Saturday, September 21, 2019—With a mass coral bleaching event currently underway across the Hawaiian Islands, we are offering free ReefTeach orientations to give community members information they can use to reduce their impact on coral reef ecosystems, and to share that knowledge with their families, friends, fellow community members, and visitors.

Led by Kathleen Clark, our marine stewardship and education specialist, the sessions will educate attendees about the importance of marine ecosystems to communities in Hawai‘i and around the world. She will also provide basic information about the biology of coral reef ecosystems, how to engage respectfully with marine life, current threats to coral reef health, and what people can do to reduce stress on these vulnerable and vital natural resources.

Our Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center offers on-site education every day that Kahalu‘u Beach Park is open, reaching more than 53,000 park visitors and community members each year through its ReefTeach community outreach and volunteer program. ReefTeachers are “ambassadors of aloha” who welcome residents and visitors to the park, teach visitors proper reef etiquette, help them reduce their impacts on water quality and the fragile marine ecosystem, and conduct monitoring and data collection to track the bay’s health.

Attendance is free and advance reservations are not required. Contact Kathleen Clark at kclark@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411 for more information.