Ocean Awareness Training Offered on Maui

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is offering free Ocean Awareness training on Maui in June.

The four-class series is offered for both commercial tour operators and members of the community and includes educational information on Hawaiʻi’s unique marine environment, local conservation efforts, and ocean awareness basics.

Classes are being offered in Kihei on Mondays and Wednesdays, June 10, 12, 17 and 19; and in Lahaina on Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 11, 13, 18 and 20.  All classes run from 6 to 8 p.m.

The HIHWNMS provided a list of series topics by date, which includes the following:

• Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and 11: How Can a Happier Life Protect Maui’s Giant Manta Rays, presented by Dr. Mark Deakos, Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research, Inc.
• Wednesday and Thursday, June 12 and 13: Papahanaumokuakea and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, presented by Andy Collins, with the NOAA Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument;
• Monday, June 17: Managing Maui’s Dynamic Shorelines, presented by Tara Owens, UH Sea Grant and Anna Benesovska, from the Maui County Planning Department;
• Tuesday, June 18: The West Maui Ridge to Reef “R2R” Initiative: What’s happening mauka to makai to reduce stress to our coral reefs and how you can be a part of the solution.  This session is presented by Tova Callender, from the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, Chris Brosius, from the West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership, and Ekolu Lindsey, with the Maui Cultural Lands;
• Wednesday and Thursday, June 9 and 20: Know Before You Go: How to Access Real-Time Ocean Information on the PacIOOS Voyager. This session includes course field day events that provide hands-on experience with partner organizations.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn about volunteer positions with the sanctuary.  They will learn about activities such as fish, coral and water monitoring surveys, the Ka’anapali Makai Watch program, and the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative.  This session is presented by Melissa Iwamoto, from the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System UH at Manoa.

Online Registration and further details are available at: http://www.oceanawarehawaii.org/.

***Supporting information courtesy Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.