Education & Conservation
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2016 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER EDUCATION & CONSERVATION ASSISTING CORALS TO SURVIVE THE FUTURE A STORY ON CORAL page 8 JUNE WAS WORLD OCEANS MONTH page 12 RECENT EVENTS DISTINGUISHED SEA GRANT LECTURE SERIES LECTURE SERIES It was standing room only on April 7, In May, the Waikiki Aquarium hosted when Dr. Ruth D. Gates of the University members of the University of Hawaii Sea of Hawai‘i’s Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Grant College Program for a series of Biology spoke about “The Wonderful classroom presentations that were free World of Corals” as part of the Aquari- and open to the public. A number of um’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Dr. ocean-related issues were discussed, Gates highlighted the threatening including the Ala Wai Watershed, Waikiki conditions facing coral reefs in Hawai‘i Beach management and maintenance, and around the globe, the importance and King Tides, a citizen science coral reef conservation, and how the project documenting high tide events. knowledge of coral reefs could improve Photo Credit: Waikiki Aquarium the ecosystem. Held at Thurston Memorial Chapel, the lecture was supported in party by Professional DIRECT OR’S MESSAGE Programs, Punahou School. MAUKA TO MAKAI s we slip into June, preparations are in Aquarium, along with captive-bred mullet and moi, to help In celebration of Earth Day, on April full swing for the Ke Kani O Ke Kai repopulate the depleted fish populations found there. 23, the Waikiki Aquarium hosted the concert series, which has become a must-go 9th Annual Mauka to Makai Environ- Aevent on the Honolulu summer activities list. Each of the Captive bred fish point the way towards restoring Issue Number 197 mental Expo presented by the Matt Gonser, extension agent for the 2016 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER Department of Health-Clean Water University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program, five concerts features two or three top local entertainers, Hawaii’s reefs to their former state, but critical in this EDITOR Branch and City and County of spoke to attendees abut he Ala Wai with food catered by a signature local restaurant, and perspective is the need to restore or preserve the reef Becker Communications Honolulu Environmental Services with Watershed Partnership. beers, wine and refreshments also available. Run by habitat as well. Hawaii’s coral reefs have been affected ART DIRECTOR support in party by Kamehameha Becker Communications FOWA, this is their main fundraising activity, and tickets by physical damage, pollution, global climate change, Publishing. The Aquarium was among are available at discounted prices to members. So why invasive species, bacterial infections and coral bleach- PHOTOGRAPHERS 15 other organizations that highlighted Finding Dory Waikiki Aquarium not check elsewhere in this issue for concert dates and ing, and it is essential to restore the reefs themselves Monterey Bay Aquarium the impact we all make on water On June 12th, we celebrated the long entertainers and plan on spending an evening under the before undertaking any major fish restocking programs. sources from Mauka to Makai through awaited release fo the new Disney-Pix- COVER PHOTO CREDIT Keiki and their families learned how they stars on the Aquarium lawn? See you there! At the back of the Aquarium, a partnership between Raphael Ritson-Williams special keiki and family activities. ar® film, Finding Dory. Keiki and their can positively impact ocean health by families joined us for special activities, ourselves and University of Hawaii Department of Botany PRINTING Thanks to all who came out in support visiting booths at Mauka to Makai. Reskyu received Finding Dory bags, posters Of course, those of you with small children, and those has, since 2002, been removing alien algae in a of this important topic! and sunglasses and had the opportu- who are still children at heart, will know that the sequel to community wide program. This is the longest alien Kilo i‘a is published quarterly by the University of Hawai‘i and the Friends nity to win advanced screening passes Disney-Pixar® Finding Nemo comes to the silver screen algae removal project in Hawaii, and one of the most of Waikiki Aquarium and is dedicated to increasing the community’s WORLD OCEANS MONTH to see the movie on June 13th. on June 17. Titled Finding Dory, this film focuses on successful, since it measures what species of algae knowledge of the Waikiki Aquarium We celebrated World Oceans Month throughout June with a number and Hawai‘i’s marine life. Dory, the blue surgeon fish of the first film. An article on have been removed and how much. All algae removed of special events highlighting just how critical ocean health is to surgeonfish can be found in this issue, and a new is weighed, giving a scientific underpinning to the Waikiki Aquarium climate, sustenance and recreation. Among the events were beach 2777 Kalakaua Ave. “Nemo” exhibit, featuring the clownfish and anemones project. Elsewhere in this issue, Dr. Ruth Gates Honolulu, HI 96815-4027 clean-ups, special Afternoons at the Aquarium, an Outrigger Resorts PHONE (808)923-9741 OZONE Day, a Painting in Paradise event with artist Patrick Ching, symbiosis, will be unveiled this month in Gallery 1 at the educates us about coral conservation and the ground- FAX (808)923-1771 Aquarium. The popularity of “Nemo” led to a huge breaking approach she and her team at Hawaii Institute www.waikikiaquarium.org and special presentation on key conservation issues from NOAA, demand for clownfish by the pet trade, which were of Marine Biology over on Coconut Island, are doing. WRITE TO US AT [email protected] Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, and other partners. collected from the wild. Demand was so high that The multi-pronged approach to these problems, which © 2016 Waikiki Aquarium Thailand and other countries banned the collection and are being addressed by a group of expert scientists who PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY INKS export of clownfish due to the depletion of their natural collaborate well, and which also involves active Left to right: clownfish populations. Interestingly, all the clownfish in participation of the local community, offers strong hope Gordon Walker, our new exhibit were bred in captivity by our friends at that Hawaii’s reefs can be conserved and, perhaps, one PacIOOS; Lisa MANA‘O Golden, Waikiki Oceanic Institute, and point the way towards a more-sus- day restored to their former glory. Traditionally, the kilo i‘a was an expert of fish Aquarium; Don and marine life. He studied the behaviors and tainable marine ornamental fish industry. The yellow movements of i‘a. The kilo stood at a high Young, Volunteer tangs pictured above are also especially noteworthy: Enjoy your summer! point of land overlooking the ocean to watch for an expected school of fish and steered they are the first yellow tangs ever bred in captivity, also the fishermen in the school’s direction. The success of surrounding the school was by Oceanic Institute, and will be going on display in entirely up to the kilo. various exhibits throughout the Aquarium. Some have Waikiki Aquarium staff sporting fin-tastic Finding Dory gear. also been released onto the reef at the back of the Dr. Andrew Rossiter Director, Waikīkī Aquarium Volunteers helped clean up trash and debris from beach and park areas surrounding. 2 // JULY - SEPT 2016 KILO I ‘A // 3 RECENT EVENTS DISTINGUISHED SEA GRANT LECTURE SERIES LECTURE SERIES It was standing room only on April 7, In May, the Waikiki Aquarium hosted when Dr. Ruth D. Gates of the University members of the University of Hawaii Sea of Hawai‘i’s Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Grant College Program for a series of Biology spoke about “The Wonderful classroom presentations that were free World of Corals” as part of the Aquari- and open to the public. A number of um’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Dr. ocean-related issues were discussed, Gates highlighted the threatening including the Ala Wai Watershed, Waikiki conditions facing coral reefs in Hawai‘i Beach management and maintenance, and around the globe, the importance and King Tides, a citizen science coral reef conservation, and how the project documenting high tide events. knowledge of coral reefs could improve Photo Credit: Waikiki Aquarium the ecosystem. Held at Thurston Memorial Chapel, the lecture was supported in party by Professional DIRECT OR’S MESSAGE Programs, Punahou School. MAUKA TO MAKAI s we slip into June, preparations are in Aquarium, along with captive-bred mullet and moi, to help In celebration of Earth Day, on April full swing for the Ke Kani O Ke Kai repopulate the depleted fish populations found there. 23, the Waikiki Aquarium hosted the concert series, which has become a must-go 9th Annual Mauka to Makai Environ- Aevent on the Honolulu summer activities list. Each of the Captive bred fish point the way towards restoring Issue Number 197 mental Expo presented by the Matt Gonser, extension agent for the 2016 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER Department of Health-Clean Water University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program, five concerts features two or three top local entertainers, Hawaii’s reefs to their former state, but critical in this EDITOR Branch and City and County of spoke to attendees abut he Ala Wai with food catered by a signature local restaurant, and perspective is the need to restore or preserve the reef Becker Communications Honolulu Environmental Services with Watershed Partnership. beers, wine and refreshments also available. Run by habitat as well. Hawaii’s coral reefs have been affected ART DIRECTOR support in party by Kamehameha Becker Communications FOWA, this is their main fundraising activity, and tickets by physical damage, pollution, global climate change, Publishing. The Aquarium was among are available at discounted prices to members.