bay was transformed into race central with an official competitor check-in, medical tent, and swim-run transition area extending through the parking lot. John Simmerman of PATH Hawai‘i served as emcee for the day, providing great race commentary and event information.

The day began with a motivational sports health clinic by Dr. Heather Manley and a ReefTeach presentation about coral reef etiquette and preserving Kahalu‘u Bay. Participants passed around pictures of coral as we discussed how to protect our precious reef ecosystem.

The athletes were then ready for their stretching and warm-up session with the one and only LavaGirl! The race events kicked off with a 200-meter keiki dash through Kahalu‘u Beach Park. Beachgoers and visitors cheered on the little ones as they made they way through the sand. The next event was 7-10 year olds competing in a 50-meter swim and ½ mile run around Keauhou Beach Resort. These courageous athletes didn’t flinch at the high surf conditions as they bolted into the water. In the final event, 10-14 year olds faced an intense 100-meter swim and 1 mile run through the resort.

Each participant received a medal after crossing the finish line. To make this special event even more exciting - awards and raffle prizes were presented by Hawai‘i’s own Bree Wee, who was also available for autographs throughout the day. After the awards ceremony, the young athletes browsed ReefTeach displays while munching on healthy energy snacks. Many helped to build a LavaKids reef display and received honu stickers and ReefTeach brochures.

We look forward to supporting LavaKids next year and are very encouraged by the youth interest in protecting our beautiful Kahalu‘u Bay. For more information about LavaKids and Lavaman Triathlon visit http://www.lavamantriathlon.com/.

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments (0)
Jul
25
2009

Wilderness Ventures ReefTeachers

This summer, ReefTeach volunteer support has been bolstered by groups of young adults from Wilderness Ventures, a travel program specializing in outdoor adventures and personal growth. Amidst a twenty-one day trip busy with sea kayaking, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, and surfing, these eager young adults spent three days experiencing Hawaiian culture and giving back to the community at Kahalu‘u Beach Park. Their trip also includes service work helping to build a home in Hilo.

The first group arrived on June 25th, laden with snorkel gear and ready to share. Over a period of three days they immersed themselves into life at Kahalu‘u. They toured the heiau restoration taking place at Kahalu ‘u. They distributed ReefTeach outreach materials to visitors and stood watch over basking turtles, answering many questions from curious observers. These volunteers particularly enjoyed observing the behavior of snorkelers who had been ReefTaught and those who had not. They recorded this information while snorkeling in the bay.

The second group arrived on July 8th and, in addition to participating in the ReefTeach training presentation, also enjoyed a fantastic presentation by Justin Viezbicke of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. They learned all about humpback whale behaviors and migration and viewed pictures of Hawaiian monk seals as Justin explained the importance of protecting this endemic species. The next two days were filled with ReefTeaching and snorkeling as they all had an opportunity to engage visitors and collect in-water data.

Their time spent working with ReefTeach contributed greatly to the health of the Kahalu‘u Bay. The in-water data collected by both groups proves invaluable as it demonstrates how effective ReefTeaching is. We are very grateful for this service work. Stay tuned for news of the final Wilderness Ventures volunteers visiting next week!

We would like to extend a special thanks to the Snorkel Bob Foundation for generously donating snorkel gear for our Wilderness Ventures ReefTeach participants.

 

By admin | Posted in ReefTeach Events | Comments (0)
Jun
13
2009

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 Hawai‘i 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 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 Hawai‘i 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
04
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 Hawai‘i Island.

Thayer Academy

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 Hawai‘i as well as 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 | Comments (0)
Mar
13
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! ReefTeachers 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 Off
Nov
10
2008

Citizen Science Project Begins!

Citizen Scientists are always prepared!

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 nearshore 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.

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