Maui Nui Marine Resource Council

Free Presentation on "Sunflower Farming: A Sustainable Model for Maui's Former Sugar Cane Lands That Benefits Local Coral Reefs
2018-10-03 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Can fields of cheerful golden-yellow sunflowers be a model for creative and sustainable ways to use Maui’s former sugar cane lands that also have a positive impact on Maui’s coral reefs? Come explore this topic at a free presentation by Pacific Biodiesel at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops. The public is invited, admission is free and refreshments will be served.
“Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a local nonprofit that works for clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and restoring an abundance of native fish,” says Robin Newbold, co-founder and chair of the organization. “We strongly believe that coral reef conservation requires a ‘mauka to makai’ (mountains to sea) approach, which means looking at upslope activities including use of our island’s former sugar cane lands. We’re pleased to present this talk about one farming model that ties together sustainable agriculture and protection of our local environment, including the reefs.”
The presenter will be Joy Galatro, marketing director at Maui-based Pacific Biodiesel, a renewable energy company that has devoted the past two decades to keeping used cooking oil out of our local landfill by recycling it into a renewable fuel. Trilogy Excursions and Extended Horizons use this non-toxic, biodegradable fuel (called biodiesel) to help power their vessels for snorkeling, whalewatching and other cruises.
During the past two years, Pacific Biodiesel has converted 200 acres of former sugar cane land in Maui’s central valley into fields of sunflowers, raised without pesticides or herbicides, no GMO crops, requiring little irrigation and home to 15 thriving bee hives. Once harvested, the sunflower seeds are pressed into a full-flavored oil that has won favor by local chefs.
Recently, the company has incorporated the oils into its new Kuleana® natural beauty products line — including its newly launched Kuleana® Sunscreens made from plant-based oils including the company’s Maui Sunflower Oil, minerals, and other reef-safe natural ingredients. The new sunscreen does not contain ecologically harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate – two chemicals known to be toxic to corals and other marine life and recently banned by Hawaiʻi’s new sunscreen law.
In addition to its environmentally friendly formulation, Kuleana Sunscreen aims to support environmental organizations in the state through its membership in 1% for the Planet, a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving.
“We are proud to offer consumers another natural product that aligns with our state’s environmental goals to protect and preserve fragile marine ecosystems, including coral reefs,” said Galatro, “Practicing sustainability and protecting the environment are central to our company’s mission.” For more information, visit Biodiesel.com and KuleanaBeauty.com.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
A Maui-based nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County. Current projects include ocean water quality testing in South and West Maui, work to improve ocean water quality in Ma’alaea Bay, ongoing studies of corals in Olowalu and Ma’alaea, and outreach programs to educate visitors about protecting Maui’s coral reefs. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Free Presentation on Proposed Use of Oysters for Water Quality Improvement in Ma’alaea Harbor
2018-12-05 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
The public is invited to a free presentation on a proposed plan to use oysters to improve ocean water quality in Ma’alaea Harbor during Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 5, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
The presentation will be offered by Rhiannon “Rae” Tereari‘i Chandler-‘Īao, Executive Director and O‘ahu Waterkeeper for Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Islands. It will take place at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops, 300 Ma’alaea Road. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
Oysters are filter feeders that remove pollutants from the water column including sediment, bacteria, heavy metals, PCBs, oil, microplastics, oxybenzone, and other harmful sunscreen-related chemicals. Oysters also digest the type of bacteria that cause skin-borne illnesses such as Staph and MRSA. These oysters are for restoration, they cannot be consumed. Oysters for consumption are grown in clean water only.
Oysters are currently at work in harbor waters of New York and New Jersey, where Waterkeeper Alliance member projects have installed more than 42 million oysters to help clean the water and protect the coastline from wave action. Similar efforts are also being employed in Baltimore’s Chesapeake Bay to improve ocean water quality.
Pacific oysters, the type of oyster considered for the pilot project in Ma’alaea Harbor, were originally introduced by the State in the 1950’s and 1960’s and are found in locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Adult Pacific oysters can filter more than 50 gallons of water per day. The proposed pilot project would involve the installation of approximately 1,000 oysters in cages beneath the docks of Ma’alaea Harbor away from boat traffic. Trained staff and volunteers will monitor the oysters to evaluate survival rates and their success in improving water quality. The oysters will be triploids, which are sterile and unable to reproduce. At the end of one year, the pilot project will yield a report to help determine the feasibility of expanding the project within the harbor.
“In 2017, Hawai‘i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) conducted a successful grow trial using Pacific oysters,” says Chandler-‘Īao “This DAR study, conducted in West Loch, demonstrated the oysters’ ability to remove various pollutants water column. We’re excited to see what is possible to improve conditions in Ma‘alaea Harbor.”
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is partnering with Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Islands to conduct the one-year pilot oyster project in Ma’alaea Harbor. The project is part of MNMRC’s overall plan to address land-based impacts to water quality in Ma’alaea Bay. Recently, MNMRC commissioned and funded a study of the watershed that drains into Ma’alaea Harbor. With the study in hand, the nonprofit is now evaluating recommendations for action steps, and will be selecting those that can be implemented in 2019 and beyond. “We are looking at ways we can work upslope to improve water quality throughout Ma’alaea Bay,” notes Amy Hodges, Programs Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, who has been meeting with local landowners, MECO, Hawai‘i’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Ma’alaea Community Association, and others to talk about ocean water quality in Ma’alaea.
“Ma’alaea Bay is home to a popular surf break, beaches, a sea turtle feeding area, fishing areas, and coral reefs both inside and outside the harbor,” says Hodges. “Improving water quality in the harbor will benefit recreational users of the area and help marine wildlife.”
At the meeting, MNMRC will provide information on new volunteer opportunities associated with this project, including helping MNMRC regularly monitor the oysters and clean the cages to remove excess algae.
Doors will open at 5 pm, with complimentary holiday-themed refreshments. The presentation will begin at 5:30 pm and will include time for questions and comments from the public. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.
About our presenter:
Rhiannon “Rae” Tereari‘i Chandler-‘Īao serves as the Executive Director and O‘ahu Waterkeeper for Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian Islands. She earned a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 2004. After graduating from William S. Richardson School of Law in 2016 with certificates in both Native Hawaiian Rights Law and Environmental Law, she worked as a Post J.D. Research & Teaching Fellow at Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law. Prior to attending law school, Rhiannon served as the Executive Director of the environmental non-profit organization Community Work Day Program, d.b.a. Mālama Maui Nui. While on Maui, she served as a member of the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, and the Steering Committee of Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows Leadership Program.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a nonprofit organization based on Maui, dedicated to healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish. Founded in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year. Some of the organization’s accomplishments include:
• Formation of Maui Coral Reef Recovery Team and the Maui Coral Recovery Plan, the first of its kind in the state.
• Forming Community Managed Makai (CMMA) areas, in which local residents work together to manage their marine resources.
• Creating Hui O Ka Wai Ola in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and West Maui Ridge to Reef. This volunteer citizen-based ocean water quality testing program is now in its 2nd year of testing ocean water quality at 39 locations along Maui’s south and west shorelines every 3 weeks.
To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org

Free Presentation on Using Artificial Reefs and Other Offshore Wave Dissipation Techniques to Protect Eroding Coastlines on Maui
2019-01-02 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Pacific Whale Foundaiton’s Classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops, 300 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku, HI, 96793
Join us at a free presentation on Wednesday, January 2 that will explore artificial reefs and other offshore wave dissipation techniques that could be used to reduce coastal erosion on Maui. The presentation is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting series, which is free and open to all.
The presentation will take place from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops at 300 Ma’alaea Road, Wailuku. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be served.
The presentation will be offered by Dr. Michael Foley, a Professional Engineer and leader of the Resilient Sustainable Engineering (RiSE) team at Oceanit, a company with headquarters in Honolulu that employs more than 160 scientists and engineers.
Considered one of the state’s leading experts on shoreline erosion, Foley has designed artificial reef systems to provide coastal protection and promote coral reef habitats. He has also been a key contributor to understanding issues and identifying solutions for beach erosion and sand depletion.
Dr. Foley grew up on Maui. He is an avid surfer, serves on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Shore and Beach Preservation Association, and volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, specializing in the application of submerged breakwaters (artificial reefs) that provide coastal and harbor protection while simultaneously providing ecological and recreational value as coral reef habitat and surf breaks.
“Many of us on Maui are wondering what can be done about shoreline erosion and the loss of beaches and coastal areas,” says Amy Hodges, Programs Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “Dr. Foley’s talk will explore some innovative options that could be considered to help reduce shoreline loss.”
According to the company’s website, “Oceanit is committed to pursuing responsible solutions to the world’s most difficult problems, blending interdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, and innovative thinking to benefit our global community. Through spin-outs, co-development partnerships, licensing, and direct manufacturing, Oceanit is able to deliver solutions to market. Oceanit calls this practice ‘Mind-to-Market’; delivering deep science to disruptive, real-world breakthroughs.”
With headquarters in Honolulu, Oceanit employs over 160 scientists and engineers in Hawai’i, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C and has built its culture upon values of Ohana, Curiosity, and Community. To learn more, visit www.oceanit.com.

Free Presentation: “Wildfire on Maui: the History, Threat, and Our Collective Responsibility”
2019-02-06 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | Pacific Whale Foundaiton’s Classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops, 300 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku, HI, 96793
Did you know that the area burned each year by wildfire in Hawaii has increased by 400% over the past several decades? Wildfires have an impact on our nearshore ocean environment and coral reefs, which is why Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is hosting a free presentation on “Wildfire on Maui: the History, Threat, and Our Collective Responsibility” on Wednesday, February 6.
The presentation will be offered by Clay Trauernicht, PhD, Wildland Fire Specialist at University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension. It will take place from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops at 300 Ma’alaea Road, Ma’alaea (Wailuku). Doors open at 5:00 pm and complimentary refreshments will be served.
“Over the past decade, an average of more than 1,000 wildfires burned more than 17,000 acres each year in Hawai‘i, with the percentage of total land area burned comparable to and often exceeding figures for the fire-prone western United States,” reported Dr. Trauernicht.
“During my presentation, we’ll use fire science and a bit of history to tackle the how and why of the 400% increase in areas burned by wildfires in Hawaii,” said Dr. Trauernicht. “We’ll also look at the consequences it has for our watersheds and nearshore ecosystems.”
“The short story is that fire on Maui and other islands is a problem we’ve largely created,” he noted. “It is therefore one of the few ‘natural’ disasters we can actually avoid.”
“We’ll consider our options to reduce fire risk and impacts on Maui and how the urgency to take action is increasing under a changing climate,” Dr. Trauernicht reported.
Attendees will be invited to share their questions, experiences and ideas about wildland fires on Maui at the conclusion of Dr. Trauernicht’s presentation.
Dr. Trauernicht earned his PhD in Plant Science at the University of Tasmania and a MS in Botanical Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He completed his BS in Biology at the University of Denver. In addition to many years of botanical and ecological fieldwork, he has published and presented on plant community ecology and population modeling, geospatial analyses of fire and species occurrence, and the use of local knowledge to adapt management strategies and inform research needs.
His current focus is on improving wildland fire management in Hawaii and the Pacific with a strong emphasis on science extension and communication. Dr. Trauernicht is the project leader for the Pacific Fire Exchange, part of the Joint Fire Science Program’s nationwide Fire Science Exchange Network. He is currently working with the Pacific Island Climate Change Cooperative to extend climate science resources to Cooperative Extension programs throughout the Pacific Island region.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Maui-based nonprofit organization celebrating 17 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and an abundance of native fish for the islands of Maui County. In addition to co-managing the Hui O Ka Wai Ola ocean water quality testing program, which tests ocean water quality at 39 locations along the south and west shores of Maui, the nonprofit is working to improve ocean water quality in Ma’alaea Harbor through the use of installed oysters in cages. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is also working in the Pohakea watershed above Ma’alaea Bay to prevent fire and erosion to protect ocean water quality and the coral reefs located in the bay. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Free Presentation: “The Other Side of Coral Restoration: Slow Growing Massive Coral Forms and Land-Based Coral Nurseries in Hawaii” by David Gulko
2019-03-06 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Pacific Whale Foundaiton’s Classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops, 300 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku, HI, 96793
A land-based coral nursery that quickly grows massive coral colonies for replenishing degraded reefs is the topic of a free presentation at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s March 6 meeting. David Gulko, Aquatic Biologist IV and Coral Ecologist for the State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources and Director of the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) Coral Restoration Nursery will present on this innovative program.
The presentation is open to the public and takes place at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Maʻalaea Harbor Shops. Doors open at 5 pm with the hour long presentation beginning at 5:30 pm. Time will be provided to ask and answer questions and free refreshments will be served.
“Most coral nurseries elsewhere focus on in-water growing of fast-growing branching species to relatively small sizes for outplanting,” says Gulko. “Unfortunately, these branching species are more susceptible to stress caused by warming ocean temperatures.”
“While massive coral species are more resistant to bleaching, they are very slow growing in the wild,” notes Gulko.
The State of Hawaii has recently implemented an innovative program which allows for these massive coral species to be fast grown in the Stateʻs land-based Coral Restoration Nursery.
The program involves the collection of small (10 cm) live massive forms of coral colonies mostly from within public harbors. At the State’s land-based Coral Restoration Nursery, they are micro-fragged and then fast-grown into large-sized (42 cm and 84+ cm) massive colonies in a fraction of the time it would take to occur naturally.
“In the wild in Hawaii, these corals would typically grow only 1 -2 cm/year. To grow corals 42 cm would take 20+ years in the wild,” says Gulko. “In our nursery, we are growing massive colonies in a fraction of the time it would take to occur naturally.”
According to Gulko, the resulting large colony modules are then placed onto degraded natural Hawaiian coral reefs in an effort to restore these reefs back towards their earlier ecologically-complex state.
The outplanted colonies are evaluated using the State’s Coral Ecological Services and Functions Tool. “We can calculate an offset that can be used by developers and responsible parties to pay for coral and habitat loss incurred elsewhere in Hawaii,” Gulko notes. “The result is a dynamic program to put out large, live coral colonies, paid for without large expenditures of public monies, and without the extremely long natural recovery rates. This program can replace large corals that are normally found in Hawaii in one year instead of decades.”
According to Gulko, the program is now expanding to focus on extremely rare coral species to re-introduce them back into the wild using similar techniques.
Gulko has served as the Director of the State of Hawaii Coral Reef Restoration Nursery for 6 years. He has also worked as a NRDA Aquatic Biologist/Coral Reef Ecologist for the State of Hawaii for 23 years.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a nonprofit organization working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and the restoration of native fish. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.
This photo from January 2019 shows an outplanted 42cm module of Porites evermanni on a reef area that the Hawaii Coral Restoration Nursery has been restoring. In the background you can see a Montipora module that was put out later. This coral was produced in 8 months from 10 cm of source tissue. Photo credit: C. Wolke, Hawaii Coral Restoration Nursery, DAR

Dr. Steven Businger to Speak on “Severe Weather in a Warming World”
2019-08-07 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
A free presentation titled “Severe Weather in a Warming World” will be offered by Dr. Steven Businger on Wednesday, August 7 at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, as part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting. The talk takes place from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Doors open at 5 pm.
This presentation is open to the public and admission is free. Seating is limited so advance reservations are recommended. For reservations, visit https://bit.ly/hurricanetalk
Dr. Businger is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hawaii and has devoted the past 30 years to researching the evolution and structure of destructive atmospheric storms.
“My talk will cover the evolution of recent hurricanes and other severe weather events that have threatened Hawaii, including how and why they form, how their structure affects the hazards they produce, and the role that a warming climate may play in these events,” said Dr. Businger. “I will also cover the similarities and differences between hurricanes and kona lows (a winter half year phenomenon).”
“We are offering this presentation because hurricanes have a profound impact on Maui’s coastal areas, causing erosion, storm surges and damage to homes and property – and possibly to coral reefs,” said Robin Newbold, co-founder and Chair of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “The weather and the future of our reefs are inextricably linked.”
“Right now, we are fortunate to have our local coral reefs providing an estimated $377.1 million worth of protection from storm surges and big waves to Maui’s coastlines every year, according to a recently released study from the U.S. Geological Survey, The Nature Conservancy and UC-Santa Cruz,” noted Newbold.
“However, coral bleaching caused by warming ocean temperatures can make corals weak and brittle, and more likely to be broken off in strong waves,” said Newbold. “If the height of our corals is reduced, we can expect more storm-related damage along our coasts. If sea level rises, it will also be harder for corals to break up big waves.”
“Please attend this talk to learn about hurricanes and severe weather events in Hawaii, so we can all be better prepared and safer,” says Newbold.
A nonprofit Maui-based organization working for healthy coral reefs and clean ocean water, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council hosts monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month featuring guest presenters speaking on issues, ideas and new advances relating to Maui County’s nearshore ocean environment. The meetings are free and open to all. Maui Ocean Center generously donates space for these monthly meetings at The Sphere, its new high-tech facility featuring advanced audio and visual projection and comfortable movie-style amphitheater seating.
About Dr. Steven Businger:
Dr. Steven Businger is Professor and Chair of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hawaii. He has made notable contributions to the atmospheric sciences in several important, yet diverse areas. For the past 30 years Professor Businger has been active in researching the evolution and structure of destructive atmospheric storms, resulting in fundamental contributions to our understanding of the formation of storm systems in cold air streams and in the tropics (e.g., Kona lows and tropical cyclones). To date he has over 80 peer-reviewed journal publications, published 2 academic textbooks, and seven book chapters.
Dr. Businger was elected Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in 2010. He is an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist, and in 2011 Professor Businger received the UH Mānoa Chancellor’s Citation for Meritorious Teaching.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
An award-winning, community-based organization, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is celebrating 11 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council co-founded and co-manages Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a unique volunteer-based ocean water quality monitoring program that gathers data at 39 shoreline locations in South and West Maui. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is working to restore clean ocean water at Ma’alaea Bay, through a pilot program to use oysters to improve ocean water quality in Ma’alaea Harbor and through upslope projects in the adjoining Pohakea Watershed. The organization also sponsors visitor education programs to encourage respect, protection and responsible use of our local coral reefs. To learn more visit www.mauireefs.org.

Presentation by Dr. Paul Brewbaker: “Overtourism and Sea Level Rise: Some Economic Dimensions”
2019-09-04 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
On Weds., Sept. 4, Maui residents and visitors will have the opportunity to attend a free presentation by Hawaii’s best known and most-quoted economist, Paul H. Brewbaker, Ph.D. and CBE, speaking on some of the economic dimensions of overtourism and sea level rise in Hawaiʻi.
This free talk is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting. It takes place from 5:30 pm to 7 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center in Ma’alaea. Doors open at 5 pm and admission is free, but advance reservations are strongly recommended, as seating is limited. Make your complimentary reservation at https://bit.ly/BrewbakerTalk

Paul H. Brewbaker is the Principal of TZ Economics, a Hawaiʻi economics consultancy. His background in research on the Hawaiʻi economy and financial risk analytics stems from a 25-year affiliation with Bank of Hawaiʻi, concluding as its Chief Economist. He is a graduate of Stanford University, did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, and received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Hawaiʻi. He has lectured extensively in international, monetary, and financial economics. He is a member of the American Economic Association, the American Finance Association, and the National Association for Business Economics, from which he holds the Certified Business Economist designation.
“Just as ‘resilience is the new sustainability,ʻ overtourism is the new GMO,” said Dr. Brewbaker. “Decision-makers have jumped to the default public policy intervention: prohibition.”
“Surely undocumented vacation rentals seeking a pathway to citizenship confront us with more nuanced issues to tackle, since what bothers most of us is congestion and natural resource degradation,” he noted. “For both of these negative externalities well-understood economic policy interventions exist; neither externality has anything to do with bigotry (the official name for the assertion that people unlike you ‘are changing the character of the neighborhood’).”
“In this presentation, we explore some of the economic implications of overtourism for Hawaiʻi, and relate economic policy responses to those which confront sea level rise attendant to global climate change,” he said.”Seemingly unrelated policy interventions might prove surprisingly similar.”
“One of the hottest topics on Maui right now is tourism — and how much is too much for our environment and way of life,” says Amy Hodges, Programs Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We are pleased to bring Dr. Brewbaker’s insights and perspective into the discussion, as we look at some of the economic dimensions of tourism and sea level rise for Maui and all of Hawaiʻi.”
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council thanks Maui Ocean Center for providing free meeting space for this event.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Maui-based nonprofit celebrating 11 years of working toward clean ocean water and healthy coral reefs. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Free Talk by Duane Sparkman on “Preventing Ocean Pollution: Proven Alternatives to Herbicides and Pesticides for Your Home, Business and Landscaping”
2020-01-07 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Come learn about ways to prevent harmful ocean pollution by choosing tested alternatives to herbicides and pesticides for your home and business, and all of your landscaping, at a free presentation by Duane Sparkman, Assistant Chief Engineer and Landscaping Manager at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa.
The talk is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” and will take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 5:30 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged, due to limited seating at The Sphere. To make a free reservation, please go to https://bit.ly/DuaneSparkman.
Sparkman offers a wealth of practical first-hand experience about what works to control pests and weeds, based on his years of experience as a professional landscaper, designing and maintaining luxury resort properties and private residences, his work at Haleakala National Park’s Vegetation Management Division and recently, as the Assistant Engineer and Landscaping Manager at The Westin Maui.
At The Westin Maui, Sparkman has successfully implemented measures to reduce the resort’s use of herbicides and pesticides, showcasing alternatives that are safer and more environmentally friendly.
“We are offering this presentation as part of launching the New Year, hoping that more people will resolve to find ways to protect our coral reefs and marine environment by reducing or avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides in their homes, yards and at their places of employment, including golf courses and resorts,” says Robin Newbold, Chair of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council.
Newbold points out that most people don’t realize how porous our soil is on Maui and how readily chemicals from pesticides and herbicides find their way into the ocean, causing harm to fish, birds and corals.
According to the NOAA Ocean Service Education website, pesticides are designed to be toxic to a target organism, but they often kill other organisms as well. “The insecticide azinphos-methyl, for example, which is used to control insects such as biting mites and aphids, is also very toxic to fish and birds.” The website notes that many of the compounds used today are toxic at very low concentrations.
Herbicides also penetrate coral tissues and rapidly, within minutes, can reduce the efficiency of the beneficial algae (zooxanthellae ) that live within the corals, reports the book, Chemical Pollution on Coral Reefs: Exposure and Ecological Effects. The zooxantellae convert the energy from the sun into food for the corals through photosynthesis, providing corals with about 90% of their food. When herbicides enter the ocean, they can cause the corals to suffer due to reduced food availability.
“We owe it to our coral reefs and ocean water to find better ways to manage pests and weeds without adding harmful chemicals to our land- and marine-ecosystems,” says Newbold. “We’re grateful that Duane Sparkman is willing to share his practical, hands-on knowledge and experience with us all.”
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council also acknowledges and thanks Maui Ocean Center for providing free meeting space at The Sphere for this event.
About Duane Sparkman:
A resident of Maui since 1995 arriving here from Texas, Duane is an avid photographer who aspires to capture “rare moments”. His life’s passion is to preserve intact Hawaiian forests and the perpetuation of Hawaiian Culture. Duane is a professional landscaper by trade, designing and maintaining luxury resort properties, private residences, and working on projects within the Haleakala National Park, Vegetation Management Division. When he is not working or volunteering his time with various Hawaiian reforestation projects “putting back what belongs” he enjoys spending time with his wife, Erin and 2 children, Evan and Isabella cultivating his back yard native forest.
About The Westin Maui Resort & Spa:
Centrally located on pristine Ka’anapali Beach, the spectacular transformations within this resort will completely reimagine many areas of the 12-acre tropical paradise. Surrounded by lush gardens with cascading waterfalls, the 770-room beachfront resort abounds with ways to rejuvenate. Guests can indulge in six outdoor pools that include a brand new family pool and dedicated adults-only pool, spa rejuvenation, unique dining experiences and cultural activities. It is mere steps away from snorkel and sunset cruises, neighboring Whalers Village and championship golfing. Visit www.westinmaui.com.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a community-based nonprofit organization celebrating 11 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish throughout Maui County. Our work includes co-managing the Hui O Ka Wai Ola Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program at 41 sites in South and West Maui, efforts to reduce pollution in Ma‘alaea Bay (through erosion-control efforts in the Pohakea watershed and using oysters to filter sediment and pollutants from ocean water), coral reef research, visitor education programs and more. Learn more at www.mauireefs.org.
About Maui Ocean Center
Since 1998, Maui Ocean Center has fostered understanding, wonder and respect for Hawaiʻi’s marine life, drawing thousands of visitors from across the globe. The three-acre marine park, located in Wailuku, Maui, faithfully replicates the natural ocean ecosystem featuring only animals who are native to Hawai’i. The center features the largest collection of live Pacific corals in the world, over 60 exhibits, 20 daily presentations by marine naturalists, outdoor tide pools and a 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit with a 240-degree view acrylic tunnel. Maui Ocean Center operates in compliance with a County of Maui ordinance prohibiting the exhibit of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and offers exploration of these creatures through interpretive displays, including its cutting-edge “Humpbacks of Hawai‘i” Exhibit & Sphere. Under the guidance of Kahu Dane Maxwell, the aquarium integrates Hawaiian culture in presentations, exhibits, special events, and also in the marine park’s standards of operations and service. For more information, please visit https://mauioceancenter.com.

Free Talk: Factors Contributing to Declining Humpback Sighting Rates
2020-02-04 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
What are the factors contributing to the decline in observed sighting rates of humpback whales in Hawaiʻi and Alaska? Three humpback whale researchers will be presenting information on a collaborative study that is examining this question on Tuesday, February 4, as part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series.”
This evening of presentations is free and open to the public. It will take place from 5:30 to 7 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Seating is limited so advance reservations are recommended. You can arrange for your free reservation at https://bit.ly/fewerwhales
The presenters will be Jens Currie, Chief Scientist at Pacific Whale Foundation; Dr. Adam Pack, a full professor at the University of Hawaii, Hilo; and Lars Bejder, Director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The researchers are collaborating on a project to gain an understanding of changes in the body condition of humpback whales throughout their feeding and breeding seasons. The researchers are also looking at the variability in body condition of humpback whales from year to year and how it might impact the number of whales that migrate between Hawaiʻi and Alaska.
“Last year, Pacific Whale Foundation joined a collaborative research project to quantify the bioenergetic demands of humpback whales migrating between Alaskan foraging grounds and Hawaiian breeding grounds,” says Stephanie Stack, Chief Biologist at Pacific Whale Foundation. “Working with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Marine Mammal Research Program, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and the Alaska Whale Foundation, the project aims to identify potential factors contributing to the decline in observed sighting rates of humpback whales in Hawaiʻi and Alaska.”
In 2016, the Hawaiʻi distinct population segment of humpback whales was taken off the Endangered Species List. However, since then, sighting rates of humpback whales in Hawaiʻi and southeast Alaska have dropped, notes Slack. There is currently a lack of understanding of why humpback whale sighting rates have reduced.
This project will contribute to efforts investigating the possible causes of this recent trend focusing on relationships to changes in body condition and animal health.
“Migrating has a cost to the animal’s body and health,” says Stack. “Understanding this cost may provide insight into a potential shift in the whales’ survival strategy and an increased understanding of the recent trends we’re seeing in Hawai’i and Alaska.
The “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” is presented by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council to introduce the public to marine research and conservation efforts to protect Maui’s ocean resources. This series offers a free presentation every month, usually on the first Wednesday of the month (although our February presentation is on the first Tuesday of the month). Maui Ocean Center generously donates the use of The Sphere for these presentations. The series is supported by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.
To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.
About Jens Currie:
Jens Currie is the Chief Scientist for Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit research, education, and conservation organization based in Maui, Hawaii. Jens has a wide and varied background including studying lobster fecundity in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, modelling the impacts of aquaculture pens in Canada on the surrounding environment, and evaluating ecosystem goods and services in coastal South Africa. Jens currently serves as research chair (alternate) on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary advisory council, is an invited member of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, a member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, and a first responder for NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding and Large Whale Entanglement Response teams in Hawaii.
Jens’s research focus is on distance sampling, modelling cetacean population dynamics, and quantifying cetacean interactions with marine debris. He is currently studying the abundance and distribution of odontocetes in Maui Nui, the efficacy of legislation on marine debris accumulation, and the impacts of climate change on humpback whales.
All research activities are conducted in accordance with NOAA permits 20311-01, 19703, 14585 and 19655. All UAV activities are conducted in accordance with FAA Part 107 regulations.
About Dr. Adam A. Pack:
Dr. Adam A. Pack is a Full Professor at University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) with a joint appointment in the Departments of Psychology and Biology. His many professional “hats” include: current chair of the Psychology Department, cooperating faculty member of UHH’s Master of Science Degree Program in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, co-creator of the UHH LOHE Bioacoustics Laboratory, Cooperative Faculty at UH Manoa’s Psychology and Biology Departments and Marine Science Graduate Program, former chair of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, associate editor of the journal Marine Mammal Science, and co-founder and current president and director of The Dolphin Institute, a not-for-profit Hawaii-based organization dedicated to dolphins and whales through education, research and conservation.
Dr. Pack is the co-recipient of the American Psychological Association’s 1999 F.A. Beach Comparative Psychology Award and the recipient of the 2017 UH Hilo University of Hawaii Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2008, Dr. Pack developed the UHH Marine Mammal Research Laboratory. His research program focuses on scientific studies of marine mammal behavioral ecology and cognition. For more than 30 years, he has been conducting research on dolphin sensory perception, cognition and communication abilities as well as humpback whale social organization and habitat use, migratory and residency patterns, social behavior and communication systems in the Hawaiian breeding grounds and Alaska feeding grounds. Over the course of his research career, he has published over 60 papers, book chapters and reports and given over 80 presentations and invited addresses. Dr. Pack’s research has been featured widely in print media such as the New York Times, the Economist and National Wildlife and in television documentaries such as National Geographic’s Humpbacks: Inside the Pod and PBS’s Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song.
About Dr. Lars Bejder:
Dr Bejder is the Director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa where he supervises higher degree research students (PhDs and MScs) and is responsible for the academic and strategic development of the MMRP. He has studied various aspects of cetacean biology, ecology and conservation in New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and US (Hawaii, Florida and California). He has published >120 research journal articles and book chapters on cetaceans focusing on behavioral ecology, analyzing and developing quantitative methods to evaluate complex animal social structures; evaluating impacts of human activity (coastal development, tourism, habitat degradation) and health assessments. He works closely with wildlife management agencies to optimize the conservation- and management outcomes of his research. He advises on anthropogenic impacts on cetaceans to: IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, US Marine Mammal Commission; US National Marine Fisheries Service; International Whaling Commission; Australian Federal Government; Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife; New Zealand Department of Conservation. He currently serves on the Pacific Scientific Review Group (NOAA), and on the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Dr Bejder is an adjunct Professor at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia and at Aarhus University, Denmark.
The focus of his research includes both empirical and applied research themes, many of which support conservation and management objectives. Studies addressing anthropogenic impacts focus on the quantification of the specific effects and overall biological significance of human activities on cetaceans, and the development of appropriate mitigation approaches and management strategies. Research on cetacean population dynamics and behavior involves efforts to assess population connectivity and identify appropriate units for management, to estimate abundance at local and regional scales and assess spatial and temporal patterns in abundance, and to measure and quantify individual behavior in order to examine social structures. His research includes the use of innovative technology (non-invasive suction cup tagging and unoccupied aerial systems; UAS, drones) to quantify fine‐scale habitat use, movements, communication, calf suckling rates and body condition of marine mammals.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a community-based nonprofit organization celebrating 11 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish throughout Maui County. Our work includes co-managing the Hui O Ka Wai Ola Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program at 41 sites in South and West Maui, efforts to reduce pollution in Ma‘alaea Bay (through erosion-control efforts in the Pohakea watershed and using oysters to filter sediment and pollutants from ocean water), coral reef research, visitor education programs and more. Learn more at www.mauireefs.org.
About Maui Ocean Center:
Since 1998, Maui Ocean Center has fostered understanding, wonder and respect for Hawaiʻi’s marine life, drawing thousands of visitors from across the globe. The three-acre marine park, located in Wailuku, Maui, faithfully replicates the natural ocean ecosystem featuring only animals who are native to Hawai’i. The center features the largest collection of live Pacific corals in the world, over 60 exhibits, 20 daily presentations by marine naturalists, outdoor tide pools and a 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit with a 240-degree view acrylic tunnel. Maui Ocean Center operates in compliance with a County of Maui ordinance prohibiting the exhibit of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and offers exploration of these creatures through interpretive displays, including its cutting-edge “Humpbacks of Hawai‘i” Exhibit & Sphere. Under the guidance of Kahu Dane Maxwell, the aquarium integrates Hawaiian culture in presentations, exhibits, special events, and also in the marine park’s standards of operations and service. For more information, please visit https://mauioceancenter.com.

Public Invited to Free Presentation by Mark Deakos, PhD on "Living Buildings and Communities" that Support Health, Restoration and Thriving Coral Reef Ecosystems
2020-03-04 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
More development — including more structures, homes, neighborhoods, and communities — is planned for Maui’s future. Is it possible to create buildings and communities that restore and support thriving ecosystems, including our coral reefs?
Marine biologist Mark Deakos, PhD, believes it’s possible, and will be sharing his findings at a free talk on Weds, March 4 on “Living Buildings and Living Communities; a philosophy, a framework and a certification program focused on regenerative growth.”
“Imagine nurturing and generous places that promote healthy lifestyles for everyone and contribute a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them, including our precious coral reefs,” says Deakos. “I’ll introduce our audience to Living Communities that generate their own energy and capture and treat all the water they need.”
Deakos will share information about the Living Building Challenge and the Living Community Challenge, performance standards that are net positive for good. Born out of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), they offer global strategies for lasting sustainability by partnering with local communities to inspire and incentivize green building and infrastructure solutions on scales ranging from single room renovations to neighborhoods or whole cities.
The presentation is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” and will take place at 5:30 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Free and open to all, but seating is limited. Advance reservations are recommended. Reserve at ADD URL.
The “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” is presented by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council to introduce the public to marine research and conservation efforts to protect Maui’s ocean resources. This series offers a free presentation every month, usually on the first Wednesday of the month (although our February presentation is on the first Tuesday of the month). Maui Ocean Center generously donates the use of The Sphere for these presentations. The series is supported by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.
About Mark Deakos:
Mark Deakos came to Hawaii in 1996 to complete his master’s at UH Manoa, studying humpback whales and his PhD studying manta rays. He later founded the Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research in 2004, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to protecting Hawaii’s marine resources. After two decades of marine science and scientifically describing the degradation of our natural resources caused by the increasing threats from unsustainable growth, he switched his focus on solutions. In his new role as Chief Sustainability Officer for 3-P Consulting, his ambition is to connect business owners, developers, planners and decision makers with sustainable, regenerative solutions that not only eliminate the threats but allow us to restore the damage we have caused.

About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a community-based nonprofit organization celebrating 11 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish throughout Maui County. Our work includes co-managing the Hui O Ka Wai Ola Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program at 41 sites in South and West Maui, efforts to reduce pollution in Ma‘alaea Bay (through erosion-control efforts in the Pohakea watershed and using oysters to filter sediment and pollutants from ocean water), coral reef research, visitor education programs and more. Learn more at www.mauireefs.org.
About Maui Ocean Center:
Since 1998, Maui Ocean Center has fostered understanding, wonder and respect for Hawaiʻi’s marine life, drawing thousands of visitors from across the globe. The three-acre marine park, located in Wailuku, Maui, faithfully replicates the natural ocean ecosystem featuring only animals who are native to Hawai’i. The center features the largest collection of live Pacific corals in the world, over 60 exhibits, 20 daily presentations by marine naturalists, outdoor tide pools and a 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit with a 240-degree view acrylic tunnel. Maui Ocean Center operates in compliance with a County of Maui ordinance prohibiting the exhibit of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and offers exploration of these creatures through interpretive displays, including its cutting-edge “Humpbacks of Hawai‘i” Exhibit & Sphere. Under the guidance of Kahu Dane Maxwell, the aquarium integrates Hawaiian culture in presentations, exhibits, special events, and also in the marine park’s standards of operations and service. For more information, please visit https://mauioceancenter.com.

Free Presentation: “Sewage Impacts on Hawaiʻi’s Coastlines: Past, Present and Future”
2020-06-03 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
PLEASE NOTE: EVENT POSTPONED TO WEDS. JUNE 3
What will determine the future impacts of sewage on Hawai’i’s nearshore ecosystems and public health? Learn more at a free talk titled “Sewage Impacts on Hawaiʻi’s Coastlines: Past, Present and Future” by Daniel Amato, Ph.D., which will include information on Hawaiʻi’s wastewater saga, including recent research and legal battles.
The presentation will take place on Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Doors open at 5 pm. The event is free and open to the public. It is presented by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council as part of their monthly “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series.” Advance reservations are recommended due to limited seating and can be made at https://mauisewageimpacts.eventbrite.com
“My talk will share reports on how injection wells and cesspools continue to pollute Hawaiʻi’s waters, with an emphasis on recent Maui studies,” says Dr. Amato. ”I will also present recent decisions from the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and the current status of their effort to phase out cesspools.”
Dr. Amato will also discuss current legal cases regarding sewage pollution, and will present community efforts and new technological developments in sewage detection that show promise for the future.
A water quality specialist, Dr. Amato’s professional work focuses on the detection and impacts of land-based pollution in the Pacific Ocean and the development of new technology to assist in detecting the DNA of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in the water.
Dr. Amato is a Marine Research Specialist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, an Environmental Scientist at Element Environmental LLC, and serves as the coordinator for Surfrider-Oahu’s Blue Water Task Force.
“We are bringing Dr. Amato to Maui to present on the important topics of sewage and its impact on Maui’s coastlines, including ocean water quality and our nearshore coral reefs,” says Amy Hodges, Programs and Operations Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “It’s a critically important topic, at a time when our coral reefs need the benefit of clean ocean water, to survive the impacts of climate change and warming water.”
“We thank Maui Ocean Center for generously donating the use of The Sphere for this event, and the County of Maui Mayorʻs Office of Economic Development for supporting our Know Your Ocean Speaker Series,” says Hodges.
To make a free reservation for this talk, please visit https://mauisewageimpacts.eventbrite.com
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a community-based nonprofit organization celebrating 12 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish throughout Maui County. Our work includes co-managing the Hui O Ka Wai Ola Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program at 41 sites in South and West Maui, efforts to reduce pollution in Mā‘alaea Bay (through erosion-control efforts in the Pohakea watershed and using oysters to filter sediment and pollutants from ocean water), coral reef research, visitor education programs and more. Learn more at www.mauireefs.org.
About Maui Ocean Center:
Since 1998, Maui Ocean Center has fostered understanding, wonder and respect for Hawaii’s marine life, drawing thousands of visitors from across the globe. The three-acre marine park, located in Wailuku, Maui, faithfully replicates the natural ocean ecosystem featuring only animals who are native to Hawai’i. The center features the largest collection of live Pacific corals in the world, over 60 exhibits, 20 daily presentations by marine naturalists, outdoor tide pools and a 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit with a 240-degree view acrylic tunnel. Maui Ocean Center operates in compliance with a County of Maui ordinance prohibiting the exhibit of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and offers exploration of these creatures through interpretive displays, including its cutting-edge “Humpbacks of Hawai‘i” Exhibit & Sphere. Under the guidance of Kahu Dane Maxwell, the aquarium integrates Hawaiian culture in presentations, exhibits, special events, and also in the marine park’s standards of operations and service. For more information, please visit https://mauioceancenter.com

Free Webinar: "Exploring the Octopus: How to Learn from Animal Behavior"
2020-11-18 15:00 - 16:30 UTC
Octopuses explore the world around them with their flexible arms, which can touch — and actually taste — to help them quickly identify prey. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council invites the public to learn more about the specialized octopus cells that make this unique ability possible at a free Zoom webinar titled “Exploring the Octopus: How to Learn from Animal Behavior” on Wednesday, November 18 at 3 pm. This presentation is part of MNMRC’s monthly “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series.”
The guest speaker will be Peter Kilian, Research Assistant and Aquatic Animal Technician at the Bellono Lab at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University. The lab studies how diverse organisms sense and respond to changes in their environment.
Peter will be sharing his work on a paper which he co-authored that was recently published in Cell titled, “Molecular Basis of Chemotactile Sensation in Octopus.” Stories about this report, which describes how octopus can both touch and taste with their arms, have appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, tv news shows and online journals, including The New York Times, CNN, Smithsonian Magazine and others.
As a research assistant and aquatic animal technician at Bellono Lab, Peter spends most of his time working with fish, sharks, cephalopods, and various other marine invertebrates to try and learn how and why they behave the way they do.
“So many of us on Maui are fascinated with octopuses, especially after ‘My Octopus Teacher’ launched on Netflix,” says Meredith Beeson, Project and Research Coordinator at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We are excited to host this presentation by Peter Kilian, which will describe how Harvard researchers looked at the octopus at the molecular level to learn how the nervous system in the octopus’ arms — which operate largely independently from its centralized brain — allows these animals to both touch and taste their prey.”
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council offers its monthly “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” via Zoom, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. This month’s presentation was delayed due to Election Day and Veteran’s Day. Please note that this event will start at 3 pm, earlier than other “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” talks, because the speaker is located in Massachusetts. If you wish to view the presentation, but cannot attend at 3 pm, please email info@mauireefs.org to receive emailed information about where and how to view the presentation later in the day.
To make a reservation for the live Zoom presentation, please visit https://bit.ly/OctopusTalk
The “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” is made possible with support from the County of Maui Mayorʻs Office of Economic Development.
About our speaker:
Peter Kilian, Research Assistant and Aquatic Animal Technician at the Bellono Lab at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard, has been interested in the mystery of animal behavior since a young age. His drive to work with animals originates from countless trips to the local zoo and aquarium when he was growing up. This curiosity continued to evolve in college, where Peter dove into his passion for animal work. While in college he spent time working as a beekeeper, a penguin aquarist at the New England Aquarium, and a pygmy octopus husbandry specialist in the mariculture lab at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. He has since graduated from college, and now works full time in the Bellono Lab at Harvard as a research assistant and aquatic animal technician. He spends most of his time working with fish, sharks, cephalopods, and various other marine invertebrates to try and learn how and why they behave the way they do.

Free Online “Talk Story” Presentation by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council to Offer Latest on Projects to Protect Coral Reefs
2020-12-02 17:30 - 19:00 UTC
MĀ‘ALAEA, HI – Want to learn the latest about the oyster project that’s taking place in Māʻalaea Bay? The ocean water quality monitoring at 39 sites in South and West Maui? The fire suppression project in Pohakea watershed in Māʻalaea? How about educational programs about reducing pesticide use to protect Maui’s reefs and marine wildlife?
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is inviting the public to an online “Talk Story” meeting on Weds, Dec. 2 from 5:30 pm to 7 pm during which MNMRC staff will present updates about the organizationʻs ongoing conservation programs.
New ocean water quality monitoring data about sites in South and West Maui will also be presented by Hui O Ka Wai Ola (Association of Living Waters) staff and volunteers. Hui O Ka Wai Ola was co-founded and is co-managed by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, The Nature Conservancy and West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, working closely with the State of Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch.
This online event will include time for participants to offer their ideas and suggestions on steps to improve coral reef health and ocean water quality along the shorelines of Maui County.
Door prizes will be awarded. Admission is free. Advance registration is required. Please visit https://bit.ly/talkstorymnmrc
“Despite Covid-19, the year 2020 has been a very busy one for Maui Nui Marine Resource Council with many projects and programs moving forward,” said Amy Hodges, Programs and Operations Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We would like to share our progress and new developments with the community, and also hear back from everyone with their suggestions for ways we can tackle some of the most pressing problems impacting our reefs and nearshore areas in Maui County.”
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council:
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a community-based nonprofit organization celebrating 13 years of working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish throughout Maui County. Our work includes co-managing the Hui O Ka Wai Ola Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program in South and West Maui, efforts to reduce pollution in Mā‘alaea Bay (through erosion-control efforts in the Pohakea watershed and using oysters to filter sediment and pollutants from ocean water), coral reef research, visitor education programs and more. Learn more at www.mauireefs.org.

Free Presentation on “Growing Up Fast: A Land-Based Coral Nursery for Restoring Hawaii’s Reefs” Offered During Earth Week
2021-04-21 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | Zoom webinar
KIHEI, HI— In honor of Earth Day and Earth Week, the public is invited to a free presentation on “Growing Up Fast: A Land-Based Coral Nursery for Restoring Hawaii’s Reefs” on Zoom on Wednesday, April 21 at 5:30 pm.
The presenter will be coral specialist Christina Jayne of the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources Hawaii Coral Restoration Nursery. The talk is hosted by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, as part of its monthly “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series.”
Coral reef restoration is the process of raising new corals — often from fragments of coral salvaged from the wild — in a protected, nurturing environment, then transplanting them out into the ocean to grow and form new reefs. When combined with efforts to improve coral reef habitat, it is viewed as a way to help coral reefs survive the stresses of climate change and warming ocean waters.
For the past two years, Jayne has worked for the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources as a coral restoration specialist at the Hawaii Coral Restoration Nursery on Oahu with director David Gulko. Before moving to Honolulu, she earned her bachelor’s in Marine Biology from the University of California San Diego and her masters from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.“Hawaii’s reefs are extremely unique and Hawaiian corals have some of the slowest growth rates in the world, which is why the State has taken an innovative, land-based approach to coral restoration,” notes Jayne.
Hawaii’s first state coral nursery, which is managed by DAR, opened in 2016 at the Anuenue Fisheries Research Center on Oahu.
Corals are brought to the Coral Restoration Nursery and are rapidly grown using a series of aquarium-based techniques that help them to generate large coral colony modules in a fraction of the time it would take naturally, which can be out-planted back on the reef.
The nursery typically uses corals for out-planting from harbors because of their lower ecological value compared to corals from natural areas, says DAR, and they may also be more resilient to any challenges and environmental changes.
University of Hawaii Sea Grant researchers are also conducting experiments at the Anuenue facility to understand different environmental conditions, like light and water movement, that are useful for growing corals quickly. Creating the best environment for the corals to grow rapidly will help to restore local reefs after disturbance events such as bleaching or physical damage.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” events are held monthly via Zoom. Support for these events is provided by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.
The virtual event’s emcee will be Darla Palmer-Ellingson, local radio show host of the public affairs program, Island Environment 360 Maui’s only commercially broadcast public affairs show on environmental and related Hawaiian cultural topics, aired on the stations of H-Hawaii Media.
To reserve your spot at this free Zoom webinar, please visit https://bit.ly/coralnurserywebinar

Free presentation on “Purifying Kihei’s Wastewater with Green Infrastructure as an Alternative to Injection Wells”
2021-06-09 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | Zoom webinar
Three new low cost, low energy, pilot green infrastructure systems that will be constructed in Kihei this summer to purify water coming out of the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility will be the topic of a free Zoom presentation by Paul Sturm, Executive Director of Ridge to Reefs, on Wednesday, June 9 at 5:30 pm. This new system will harness the power of plants, soil and microbial activity to purify wastewater to approach drinking water standards, dramatically expanding its potential uses and reducing the need for disposal via injection wells.
This talk will be presented via Zoom as part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series.” These monthly virtual events are supported by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.
To reserve your spot, please visit https://bit.ly/KiheiWastewater.
Sturm will be presenting plans for the three new Kihei Wastewater Disposal Pilot projects that Ridge to Reefs will construct this summer with support from support from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and assistance from John Astilla, founder and owner of Sunshine Vetiver Solutions and construction support from Ali’i Farm Service. The pilot projects will be aesthetically pleasing and odor-free, bearing a closer resemblance to gardens rather than treatment facilities.
“Through natural processes, we will reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to be disposed of; any remaining wastewater will come as close as possible to drinking water standards, expanding opportunities for its re-use,” says Sturm. “Our Ridge to Reefs Kihei Wastewater Disposal Pilot will be up and running within two months, ready to demonstrate the effectiveness of Ridge to Reef’s nature-based solutions as viable, affordable alternatives to groundwater injection disposal.”
“We believe this system has the potential to reduce land-to-sea pollution from wastewater, to benefit Maui’s local coral reefs,” says Sturm.
Ridge to Reefs (RTR) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) formed in 2011 to help protect and restore coastal and coral reef ecosystems by reducing land-to-sea pollution with green infrastructure. The organization uses natural methods and innovative engineering to solve pressing environmental and social problems. Their expertise includes treating polluted storm and wastewater by establishing green infrastructure solutions such as constructed wetlands, rain gardens and bioreactors. Using proven natural methods and state-of-the-art engineering, Ridge to Reefs has installed systems in Maryland, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Palau and American Samoa. To learn more, visit https://www.ridgetoreefs.org/
The event’s emcee will be Darla Palmer-Ellingson, local radio show host of the public affairs program, Island Environment 360 Maui’s only commercially broadcast public affairs show on environmental and related Hawaiian cultural topics, aired on the stations of H-Hawaii Media.
“As a nonprofit working for healthy coral reefs and clean ocean water, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is extremely proud to host this presentation, as our community works on solutions to reduce pollution to our nearshore waters, to help our coral reefs survive,” says Mike Fogarty, Executive Director of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We are happy to see this innovative science-based pilot project come to Kihei, to use natural materials to better treat wastewater and reduce its pollution impacts on our ocean waters.”
To reserve your spot at this free Zoom webinar, please visit https://bit.ly/KiheiWastewater.
About Paul Sturm:
Paul founded Ridge to Reefs (non-profit organization) in 2011 to support local creation and implementation of watershed plans primarily in the Chesapeake Bay and in coral reef watersheds – with the goal to achieve tangible environmental outcomes.
Paul and his team are currently testing a low cost, low energy, nature-based alternative septic system with University of Hawaii and have constructed similar systems in Puerto Rico and American Samoa. He has worked on innovative methods to control sediment transport using vegetation and stormwater using plants and biochar amendments. Recent efforts have also focused on improving food security, soil health and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.
Paul is a former Center for Watershed Protection Director/Biologist and spent 11 years working on watershed plans, implementation projects and code changes in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and around the country. Prior to that, he spent 6 years researching the effectiveness of implementation of agricultural and urban BMP’s and developed methods to track and target pollution source areas in agricultural watersheds.
Paul participated in the development of the EPA Sponsored Illicit discharge detection manual. He directly assisted the development of field assessment protocols for the Outfall Reconnaissance Inventory (ORI) and the development of the field form as well as the water chemistry testing protocol that was developed for the manual. The manual was produced for EPA and distributed to officials in all 50 states to help guide NPDES compliance methods for Phase I and Phase II communities. Paul also helped conduct a webcast for EPA that included over 1000 attendees. Paul conducted the field portion of the training where videos of the outfall reconnaissance inventory methods were presented for several outfalls. Paul also answered technical questions from participants in the webcast.
Paul has contributed to more than 20 publications and has presented more than 60 lectures around the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. These include participation as a trainer at four National Watershed Institutes, invited speaker at four US Coral Reef Task Meetings in Washington, D.C. and San Juan, Puerto Rico, three National River Rallies, three Army Corp of Engineers Water in the Watersheds Courses in Davis, CA and a Coastal Zone Management Course for the Institute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago. Paul has led trainings in stream assessment, stormwater retrofitting, erosion, code change, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and sediment and erosion control.

Free Presentation “Saving a Species: “Rehabilitation as a Conservation Tool for Hawaiian Monk Seals” Offered on Weds., Aug. 4
2021-08-04 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | Zoom webinar
Hawaiian monk seals are endangered, with fewer than 1,400 animals left on earth — yet they have recently been in the news, as videos and photos have surfaced showing the seals falling victim to harassment by visitors who get too close or attempt to touch them, sometimes for social media content. Learn more about Hawaiian monk seals at a free presentation called “Saving a Species: Rehabilitation as a Conservation Tool for Hawaiian Monk Seals” on Wednesday, August 4 at 5:30 pm HST via Zoom where two special guests from The Marine Mammal Center’s dedicated hospital for monk seals, Ke Kai Ola, on Hawai’i Island will highlight their conservation and outreach work.
The Center’s Lauren Van Heukelem, Response and Operations Coordinator, and Dr. Sophie Whoriskey, Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation Veterinarian, will speak at this event, part of the “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” which is hosted every month by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council.
Researchers estimate that about 30 percent of Hawaiian monk seals are alive today due to conservation efforts led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and partners like the Center. The mission of The Marine Mammal Center focuses on global ocean conservation through rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education.
Reserve a spot at the free presentation by visiting https://www.bitly.com/monksealwebinar
“We are hosting this special presentation with the awareness that public education is needed to help protect our Hawaiian monk seals from harassment or injury,” says Anne Rillero, Communications Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “These animals are among the most endangered seals on earth.”
Dr. Whoriskey received her bachelor’s degree from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, and her veterinary medical degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College. She first came to The Marine Mammal Center in 2015 as the intern veterinarian in marine mammal medicine and pathology where she spent two years training with marine mammal medicine experts.
In 2020, she returned to the Center as a full-time Hawaiian Monk Seal Conservation Veterinarian. She leads the Center’s Hawaiʻi animal care operations, dedicated to the rehabilitation, conservation and research of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.
Whoriskey has extensive field experience in remote and harsh environments and has participated in research projects from Alaska to Antarctica, all with a mission of advancing the global body of knowledge on marine mammal health.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Van Heukelem received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Marine Biology. She has participated in many research studies both in Hawaiʻi and the Northern Mariana Islands on various topics.
As the Response and Operations Coordinator, Van Heukelem oversees the monitoring of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal population on Hawaiʻi Island. She runs the Center’s 24-hour hotline for reporting seal sightings around the island and coordinates outreach and population assessments on a daily basis.
“On Hawai’i Island, we operate Ke Kai Ola, the only hospital dedicated to Hawaiian monk seals, providing support for monk seals found throughout the Hawaii archipelago,” says Van Heukelem. “Utilizing a 24-hour response hotline and a variety of education and outreach programs, we aim to advance conservation practices that empower our local community to protect this rare species.”
This presentation will focus on the center’s mission and work over the past 45 years in California and Hawaiʻi. Since opening Ke Kai Ola in 2014, The Marine Mammal Center has treated 36 Hawaiian monk seals and supports the work of NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program by providing the only long-term care facility for this endangered animal.
These monthly virtual events are supported by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.
The event’s emcee will be Darla Palmer-Ellingson, local radio show host of the public affairs program, Island Environment 360 Maui’s only commercially broadcast public affairs show on environmental and related Hawaiian cultural topics, aired on the stations of H-Hawaii Media.
To reserve your spot at this free Zoom webinar, please visit https://www.bitly.com/monksealwebinar

Eleu (PP08), a weaned female Hawaiian monk seal pup rescued from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Refuge, rests during rehabilitation at The Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola hospital and visitor center in Kailua-Kona, HI. The young female seal’s name means one that is active, alert, energetic, lively and nimble. Credit Lauren Van Heukelem © The Marine Mammal Center, NOAA Permit #18786-03

Hawaiian monk seals RK26 (on left) and RL50 (on right) rest on a beach. As the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, The Marine Mammal Center actively monitors endangered monk seals that frequent Big Island beaches to check on their condition, but its experts do not serve in a law enforcement capacity. Credit Sheila Latta © The Marine Mammal Center

Free Talk “Spying on Spinners: What We Can Learn From Listening” Focuses on Study of Spinner Dolphins
2021-10-13 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | Zoom webinar
A free presentation called “Spying on Spinners: What We Can Learn from Listening” on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom will take a look at research conducted in the Maui Nui region (Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, and the ‘Au‘au Channel) that listened to spinner dolphins to learn more about their behaviors.
The presentation is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly Know Your Ocean Speaker Series. Reserve your spot at https://bit.ly/SpinnerDolphinWebinar
Megan McElligott, a fourth-year doctoral candidate at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the Marine Biology Graduate Program, will be the guest speaker. She will discuss her recent work around Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, and the ‘Au‘au channel for her master’s thesis, titled “Investigating Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) Occurrence and Acoustic Activity in the Maui Nui Region” which was recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science.   She will discuss how the acoustic recordings in her study confirmed that spinner dolphins use Mānele Bay and Honolua Bay for their daily resting behavior, as well as their use of the ʻAuʻau channel for resting.
“Hawaiian spinner dolphins rest during the day in the islands’ coastal waters where they are susceptible to human disturbance,” reports McElligott. She notes that spinner dolphins are nocturnal and hunt in offshore waters at night. During the day, they use areas close to shore to socialize, nurture their young, shelter from predators, and rest in preparation for nightly hunting.
The goal of McElligott’s research is to help wildlife managers determine the best ways to protect spinner dolphins from human disturbance.
McElligott’s research was one of the studies examined by NOAA Fisheries leading up to their new rule finalized on September 28, 2021 that prohibits swimming with, approaching, or remaining within 50 yards of a Hawaiian spinner dolphin. The rule applies to any vessel, person, or object (including all boats, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, drones, or any other means) that is within 2 nautical miles from shore in the main Hawaiian Islands and in designated waters bounded by the islands of Lāna‘i, Maui, and Kahoʻolawe. This final rule will officially be in effect on October 28, 2021, 30 days after it was published in the Federal Register. Learn more about this new law and its exceptions at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-regulation-protects-hawaiian-spinner-dolphins-against-disturbance.
McElligott’s study was conducted using a combination of passive acoustic monitoring and vessel surveys to document spinner dolphin occurrence and movements. Bottom-moored acoustic recorders were deployed at eight locations in Maui Nui, and at one previously established resting bay off west O‘ahu for comparison. The amount of whistles, clicks, and burst pulses at each location was quantified and averaged by the hour of the day.
“What we observed in Maui Nui is different from what we see off Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi island,” says McElligott. “I will also talk about what we aim to investigate with our current data collection efforts in Mānele, Hulopoʻe, and Honolua.”
To learn more this species’ behavior and McElligott’s research, tune in to Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” on Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.
These monthly virtual events are supported by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.
The event’s emcee will be Darla Palmer-Ellingson, local radio show host of the public affairs program, Island Environment 360 Maui’s only commercially broadcast public affairs show on environmental and related Hawaiian cultural topics, aired on the stations of H-Hawaii Media.
NOAA Fisheries is also proposing to establish time-area closures to reduce disturbance in five nearshore areas designated as essential daytime habitats for spinner dolphins. This regulation would prohibit entering restricted areas between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily in parts of Kealakekua, Hōnaunau, Kauhakō (Ho‘okena), and Makako Bays on Hawai‘i Island, and La Perouse Bay on Maui.
Since this is a proposed rule, a decision on whether to finalize the rule will not happen until after the public has an opportunity to comment. The public comment period for the proposed time-area closures will be open until December 27, 2021, 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. To learn more, visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-establish-time-area-closures-hawaiian-spinner-dolphins-essential-habitats-main

Free Zoom Presentation on Wed. Feb. 2 by Dr. Jennifer Lynch: “Did Maui’s expanded polystyrene ban improve the amounts or types of plastic on Maui beaches?”
2022-02-02 17:30 - 18:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Zoom webinar
KIHEI, HI – On December 31, 2018, Maui County banned the use, sale or provision of polystyrene food service containers as a step to protect marine wildlife and bird populations. The County took this step after learning about the lightweight nature of polystyrene and its ability to break down into smaller fragments that persist for decades, contributing to the potential illness and death of marine animals and birds that mistake the small fragments for food and ingest them.
Did this ban improve the amounts or types of plastic on Maui beaches? Learn what recent research has found at a free Zoom presentation by Dr. Jennifer M. Lynch, the co-director of the Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research. Her talk will take place on Wednesday, February 2 at 5:30 pm as part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Councilʻs Know Your Ocean Speaker Series, sponsored by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development.

Admission is free, but advance reservation is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/MauiPlasticWebinar.
Dr. Lynch is one of eight co-authors on a study titled, “Did Maui’s expanded polystyrene ban (County Ord. No. 4457) improve the amounts or types of plastic pollution on Maui beaches?“
The study abstract states that “in order to protect native wildlife and Hawaii’s unique coastal environments, reduce plastic waste, and promote the health and welfare of the residents of Hawaii, bans on single-use plastic items have been implemented by some local municipalities. However, the impacts and effectiveness of these policies has been rarely studied.”
The study used polymer identification methods to determine if ordinance number 4457 had an effect on the amount and composition of plastic marine debris on five Maui beaches.
The authors of the study are Kerrianne O’Malley, Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research; Sheena Weller, Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research; Cheryl King, Sharkastics; Jens Currie, Pacific Whale Foundation; Kayla Brignac, Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research; Melissa Jung, Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research; Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Hawaii Pacific University and Jennifer M. Lynch, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research.
“We are excited to host Dr. Lynch and to learn about her findings about how Mauiʻs polystyrene ban has impacted the debris on our local beaches,” commented Michael Fogarty, Executive Director of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “Her findings are valuable for our nonprofit, especially now as we launch a National Geographic-funded study of the streams and gulches that are transporting plastic waste to Mauiʻs beaches and shorelines.”
“Polystyrene foam is lightweight, floats, and is more likely to be blown from landfills, even when disposed of properly,” reports the website Foam Free Maui County. Recent studies conducted by University of Hawaii at Manoa show that methane and ethylene (major contributors to global warming) are emitted as polystyrene breaks down (Royer et al 2018). Carbon dioxide is also emitted (Ward et al 2019).
“Join our presentation to learn what is being found here on Maui,” notes Meredith Beeson, Project and Research Coordinator at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and the coordinator of the Know Your Ocean Speaker Series. “Sign up today at https://bit.ly/MauiPlasticWebinar.”
Jill Wirt, Project and Research Coodinator at Maui Nui Marine Research Council will emcee the free event.
About Dr. Jennifer M. (Keller) Lynch
Dr. Jennifer Lynch has worked for the National Institute of Standards and Technology since 2003, and became the Co-Director of the Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR) in 2019. The CMDR was purposefully established in Hawaii, one of the most plastic polluted marine environments. Dr. Lynch’s research focuses on developing optimal methods to quantify and chemically characterize plastic marine debris to answer questions about pollution quantities, sources, fate, transport, effects, and reuse. She has authored 61 peer-reviewed publications and four book chapters, and mentored over 45 graduate students.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is a Maui-based non-profit organization working for clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and a restoration of abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County. MNMRC is recognized for its ability to work with the community to plan, fund, enact and manage culturally appropriate, science-based solutions to serious problems undermining nearshore ocean water quality and threatening local coral reefs. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Public Invited to Free Zoom Presentation on Solving Climate Change with the World’s Mightiest Seaweed
2022-05-04 17:30 - 19:00 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Zoom webinar
Discover a Hawai’i Grown Solution to the Global Climate Challenge on Wednesday May 4 at 5:30 pm
KIHEI, HI – Learn how the startup company Symbrosia is working to solve climate change by reducing livestock methane emissions with seaweed that’s grown sustainably in Hawaiʻi, at a free Zoom presentation offered on Wednesday, May 4 at 5:30 pm. The presenters will be Daisy Stock and Kylie Tuitavuki of Symbrosia.
This Zoom presentation is offered as part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s Know Your Ocean Speaker Series, supported by the County of Maui Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability. Admission is free, but preregistration is required. To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/SymbrosiaWebinar.
“Symbrosia has been developing a breakthrough seaweed supplement that, when sprinkled into animal feed, increases growth rates and reduces the methane emissions from cows by over 90%,” Tuitavuki reports.
The seaweed is Asparagopsis taxiformis, which Symbrosia views as the sustainable feed material of the future for the world’s millions of farmers and billions of farm animals.
“We are collecting, cultivating and partnering with ranchers and farmers throughout the Hawaiian Islands, to support local food systems and the local economy while also fighting against climate change,” notes Stock, who is the R&D Manager at Symbrosia. “Our team is currently scaling up sustainable production in Kailua Kona, HI at Symbrosia’s pilot facility.”
“The United Nations has declared 2020-2030 the ‘decade of ecosystem restoration’,” said Tuitavuki, a member of Symbrosia’s Business Development team. “While seaweed has long been touted for its impressive array of restorative ecosystem services, only recently has research started to uncover algae’s potential within the food, animal feed, and biofuel sectors.”
“Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is pleased to offer this talk as part of our Know Your Ocean Speaker Series,” comments Meredith Beeson, who coordinates the monthly speaker series. “We look forward to helping our community learn about a potential solution that can help address livestock methane pollution, which currently accounts for 6% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.”
“If enough cows, sheep, and goats start snacking on this methane-vanquishing seaweed, it will prevent gigatons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere and will bring the entire animal agriculture industry one big step closer to being carbon neutral,” reports the Symbrosia website. “This will make a huge difference in the fight against climate change.”
To learn more about Symbrosia, please visit https://symbrosia.co.
The Know Your Ocean Speaker Series is hosted by the nonprofit Maui Nui Marine Resource Council on the first Wednesday of each month and is funded in part by the County of Maui Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability and by donations from individuals and businesses in the community. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.
To reserve your free spot at this talk, please visit https://bit.ly/SymbrosiaWebinar
About Daisy Stock
Leading the R&D team at Symbrosia, Daisy investigates novel approaches to A. taxiformis strain selection and development. Prior to joining the team, she worked in a NASA laboratory investigating the origin of life through isotopic analysis of meteoric material. While earning her B.S. in Marine Science from UC Berkeley, Daisy completed her undergraduate thesis on light sensory mechanisms of sea urchin and contributed to marine conservation research in Panama, Mo’orea, Hawai’i, and California. Daisy is passionate about inclusive, community-oriented science and is excited for the future of marine based approaches to climate change mitigation.
About Kylie Tuitavuki
As a member of the Business Development team, Kylie facilitates outreach, community building, and story-telling for Symbrosia’s partners throughout the Hawaiian Islands. In addition to her work at Symbrosia, Kylie is a current graduate student at UH Mānoa investigating the long-term sustainability of indigenous cropping systems and their potential for revitalization that would support local food systems. While earning a B.A. in Anthropology and Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, Kylie completed her senior thesis on the impact of long-term agricultural management strategies on soil health and has worked on several community-based research projects in Vanuatu, Mo’orea, and Hawai’i. Kylie is passionate about equitable, inclusive, and community centered research and is thrilled to uplift local and underserved communities in the fight against climate change.

About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is a Maui-based non-profit organization working for clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and a restoration of abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County. MNMRC is recognized for its ability to work with the community to plan, fund, enact and manage culturally appropriate, science-based solutions to serious problems undermining nearshore ocean water quality and threatening local coral reefs. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Public invited to free presentation on first community-based marine conservation network on Maui
2022-06-01 17:30 - 18:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Zoom webinar
Kihei, HI – The public is invited to a free presentation on “Weaving the Net – How the Maui Nui Makai Network is connecting communities for a healthy land and sea of tomorrow” to be held on Wed. June 1 at 5:30 pm via Zoom.
At this free event, speakers Maile Shannon and Scott Crawford will share the story of the Maui Nui Makai Network, including ongoing projects and its vision for the future. The Network includes nine member communities that actively manage coastal areas of Maui Nui, incorporating native Hawaiian values, knowledge and experiences into management practices. Through the Network, member sites share and learn from their diverse experiences, lessons and best practices to help each other mālama (care for) specific makai (seaward) areas.
The presentation is hosted by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council as part of its “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” with support by the County of Maui Office of Climate Change, Resiliency, and Sustainability (CCRS).
While the presentation is free, pre-registration is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/MNMNWebinar
The speakers for this presentation are:
Maile Shannon, the current Chair of the Maui Nui Makai Network. She has been involved in ‘āina-based work since 1999. Formerly a farmer/rancher, Shannon has worked and volunteered as a conservationist in the nonprofit world since 2009 while raising her children Marcus, Shannon, and Hunter.
Scott Crawford, the current Secretary of the Maui Nui Makai Network. He has served as the Executive Director of Kipahulu Ohana, Inc. for 20 years, helping to manage Kapahu Living Farm traditional wetland taro farm, and the Malami i ke Kai program, including the proposed Kipahulu Moku Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area. He also works with other Network members from East Maui: Na Mamo O Mu’olea and Ke Ao Hali‘i (Save Hana Coast) and he helps to manage the Hana Farmers Market.
“We are pleased to host this event, to help the public learn about the Maui Nui Makai Network’s community-based approach to protecting the marine resources found along the shorelines of Maui County,” said Robin Newbold, Co-founder and Chair of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We supported the creation of this Network in its early days and are pleased to be one of four Kākoʻo members, as we watch it grow and thrive, incorporating Hawaiian traditions to create an effective modern-day approach to protecting our nearshore reefs, marine wildlife and coastal waters.”
To register for this event, please visit https://bit.ly/MNMNWebinar
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is a Maui-based non-profit organization working for clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and a restoration of abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County. MNMRC is recognized for its ability to work with the community to plan, fund, enact and manage culturally appropriate, science-based solutions to serious problems undermining nearshore ocean water quality and threatening local coral reefs. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Free Webinar: Unlocking the Mysteries of Biodiversity on Hawaiian Coral Reefs
2025-02-05 17:30 - 18:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Zoom webinar
Dr. John Burns of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will share how the Multiscale Environmental Graphical Analysis (MEGA) Lab is using cutting-edge 3D technology to map and study reefs as the organization pursues its goal of mapping 1 million of the world’s best reefs by 2030. MEGA Lab uses their 3D reconstructions of reefs, layered with an array of environmental data to improve their understanding of the biology and ecology of these habitats, which has helped them learn how coral reefs are changing over time, and how these changes impact associated reef organisms and the services we as humans depend on.

Register today using the link below!
