NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY OF AMERICAN SAMOA Quarterly Report for July-September, 2014 Accomplishments Premiere of documentary film: navigator Nainoa Thompson, and Dan "Swains Island: One of the Last Basta were guests of honor at the Jewels of the Planet" premiere, which was well-received by all attendees, especially the former A full house of 200 people Swains Island residents. The film is a participated on August 21st at the finalist at the Blue Ocean Film Festival Ocean Center for the premier Jean in the People and the Ocean category th Michel Cousteau’s film “Swains November 3-9 in St Petersburg, Island: One of the Last Jewels of Florida the Planet. The film is narrated by and features footage of Jean- Arrival Ceremony for the Worldwide Photo: NMSAS Michel Cousteau exploring the land Voyage of the Hōkūle‘a & Hikianalia and waters of this unique island Jean Michel-Cousteau at the “Swains Island: One of the Last Jewels of the Planet” premier. surrounded by coral reef and an American Samoa received the encompassing a freshwater lake. worldwide voyage voyaging vessel, Written and filmed by Jim Knowlton, Hōkūle‘a and it’s support boat it takes viewers on a tour of the Hikianalia on a Mālama Honua sail that island from the perspective of the will take them around the world by Jennings family, owners of the 2017. The National Marine Sanctuary of island for four generations, and it AS organized the official greeting and incorporates the research findings traditional ‘ava ceremony and greeted of a team of scientists on an the crews of the Hōkūle‘a and its sister expedition to document vessel, the Hikianalia. The greeting archeological artifacts, geological procession involved two traditional Photo: NMSAS history, and reef health. Jean Samoan fautasi longboats, 4 outrigger “Swains Island: One of the Last Jewels on the Michel Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Jim canoes welcoming the vessels, and Planet” film premier. Knowlton, transport to shore where the vessel crews performed a ‘mele” or chant while Photo: NMSAS Ocean Star Program, first swimming lesson. http://americansamoa.noaa.gov/ The Ocean Star program is a 4 week curriculum course where 35 registered kids between the ages of 10-12 attended this past summer. The 4 week lesson plan focused on coral reefs, marine animals, threats, and what we can do to help. The kids participated in hands on activities, field trips, listened to guest speakers from other agencies, and learned how to swim with the American Samoa Aquatics Association (ASAA) during this summer program, as well as had topics such as Ocean Safety, Connection between land and ocean, Marine Debris, marine life and much more. Students took a Pre- and Post- test, to evaluate learning progress during this program. All of the students improved drastically, passing with flying colors! As a culminating event, they shared what they learned and had fun under the sun! the arrival delegation of chiefs, educational facility to commemorate Wyland paints with local students honored this event with a traditional this historical event. ava ceremony. The event was Renowned Marine Muralist, Wyland followed by performances by Swains paints a wall l at the Tauese P.F. National Marine Sanctuary of island community, AS Community Sunia Ocean Center, dedicated to the American Samoa Welcome the College and the crews ended with SSV Seamans crew members of the Hokule’a and their own chant of thanks, more specifically to a “champion for American Samoa Community On August 11th, 2014, the Sea the ocean, Nainoa Thompson in College, and the crews of the visiting Education Association's vessel, the August. Over 100 people attended a vessels. Naino a Thompson, the head ceremony that also recognized the SSV Seamans, arrived in Pago Pago, Polynesian Voyaging Society and contributions of local artist Regina American Samoa. After 3 years of master navigator, delivered Meredith and 3 of her students. A work with Semester at Sea comments, along with the two Association (SEA) collaboration, we total of 85 students and teachers from captains of the arriving sailing Pacific Horizons, South Pacific were pleased with the arrival for a six canoes. The event drew spectators week stay by the SSV Robert Academy, Samoa Baptist Academy from across the island and Seamans tall ship in August. The and Fa'asao High School were widespread press coverage. The present to paint alongside Wyland on NMS of American Samoa organized vessels will continue westward to 6 large canvases. Each school took a and hosted alongside the SEA crew, Samoa and on across the Pacific, completed canvas back to their several days of programs for the ultimately returning to Hawaii in three American Samoan community. Local years Photo: NMSAS Photo: NMSAS Photo: NMSAS Hōkūle‘a & Hikianalia crew with Lt. Gov. Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia crew chanting, asking Wyland painting with local students Lemanu and wife with guests permission to come on shore. http://americansamoa.noaa.gov/ Sanctuary Advisory Council New high school and college students, and Member Orientation Meetings the general community were welcomed on board for dockside tours The National Marine Sanctuary of and day sails. The SSV Robert American Samoa held its Sanctuary Seamans ship and completed Advisory Council meeting in August, programs inspired over 400 people, by where 7 new voting members were providing meaningful personal inducted. New members include experiences that link study and care of representatives for the following seats: the coasts and oceans with their own Fishing (2), Education, Research, futures. Tourism, Diving, and Community-at- Large (East Tutuila). The Council The SSV Seamans is a 134-foot steel meeting allowed sanctuary team Photo: NMSAS brigantine and is the most members to brief the Council on RV Robert C. Seamans crew showing guests sophisticated oceanographic sanctuary programs, the council charter, how to set sail research/sailing school vessel ever council member roles and built in the United States. responsibilities, and council and meeting Improvements in design and operations. Also on the agenda was a equipment, including a wet/dry call to action joint statement developed laboratory and larger library, by the Marine Protected Areas Federal classroom, and computer laboratory, Advisory Committee and the National enhance the SEA academic program. Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils “Destination Marine Protected Areas: Dive American Samoa Exhibit Sustaining America’s Most treasured Opening Ocean Places for Recreation and Photo: NMSAS Stewardship.” The arrival of RV Robert C. Seamans The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa dedicated a new The National Marine Sanctuary of exhibit at the Tauese P.F. Sunia American Samoa and the Polynesian Ocean Center. The exhibit is called Voyaging Society Outreach Event "DIVE American Samoa" to inspire people to explore the underwater The National Marine Sanctuary of world of the sanctuary areas within the American Samoa hosted a community NMS. The display contains a event to bridge understanding on description ofall gear required to Polynesian Voyaging Society's voyaging scuba dive, and a quote by the and navigation education outreach Photo: NMSAS famous marine biologist, her efforts in the territory. On Saturday, (l-to-r) Dan Basta, Sylvia Earle and Jean deepness, Dr.Sylvia Earle, and a September 20 the community were Michel-Cousteau cuts ribbon for Dive Exhibit mannequin wearing scuba diving gear dedication. treated to tours on the canoes, Hōkūleʻa with a beautiful backdrop of American and Hikianalia, and had an opportunity to Samoa’s underwater tropical reef as a learn wayfinding navigating techniques. scene. Dedication of this exhibit was The sanctuary and Polynesian Voyaging led by oceanographer, explorer, Society have a shared goal of “Mālama author, marine biologist, Dr. Sylvia Honua” or care for earth. While the Earle; French explorer, crews were on island, they also visited environmentalist, educator, and film seven local schools which included producer Jean-Michel Cousteau; Fa’asao Marist High School, Lupelele Native Hawaiian navigator and the Elementary, A.P Lutali Elementary in president of the Polynesian Voyaging Aunu’u, Leone High School, Leone Society, Nainoa Thompson; and the Midkiff Elementary, Faga’itua High Photo: NMSAS Director of the Office of National Sanctuary Advisory Council induction School and Matātula Elementary. The August 2014 Marine Sanctuaries, Dan Basta. school visits shared with youth the On September 25th, Kalisi Mausio, importance of ‘caring for island earth’ NOAA-NOS's Coastal Management (Mālama Honua) – how to live representative from Hawaii, used the sustainably while sharing Polynesian Science On a Sphere® to present on culture, learning from the past and from climate change and connecting Mālama each other, creating global relationships, Honua’s mission to a local school in and discovering the wonders of this American Samoa with two schools from precious place we call home. The use of Hawaii. Schools were able to connect via the stars, moon, sun, clouds, ocean Google Hangout. Photo: NMSAS swells, seabird behavior and other natural patterns to navigate traditionally Samoana High School and Farrington High Samoana High School and Pacific School on their first google hangout had been an area of great interest to all Horizon from American Samoa students. connected with Farrington High School (from Hawaii) to share and compare limu (seaweed) found in their islands on Sphere Casting & Google Hangout September 26th. Students shared and Months