BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Mechler President Lowana Richardson Vice President Paula Ress, Secretary

Kathleen Bryan Treasurer TOC announces new Hawaiʻi virtual tours on Google Cheryl Langton maps Branch Representative Josie Bidgood, Advisor HONOLULU (May 10, 2018) – New virtual tours of scenic Hawaiʻi sites Development Chair captured by The Outdoor Circle (TOC) are now available to worldwide audiences Diane Harding, Advisor on Google maps. Since last summer while using the Google Trekker device, TOC C. Kaui Lucas, Advisor has been visually mapping various iconic locations known for their rugged natural Nominating Committee Chair beauty, historic/cultural significance and other special qualities.

Directors: “This is one of the most innovative programs that The Outdoor Circle has worked Michael Moskowitz on in its 105 year history and we were delighted to work with Google to Elizabeth O’Sullivan collaborate on this. The project allowed us to capture incredible highlights of John-Carl Watson Hawaii’s unique environmental and scenic locations across the islands and allows people the ability to visit many different spectacular locations virtually. The BRANCHES project also underscores the need to preserve and protect these beautiful green Hawai‘i spaces highlighted by the trekker,” said Winston Welch, TOC’s executive Waimea director. “Our partnership with Google was made possible through a grant from Waikoloa Village the Hawaiian Electric Companies. TOC is grateful for the support of this project to further our organizational mission to advance protection of Hawaii’s unique O‘ahu natural and scenic beauty, advocate for responsible environmental stewardship, Lani-Kailua and promote sustainability in Hawaiʻi.” Kane‘ohe North Shore All of the images were captured by Myles Ritchie, TOC’s programs director, as East Honolulu well as TOC interns Ben Ritchie, Ireland Derby and Richard Jansen. Over seven Mānoa months, they took turns carrying the 50-pound Google Trekker backpack across Waikiki different Hawaiʻi terrains, from lava flows to botanical garden trails and nature parks. The device uses 15 mounted cameras to shoot 360-degree imagery every Kaua‘i 2.5 seconds. It is important to emphasize that the Trekker was not used at “secret” STAFF areas in order to preserve their current conditions and respect the wishes of those Winston Welch who live in these areas. In addition, all locations that were featured had the Executive Director required permits/permission obtained prior to the data being collected. Jacqueline Wah Operations Director At the end of last year, most of the raw image files were sent to Google which Myles Ritchie began the process of editing the images together and uploading to their maps Programs Director feature.

Helping to keep Hawai‘i clean, green, and Below are the new Hawaʻi virtual tours available through the Google map links: beautiful since 1912

1314 S. King Street #306 • Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814 Phone: 808-593-0300 • Fax: 808-593-0525 • Email: [email protected] • www.outdoorcircle.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Mechler President Lowana Richardson Vice President Paula Ress, Secretary

Kathleen Bryan Treasurer Cheryl Langton Branch Representative Hawaiʻi Island Oʻahu Josie Bidgood, Advisor Waimea Nature Park Lyon Arboretum Development Chair Kalopa State Recreation Area Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden Koko Crater Botanical Garden Diane Harding, Advisor Rainbow Falls Waimea Bay Beach Park C. Kaui Lucas, Advisor Manuka State Wayside Wahiawa Botanical Garden Nominating Committee Ka‘u Desert Trailhead Waimea Valley Chair Honomu County Park Akaka Falls State Park Directors: Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Kamukona Lava Flow Ocean Entry Michael Moskowitz Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve Elizabeth O’Sullivan John-Carl Watson Kauaʻi Maui Wailua River State Park Lahaina Banyan Court Waipouli Beach Napili Bay BRANCHES Spouting Horn Park D.T Flemming Park Hawai‘i Poipu Beach Park Waianapanapa State Park Waimea Limahuli Garden & Preserve, National Tropical Botanical Garden Pua'a Ka'a Falls Kalalau Trail Wailua Valley State Wayside Waikoloa Village Ke‘e Beach Kaumahina State Wayside Wet Cave Maui Nui Botanical Gardens O‘ahu Haena Beach Park Iao Valley State Park Lani-Kailua Tunnels Beach Baldwin Beach Park National Tropical Botanical Garden Old Lahaina Prison Kane‘ohe Pihea Trail, Koke‘e State Park Kula Botanical Gardens North Shore Awa‘awapuhi Trail, Koke‘e State Park Pohaku Beach Park Captain Cook Landing Site East Honolulu Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park Mānoa Waipo‘o Falls Trail Waikiki Hanalei Bay Hanalei Pier Kaua‘i Hanapepe Swinging Bridge Salt Pond Park Polihale State Park STAFF Winston Welch Executive Director For more information on this program, visit https://www.outdoorcircle.org/google- Jacqueline Wah Operations Director trekker.html Myles Ritchie Programs Director

Helping to keep Hawai‘i clean, green, and beautiful since 1912

1314 S. King Street #306 • Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814 Phone: 808-593-0300 • Fax: 808-593-0525 • Email: [email protected] • www.outdoorcircle.org