Student ReefTeachers

School is out for the summer, but students of all ages are learning how to protect the reef at Kahaluʻu Bay, Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), and to share that sense of stewardship with all who enjoy it.

Student ReefTeachers educate visitors about reef etiquette—such as avoiding touching and standing on coral, taking anything from the reef, feeding fish, or coming within 10 feet of turtles. They also share what they’ve learned about the many fish and invertebrates living at the bay, practice water quality monitoring, and do data collection and coral reef surveys. The students’ knowledge of the reef and its inhabitants always draws a crowd.

Students draw from the Queen Liliʻuokalani Children’s Center, Junior Lifeguards, Wilderness Ventures, Na Kahumoku, and University of Hawaiʻi … If you know students interested in becoming ReefTeachers, please contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010, http://www.kohalacenter.org/kahaluubay/about.html.

“You can’t beat the office location! We do it because it’s fun. And it’s rewarding to see visitors light up as we try to enrich their experience. They often go into orbit when we show them a turtle.”

ReefTeach Volunteers

Everyday ReefTeach volunteers don their bright blue shirts and arrive at the Kahaluʻu pavilion carrying books, storyboards and signs. They take special care assembling an information tent for beachgoers to enjoy. Their message is clear—help protect the reef!

Volunteers of all ages teach snorkelers and swimmers to identify and avoid touching live coral. They explain to visitors about the different fish and invertebrates, as well as the ecology of the reef. Most importantly, they have fun!

For more about becoming a ReefTeach volunteer at Kahaluʻu Bay, Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), go to the Kohala Center website, or contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010.

Rocky, the Honu

Kahaluʻu Bay on the Island of Hawaiʻi is well known for its clear, shallow water and abundant tropical reef fishes. There are also many green sea turtles (honu) that live in the calm protected waters of the bay. Most commonly seen is Rocky, affectionately named after the area he climbs onto each day to bask. Rocky has been known to lay out for hours on end while countless visitors gather round to take photos.

ReefTeach volunteers play an important role in protecting Rocky and other honu encountered at Kahaluʻu. Everyday ReefTeachers encourage visitors to keep at least ten feet from turtles, not to feed the fish, and to make sure not to step on the coral while snorkeling—all the while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the bay.

Become a ReefTeacher and help keep Rocky and the other reef creatures safe. For more information, go to the Kohala Center website, or contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010.

ReefTeachers are helping protect this natural resource. Run by the Kohala Center, volunteers help educate beachgoers about the ecosystem of coast, reef, and ocean, and how they can support it. ReefTeach positions are free* and open to volunteers of all ages, individual or group, after a one-time onsite training (of about 2 hours).

For more about becoming a ReefTeacher, go to the Kohala Center website, or contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010.

* For large volunteer groups, check with the Kohala Center first about a small donation to help cover costs of extra staffing and related expenses.

Click logo for national Earth Day website

Hawaiʻi is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with an Earth weekend full of events. Here’s a sampling:

April 22   OʻAHU
Sustainability Festival
University of Hawaiʻi Manoa Campus, Oʻahu
UHMearthday@gmail.com

April 22  KAUAʻI
Earth Day 2010
Kauaʻi Community College, Kauaʻi
bain@hawaii.edu

April 23 & 24   OʻAHU
Jack Johnson’s Kokua Festival
Honolulu, Oʻahu

April 24  HAWAIʻI ISLAND (BIG ISLAND)
Earth Day Fair at Keauhou
Keauhou Beach Resort, Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island)

April 24  OʻAHU
Ka Mole o Na Pua Festival
Leeward Community College, Oʻahu
aulii@hawaii.edu

April 23-25  MAUI
Earth Day Service Trip in Haleakala Crater
Haleakala, Maui

Monk Seals at Koki Beach, Maui

On April 17, all over the Hawaiian Islands, volunteers will be counting monk seals—and they could use your help!

The semi-annual count, coordinated by NOAA Fisheries, only happens 2 times a year. All islands participate on the same day at the exact same time to get a snapshot of monk seal numbers in Hawaiʻi and their locations.

What:  7th Semi-annual Main Hawaiian Islands Monk Seal Count
When:  Saturday, April 17th, 10AM – 1PM
Who:  Any interested volunteers must attend a pre-count meeting—meetings are scheduled on each island this week and next—contact your island’s coordinator to RSVP:

Oʻahu—www.hmsrto.org
Maui and Lanaʻi—nicole.davis@noaa.gov
Kauaʻi—(808) 651-7668
Big Island—(808) 756-5961

Talking about Kalo (Taro)

This Saturday (3/13), gifted cultural practitioner Lanakila Mangauil will share the story of the sacred kalo (taro), elder brother to man, at Malaʻai Garden. Come learn the cultural and practical practices of harvesting and cultivating dry-land kalo in this 9am-noon workshop. (Potluck will follow.)

Workshop is free in exchange for 2 hours of volunteering at the garden, or $25. (Also free to any school garden teachers.)

Malaʻai Garden is located at Waimea Middle School, 67-1229 Mamalahoa Hwy, Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island). Any questions, email garden leader Amanda Rieux.

Kauai Coast

The Surfrider Foundation is a national coastal environmental organization, with chapters all over the United States. In Hawaiʻi there are chapters on Oʻahu, the Kona side of the Big island, Maui, and Kauaʻi. The Kauaʻi chapter is extremely active. This winter they sponsored a conference of the expected effects of global climate change on the island—over 200 people attended (an excellent turn out for an island that has only a few thousand households!). Professors from the University of Hawaiʻi gave their views on the validity of the concerns about global warming, as well as concrete things individuals can do, such as driving a hybrid car or taking the bus, or decreasing or eliminating red meat from their diet.

Check back here throughout January to see what Surfrider projects you can get involved with on Kauaʻi. Or contact them directly at surfriderkauai@gmail.com, (808) 337-9977, www.surfrider.org/kauai

To connect with Surfrider chapters on other islands, click here:
Surfrider Kona
Surfrider Maui
Surfrider O‘ahu

ʻAkepa

The Kaulana Manu ʻohana has been busy completing a trail through the kipuka, and removing the relentless invasive species that have taken up residence there. They also work closely with Keauhou Bird Sanctuary to report sightings of the native birds whose habitat they’re restoring—like the endangered ʻAkepa and Hawaiʻi Creeper pictured here.

Hawaiʻi Creeper

Of their many volunteer projects, there’s something for every activity level—trail work is the most rigorous, involving lots of muscle to spread around the cinder and gravel, and to gather rocks for making the trail; invasive species removal is a mild to moderate activity, where you can often sit while working, enjoying the native songbirds; the relaxing task of birding means keeping a keen eye on the forest and recording your sightings on observational sheets.

To become a part of the Kaulana Manu ʻohana, join their volunteer days on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays, 9am-2pm. For more information, contact Virginia Aragon-Barnes, varagon@dofawha.org, (808) 933-3440.

Kaulana Manu

Through the effort of Na Ala Hele Hawaiʻi Island volunteers, Kaulana Manu is being restored to its natural, thriving state. Volunteer work might include removing invasive plants or maintaining sections of trail. Stay posted to find out what’s happening at Kaulana Manu throughout November, and in the meantime check out the Kaulana Manu website.