Maui Nui Marine Resource Council

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council January Meeting
2018-01-03 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
The public is invited to attend the Wednesday, January 3 meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, for updates on our work to protect reefs, restore clean ocean water and bring back abundant native fish to our reefs. The meeting is free and open to all.
The meeting will take place from 5 to 7 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at Ma’alaea Harbor Shops.
Refreshments will be provided.

Flatbread Company Benefit
2018-01-30 17:00 - 22:00 | Flatbread Company, 89 Hana Hwy, Paia, HI, 96779, United States
Enjoy some exceptionally delicious pizza at Flatbread Company at 89 Hana Highway in Paia on Tuesday, January 30 between 5 pm and 10 pm and help raise needed funds for Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s work to restore healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County. The Flatbread Company will donate $3.50 for each large flatbread and $1.75 for each small flatbread sold during the benefit. Come join the fun, and meet our MNMRC team and learn about MNMRC’s newest projects and programs for 2018.

March Monthly Meeting
2018-03-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
March 7: Join us for our Maui Nui Marine Resource Council Monthly Meeting with a special guest presentation by Russell Sparks. 7 to 9 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops. Free admission and refreshments. Everyone is welcome!

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council Monthly Meeting: Wednesday, April 4
2018-04-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
The crackling sounds of snapping shrimp are part of the rich soundscape of a coral reef — soundscapes that can provide helpful clues about the health of the reef. The public is invited to learn more about what was discovered during an acoustic study of seven Maui reefs at a free presentation by Eden Zang at the Wednesday, April 4 meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council.
The meeting will take place from 5 pm to 7 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s Discovery Center classrooms at the ocean level of the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.  Eden Zang, Managing Director of Oceanwide Science Institute, will explain how passive acoustic monitoring can be utilized to reveal clues about coral reef communities and will share results from a 16 month acoustic study from seven reefs around Maui.
Eden Zang joined Oceanwide Science Institute (OSI) in March 2014 as a Research Specialist and is now OSI’s Managing Director. In addition to managing day-to-day operations, Eden’s focus is on processing and analyzing acoustic data, scientific diving, assisting in the coordination of field efforts, and marine mammal vessel based surveys. She has been involved with projects that involve whales, dolphins, fish, marine invertebrates, and effects of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment. She has a B.A. in Human Communication and participated in University of Hawaii’s Marine Option Program. In addition to OSI, Eden is the Maui Marine Mammal Response Network Assistant for NOAA Fisheries, (contractor with Lynker Technologies, Inc.) and has held various positions with private, state and federal organizations in animal husbandry, scientific diving, and protected resource management.
The meeting will also provide updates about ocean water quality testing and other projects that are underway at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, the host of the meeting. Refreshments will be served.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council's Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, May 2
2018-05-02 17:00 - 18:30 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council invites the public to its next meeting on Wednesday, May 2, featuring guest presentations by Lucienne De Naie and Adriane Raff Corwin.
Lucienne De Naieʻs presentation will be on “Updates on efforts to restore streamflow to Maui’s reefs and effects on fisheries.” Adriane Raff Corwin will be speaking about the Hukilike No Maui Coalition and also efforts to keep harmful sunscreen chemicals out of our nearshore ocean ecoystems.
The meeting will take place from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms at the Maʻalaea Harbor Shops. Admission is free, everyone is invited and refreshments will be provided.
Lucienne De Naie lives in rural east Maui and is active with stream and watershed restoration projects. She is a a founding member and a director of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, as well as a founding member of Maui Cultural Lands, Inc. and the Maui Coastal Land Trust (now Hawaiian Islands Land Trust.) Lucienne has served on the Mayor’s Open Space Zoning Advisory Committee, the Maui General Plan Advisory Committee and serves as Conservation Chair and hike leader for the Maui Sierra Club. She also authored a report on Maui’s fresh water resources.
Adriane Raff Corwin is the Sierra Club Group Coordinator. Adriane has been a community organizer for over ten years and received her Master’s Degree in Political Science and Futures Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
The meeting will include updates on Maui Nui Marine Resource Councilʻs work as a nonprofit community organization to restore clean ocean water, protect coral reefs and bring back abundant native fish to the nearshore areas of the islands of Maui County.
To learn more about Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, please visit www.mauireefs.org.

Lucienne De Naie

Adriane Raff Corwin

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council June Meeting
2018-06-06 17:00 - 19:00 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Come learn, be inspired and meet others who share your interest in protecting Mauiʻs coral reefs and nearshore ocean waters. Our June meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 6, from 5 to 6:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms at the Maʻalaea Harbor Shops. Refreshments will be served, admission is free, and every meeting features a guest speaker.

Our guest presentation this month will be on “Restoring the Natural Function of Mauiʻs Ahupuaʻa to Protect Mauiʻs Coral Reefs” by Jennifer Vander Veur, Maui Program Manager of Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). Vander Veur will speak about work that CORAL is doing to restore natural filtration processes within Mauiʻs ​ahupuaʻa (watersheds​)​ to prevent land-based water pollution from ​flowing into the sea and ​degrading ​coral ​reefs. We hope to see you there!

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Maui Nui Marine Resource Council July Meeting
2018-07-11 17:00 - 18:30 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Due to the 4th of July holiday, our July meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council will be pushed back by one week to Wednesday, July 11.
The public is invited to learn more about the impacts of climate change on Maui’s coastal areas, including big waves, flooding, erosion and more, at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s meeting on Wednesday, July 11 from 5 to 7 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops.
The climate change presentation will be offered by these guest presenters:
– Bradley Romine, PhD, Coastal Management and Resilience Specialist, University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program, Center for Coastal and Climate Science and Resilience.
– Tara Owens, Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (partnered with Maui County’s Planning Department).
Attendees are welcome to bring questions about managed retreat, beach replenishment and other issues relating to the impact of climate change on Maui’s shorelines.
The meeting is free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided. If convenient, please bring an item to share on the refreshment table.
Established in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and abundant native fish for Maui County.
To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.
Presenter bios:
– Bradley Romine, PhD
Coastal Management and Resilience Specialist
University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program,
Center for Coastal and Climate Science and Resilience
Brad’s role as University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant extension faculty is to provide bridges between the university, our communities, and government to meet the complimentary goals of conserving coastal environments and reducing natural hazards risk to shoreline development. He works closely with the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands at the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and interfaces with other government agencies and the public on collaborative projects to support planning and decision-making based on the latest and best-available coastal and climate science. Recently, he provided scientific and technical guidance to the DLNR for the development of the Hawaiʻi Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report. He is also leading the development of science-based planning tools and guidance to improve resilience to coastal hazards and sea level rise in Hawaiʻi through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Brad completed his PhD in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2013 and has published research articles on coastal geology, beach processes, shoreline change, and sea level rise impacts in Hawaiʻi.

– Tara Owens
Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program

Tara Owens is Extension Faculty with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, specializing in coastal processes and coastal hazards. Partnered with Maui County’s Planning Department, Tara’s role is to “bridge the gap” between science and policy and planning for improved coastal management by providing technical guidance, consultations, site visits, and public outreach. Tara also interfaces with other government agencies and the public on collaborative projects pertaining to coastal hazards, including beach erosion and sea-level rise impacts. Tara earned a bachelor of science degree in marine science from Coastal Carolina University, and a master’s degree in coastal geology from the University of Hawaii. She was hired by UH Sea Grant and moved back to Hawaii in 2010 after working for 7 years in the federal government at the U.S. Geological Survey in St. Petersburg, Florida and then at the NOAA Coastal Services Center in Charleston, SC.

Free Presentation by Mark Deakos: Chasing Happiness and Its Impact on the Planet
2018-08-01 17:30 - 19:30 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Is it possible to have long, healthy and happy lives for all people across the globe without destroying our planet’s natural resources? This upcoming talk by Mark Deakos PhD will explore the science of happiness and how pursuing selfish interests can actually be good for the planet.
Don’t miss it! The presentation will take place at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 1, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops. (Please note the new later start time. However, the doors will open at 5 pm.) The public is invited and refreshments will be served.
About Mark Deakos:
Mark was fortunate to experience living in various countries around the globe during his early years. A common thread in his life has always been water. At one time a competitive swimmer and water polo player, Mark now spends much of his time in saltwater as an avid scuba diver, free diver, kayaker, and mariner. His chosen career working in wildlife biology and marine research is an extension of his passion for the natural world and his marvel of the ocean environment.
Mark obtained his biology degree from the University of
Dr. Mark Deakos
Waterloo in Canada where he began pursuing his interest in wildlife biology. After working with several avian and reptile species, his interests rapidly returned to the ocean and towards marine mammals, which eventually led him to Hawaii in 1996.
At the University of Hawaii, he completed his master’s degree studying humpback whale behavior, and completed his doctoral degree in 2010 focusing on manta ray ecology. In 2004, he founded The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research (HAMER), a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation with the mission of better understanding and protecting Hawaii’s marine resources.
Aside from his continued involvement to learn about and protect manta rays here in Hawaii, Mark is the Deputy Program Manager for HDR managing the Navy’s Protected Species Monitoring Program in the Pacific and is an active member of various community groups working towards solutions to some of our greatest environmental threats.

Free Talk: “Dr. Dolittle Meets CSI on the Coral Reefs of Maui” on Weds., Sept. 5
2018-09-05 17:30 - 2018-09-19 19:30 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Forensics and diagnostics are all part of the scientific study of coral reefs, which is why Bob Richmond Ph.D., Research Professor and Director of Kewalo Marine Laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will be presenting a free talk titled, “Dr. Dolittle Meets CSI on the Coral Reefs of Maui” at the upcoming September 5 meeting of the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. This event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the ocean-facing lower level of the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops, 300 Ma’alaea Road, Ma’alaea (next to Maui Ocean Center).
Dr. Richmond’s talk will explain how his team is using diagnostics and forensics to identify causes of stress to Maui’s reefs at Olowalu, Waihikuli, and Honokowai, along with ways to enhance the reef’s resistance to these stressors.
Dr. Richmond’s childhood fascination with Dr. Dolittle helped inspire his approach to studying reefs by “listening” to coral reefs and other reef creatures through the use of ecological indicators and molecular biomarkers.
“Maui has some of the most well developed coral reefs in the Main Hawaiian Islands, but these have been negatively affected by local and global stressors including land-based sources of pollution and sedimentation from watershed discharges, overfishing, and bleaching due to climate change,” said Dr. Richmond.

“Our research blends traditional ecological knowledge with ecology and molecular biology to both diagnose and treat the causes of coral reef decline,” he noted. “Our approach can best be described as Dr. Dolittle meets CSI (crime scene investigations) on coral reefs and uses a combination of diagnostics and forensics.”
“The results of our reef studies on reefs at Waihikuli, Honokowai and Olowalu will be presented and ideas for helping these reefs recover will be discussed,” he said.
Dr. Richmond is the Chair of the Maui Coral Reef Recovery Team, a group of Hawaii’s most recognized coral reef scientists, resource managers, fishers, cultural advisors and community members, first convened by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council in 2010. The group wrote the Maui Coral Reef Recovery Plan, a 101-page science-based plan that outlines specific goals and steps to protect Maui’s coral reefs. Team members continue to meet regularly to provide guidance and monitor progress toward implementing the plan.
Dr. Richmond has spent the majority of his professional career studying coral reefs in Micronesia, Hawaii, Japan, Central America, the Galapagos Islands and the Caribbean. His research interests are in the area of marine conservation biology, with a focus on coral reefs. His research programs include studies of coral reproductive biology, ecotoxicology, coral reef ecology, the impacts of climate change and bridging sound science to policy development and implementation.

Dr. Richmond received a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, SUNY at Stony Brook, and subsequently spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, 18 years on the faculty of the University of Guam Marine Laboratory, and has been a Research Professor at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, since 2004.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is funding Dr. Richmond’s studies of corals in Olowalu and Ma’alaea. A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is working for clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and an abundance of native fish for the islands of Maui County. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

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 | 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.

Our November Meeting: With Guest Presentation by Skippy Hau
2018-11-07 17:30 - 19:30 | Pacific Whale Foundationʻs classrooms, 300 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s November 7 meeting will feature a guest presentation by Skippy Hau, Aquatic Biologist with the State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources. Skippy will be presenting a talk on Maui’s streams, the status of their connectivity and the rebounding native species in the streams.
The meeting is free and open to all. It will take place from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops at 300 Ma’alaea Road. The doors open at 5 pm and free refreshments will be available.

Free Presentation on Proposed Use of Oysters for Water Quality Improvement in Ma’alaea Harbor
2018-12-05 17:30 - 19:30 | 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

Pre-Rainy Season Ma'alaea Ditch Cleanup on Saturday, December 8
2018-12-08 09:00 | Meet at Parking Lot between Maui Ocean Center and Carl’s Jr. by EV Charging Stations (along Honoapiilani Highway in Ma’alaea), 300 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is seeking volunteers to help remove trash from a short section of the stormwater ditch along the Honoapi’ilani Highway in Ma’alaea on Saturday, December 8 from 9 am to 11 am.
Unless removed soon, the trash will likely end up in Ma’alaea Bay when winter rains arrive and stormwater flows through the ditch into the ocean. The ditch is located adjacent to the highway and is notorious for accumulating large amounts of man-made debris.
“The time you volunteer is truly a gift for the ocean, for the coral reefs and marine wildlife,” says Amy Hodges, Program Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We need volunteers to help us now, to keep all of the accumulated trash out of the ocean.”
Participants are asked to meet at 9 am at the parking lot that contains the EV charging stations between Maui Ocean Center and Carl’s Jr. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and bring a water bottle, sunscreen and hat. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.
The clean-up is part of an overall plan by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council to help improve ocean water quality in Ma’alaea Bay, home to a sea turtle grazing area, coral reefs, a famous surf break, public fishing area and beaches, as well as a busy small boat harbor.
Cleaning up Ma’alaea Ditch is one project that Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is undertaking to improve ocean water quality in Ma’alaea Bay.
The organization paid for a Stormwater Management Plan for the areas upslope of Ma’alaea Bay to identify additional ways to reduce stormwater runoff laden with sediment and pollutants from flowing into the bay.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is also working on a pilot project to use caged oysters to help improve the water quality in Ma’alaea Harbor. A free presentation about the oyster project will be presented at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s December 5 meeting, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms. The public is invited, admission is free and refreshments will be served.
To sign up for the Ma’alaea Ditch clean-up, please email info@mauireefs.org with your name and cell phone number, so that the team at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council can contact you in the event of rain in Ma’alaea or the West Maui Mountains, which would result in the postponement of the Ma’alaea Ditch clean-up in the interest of volunteer safety.
To learn more about Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, 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 | 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 | 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 | 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

Maʻalaea Ditch Clean-up
2019-03-11 13:00 - 15:00
Join in to help remove trash from a ditch that runs alongside Honoapiilani Highway and drains into the ocean in Maʻalaea! During our last clean-up of this ditch in December, our team of awesome volunteers picked up enough trash to fill 60 large trash bags. All of that trash was kept out of the ocean, thanks to their efforts.
This cleanup on Monday, March 11 begins at 1 pm and is being coordinated by our friends at Pacific Whale Foundation, who are providing trash bags and gloves for all volunteers. Wear closed-toed shoes and bring water, a hat and your favorite work gloves if you wish.
To sign up and for answers to questions, please email events@pacificwhale.org. Mahalo nui loa for your help!

Free presentation about Kaho'olawe by Dean Tokishi of Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission
2019-04-03 17:30 - 19:00 | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Didnʻt get to attend this event?
View it here, thanks to Akaku Community Media
https://vimeo.com/332580699

The public is invited to a free presentation focusing on Kahoʻolawe titled, “Kūkulu Ke Ea A Kanaloa — The life and spirit of Kanaloa builds and takes form.” The talk will be presented by Dean Tokishi, Ocean Resources Specialist III, Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission, at the Wednesday, April 3 meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council at a new venue: The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center.
“Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe’s rich history, complex present and hopeful future can be seen and felt,” said Tokishi. “My talk will cover everything from the island’s use as a prison colony, a ranch, and military live fire training site to the extensive unexploded ordinance clean-up project and the efforts to restore an entire island ecosystem, mauka to makai.”
The meeting and presentation will take place at Maui Ocean Center at The Sphere, a new high-tech dome-shaped presentation space, offering reclining movie-theater style seats and state-of-the-art visuals and acoustics. (Learn more at www.mauioceancenter.com.) Doors open at 5 pm; please enter by the Administrative Office entrance at Maui Ocean Center. The presentation will take place from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Admission is free and the public is invited. By order of the fire marshal, only 118 guests can be accommodated, so admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Many on Maui look across the channel to Kahoʻolawe and wonder about its history, and what the island is like now,” says Amy Hodges, Program Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “Thereʻs also a lot of curiosity about the reefs and marine resources of Kahoʻolawe. How are they surviving after the years of extreme sediment runoff caused by the decades of military bombing of Kahoʻolawe? We are grateful that Dean Tokishi will be sharing his manaʻo and knowledge about Kahoʻolawe with us all.”
“Please join us for this free talk, which will include time for questions from the audience,” says Hodges. “Iʻm confident that weʻll all learn much and come away inspired by the work that KIRC is doing to restore and protect Kahoʻolawe and its marine resources.”
About Dean Tokishi:
Growing up on Maui, Dean graduated from Maui High School and later received a Bachelorʻs Degree in Marine Science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. For three years he was involved in the restoration of Kahoʻolawe during the ordnance removal project. In January of 2003 he obtained a position with the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) in monitoring, managing and protecting all of the Reserves marine resources. Currently Dean serves as KIRCʻs Ocean Resources Program Manager where he is given the opportunity to educate others on the importance of these marine resources.
About Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC)
From its inception by the State of Hawaiʻi in 1993, KIRC was funded through the Kahoʻolawe Island Rehabilitation Trust Fund – originating from a portion of the federal funding allocated to the Navy’s unexploded ordnance clearance project (ending in 2003). In 2014, KIRC partnered with PKO (Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana) and OHA (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) to publish a collaborative plan for the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve through 2026 (entitled I Ola Kanaloa!). With refined goals and objectives adopted by each organization, KIRC presented its self-sustainability financial plan to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2016. Supported by an Aloha Kahoʻolawe campaign, which called for memberships, shared information and public testimony to affirm KIRC’s restoration and access programs, the State authorized permanent funding for KIRC staff and additional CIP funding for KIRC operations in 2018. Programs that bring community volunteers to the Reserve continue to rely on funds raised through donations, grants and memberships. Learn more at https://www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov/home.php.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Celebrating 11 years, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Maui-based nonprofit organization working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and the restoration of native fish for the islands of Maui County. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.
Special thanks to Maui Ocean Center for donating the use of The Sphere for this presentation.

Free presentation titled, “Thinking Like an Island: How to Survive the Plastic Pollution Pandemic”
2019-05-01 17:30 - 19:00 | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Please join us at a free presentation titled, “Thinking Like an Island: How to Survive the Plastic Pollution Pandemic,” that will be offered by Hannah Bernard at the Wednesday, May 1 meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council.
This free presentation will take place from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Doors will open at 5 pm. Advance reservations are recommended, as seating is limited. To make a free reservation, visit https://bit.ly/MauiPlasticPollution
“While scientists and politicians may argue about climate change and its impact on our world ocean, the world is waking up to the devastating reality of the oceanic plastic plague,” says Bernard, the co-founder and Executive Director of Hawai’i Wildlife Fund. “After several decades of local awareness-raising we are at a tipping point worldwide where plastic pollution of the ocean is widely recognized as one of the greatest threats of our time to the ocean ecosystem and even human health.”
Bernard’s talk will focus on ways individuals help turn the tide on the plastic plague and why there’s hope for the future.
“We are excited to have this opportunity to share Hannah Bernard’s extensive knowledge about plastic pollution with the community,” says Amy Hodges, Programs Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “She’ll be sharing the latest findings about plastic pollution and offering commonsense ideas for ways to slow down and perhaps even stop the ‘plastic plague’ that is threatening our ocean and all marine wildlife.”
The meeting will also include updates on Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s programs, including results from its ocean water quality monitoring program along the shores of south and west Maui and its program to improve ocean water quality at Ma’alaea Bay.
The meeting and presentation will take place at Maui Ocean Center at The Sphere, a new high-tech dome-shaped presentation space, offering reclining movie-theater style seats and state-of-the-art visuals and acoustics. (Learn more about The Sphere at www.mauioceancenter.com.) Maui Ocean Center is donating use of this space to Maui Nui Marine Resource Council for this event.
Doors open at 5 pm; please enter by the Administrative Office entrance at Maui Ocean Center. The presentation will take place from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Admission is free and the public is invited. By order of the fire marshal, only 118 guests can be accommodated. Free reservations can be made by following this link: https://bit.ly/MauiPlasticPollution
About Hannah Bernard:
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, Hannah Bernard is an award-winning marine biologist with 37 years’ experience studying, teaching, leading expeditions and directing efforts to support research and conservation of Pacific Ocean marine life. In addition to co-founding the state’s Makai Watch program, she currently serves on the federally appointed False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team to address the incidental mortality and serious injury of false killer whales in Hawai`i’s longline fishery.
She has served on numerous Boards and committees, including the federally appointed Pacific Scientific Review Group, Sierra Club’s National Marine Wildlife and Habitat Committee, the ‘Ahini-Kina’u Advisory Group, the Hawai’i Ecotourism Association, the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, Save Honolua Coalition, Maui Surfrider Foundation, Maui Coral Reef Network, Maui Reef Fund and the ‘Ohana Coalition Steering Committee.
Hawai’i Wildlife Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1996, and has initiated numerous community-based management projects and orchestrated the removal of more than 300 tons of marine debris from some of Hawai’i’s most impacted coastal habitats, protected more than 10,000 hawksbill sea turtle hatchlings and their mothers, and taught thousands of students and volunteers in the field and in the classroom through marine naturalist trainings, youth outreach programs and expeditions.
About Maui Nui.Marine Resource Council:
Maui Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Maui-based nonprofit organization celebrating 11 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 installation of caged oysters in the harbor. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is also working in the Pohakea watershed above Ma’alaea Bay to prevent stormwater runoff to protect ocean water quality and the coral reefs located in the bay. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org

Free presentation about carrying capacity study of heavily visited Haunama Bay
2019-06-05 17:30 - 19:00 | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
When considering Maui’s most popular reefs, how many snorkelers are too many? What’s the impact of hundreds or possibly thousands of snorkelers per day at our reefs? How do we determine the right amount of snorkelers at our local reefs?
If you’ve wondered about the answers to these questions, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council invites you to a free talk that will share methodology and findings from a carrying capacity study of O‘ahu’s heavily visited Hanauma Bay by researchers from The Coral Reef Ecology Lab (CREL). The free presentation will take place at the Wednesday, June 5 meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Doors open at 5 pm. Seating is limited so advance reservations are strongly recommended. To reserve, visit https://bit.ly/snorkelers
The featured guest presenters will be Sarah Jane Leicht Severino, Research Associate, and Ku‘ulei Rodgers, PhD, Principal Investigator of The Coral Reef Ecology Lab (CREL) at the University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology campus. They will speak about CREL’s Hanauma Bay Biological Carrying Capacity study, which quantifies the extent of human influence and determines the acceptable limits of disturbance to the marine resources of Hanauma Bay. For the past year, CREL has performed observational and manipulative experimentation within the Bay documenting the interactions between visitors and the marine environment as they relate to human use, coral tramping, sedimentation, and visual water clarity.
“The findings of the Hanauma Bay research should prove valuable in helping communities throughout Maui County evaluate the impacts of snorkelers at our popular reefs,” says Amy Hodges. “
This talk is an excellent opportunity to explore how Maui County might most effectively answer the question of how many snorkelers — and under what circumstances — are too many snorkelers at our local reefs?”

About Dr. Ku’ulei Rodgers:
Dr. Ku‘ulei Rodgers has been working at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology’s (HIMB) Coral Reef Ecology Lab since 1992 under the direction of Drs. Paul Jokiel and Fenny Cox, as an HIMB faculty member since 2005 and as the Principal Investigator of the Coral Reef Ecology Lab since 2016. Over 100 of her articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals, published reports, and conference proceedings. She was in the top five most read PeerJ journal articles in 2017.
Since 2005, she has provided graduate advising, mentoring, and training for 15 graduate students, 40 undergraduates, interns, and technicians, and 2 post-docs. Ku‘ulei has been heavily involved as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator or research assistant on 25 funded projects since her appointment, conducting research at sites on every island. She has secured funding through grants of over $3.5 million assisting in student support and research needs.
Many of her research projects are of an interdisciplinary nature involving close collaborations with over 20 UH researchers from the oceanography, engineering, and zoology departments and over 50 cooperative relationships with managers and scientists from federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private industry. Her research has been widely disseminated through extensive media coverage with well over 200 documented local television news interviews, newspaper articles, and media events, global webcast video coverage, national and international newspaper and web articles and radio interviews
Ku‘ulei was one of the co-founders along with Dr. Paul Jokiel, Dr. Eric Brown, and Will Smith of the ongoing Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program established in 1999 and continues to serve as PI along with the State Division of Aquatic Resources.
About Sarah Jane Leicht Severino:
Sarah Jane Leicht Severino earned her MS in Marine Science at Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) in 2015. For her master’s research she developed a technique, the Fluorescence Census Technique (FCT), that utilizes the natural fluorescent pigmentation found within some species of corals to non-destructively census their smallest size classes in-situ under daylight conditions.
After graduate school, Sarah worked as a First Mate on HPU’s Research Vessel, Kaholo, for two years. In addition to managing fieldwork on HPU’s Research Vessel, she was recruited by the Navy to manage field operations for a project studying the structure of marine resources within the main Pearl Harbor shipping channel. The FCT was used in the Pearl Harbor shipping channel to quickly and accurately quantify the abundance and recruitment patterns of juvenile coral colonies on their natural reef substrate.
Since starting in the Coral Reef Ecology Lab, Sarah has been working toward establishing a biological carrying capacity for Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD). By analyzing historical data and performing several field experiments, she seeks to quantify changes in the benthic community of reefs at Hanauma Bay in response to pressure from human use.
About Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Established in 2007, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) is an award-winning nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working for healthy coral reefs, clean ocean water and abundant native fish for the islands of Maui County.
During the past 11 years since our organization’s establishment, we have been based on Maui and have achieved recognition for working with our local community to create culturally appropriate, effective science-based solutions to serious local threats facing our reefs. Many problems facing Maui County’s local reefs originate on land, which is why our projects and programs are community-based and work from mountains (mauka) to sea (makai). To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.

Free Presentation: South Maui Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Results
2019-06-12 18:00 - 19:30 | HI, United States
Free public presentation of findings from 12 months of ocean water quality monitoring at 20 beach locations along the coast of South Maui by the volunteer-based program Hui O Ka Wai Ola (Association of Living Waters). On Wednesday, June 12 , from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary at 726 South Kīhei Road in Kīhei. Admission is free.

Free talk by Ed Lyman, Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator, on Tuesday, July 2
2019-07-02 17:00 - 19:00 | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
As part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly meeting, a free presentation, titled, “Catch and Release: Large Whale Entanglement Response,” will be offered by Edward Lyman on Tuesday, July 2 at 5:30 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. The event is open to the public. The presentation will include amazing video footage from pole- and helmet-mounted cameras showing some of the whale rescues in Hawaii by the network of responders that are authorized to assist with such entanglements,
Seating is limited, so reservations (free of charge) are recommended and can be arranged at https://bit.ly/WhaleRescueTalk.
Lyman, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s Natural Resources Management Specialist, has responded more than 120 times to calls to free large whales and other marine animals from entangling gear over the past 25 years, resulting in more than 50 large whales being freed.
“For over 17 years the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, working with NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program and the on-water community, has led a successful community-based network of experienced responders to free large whales, like the humpback whales found seasonally around Hawaiʻi, from life-threatening entanglements,” said Lyman. “As a result, the sanctuary and its partners have removed gear from more than 30 large whales and gained a wealth of information to mitigate the threat and its broad impacts.”
During his presentation, Lyman will describe the difficult and sometimes dangerous task of disentangling 40-ton, likely free-swimming whales, using techniques modified from those employed to catch large fish or used historically by whalers to kill the animals.
The talk will be part of the July monthly meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, a nonprofit organization working for healthy coral reefs and clean ocean water. It will take place at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, located at 192 Maʻalaea Road at the Maʻalaea Harbor Shops.
Doors will open at 5 pm and the talk will begin promptly at 5:30 pm.
“We are grateful to Maui Ocean Center for generously donating the use of The Sphere for this presentation,” said Amy Hodges, Programs Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “We are also very thankful to Ed Lyman for making time to give this talk during a holiday week celebrating ʻlife, liberty and the pursuit of happinessʻ — important for whales as well as people.”

About Edward Lyman:
Ed Lyman is currently the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s Natural Resources Management Specialist and Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator under NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. He works closely with NOAA Fisheries, and under their Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. For more than 25 years Ed has worked with NOAA, state agencies, and others to better understand the animals and to address the threats that impact them, especially ship-strikes and entanglements. His efforts encompass Alaska, the East and West Coasts, Hawaiʻi and other countries. Ed has worked with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary for more than 17 years.
Ed has participated in over 120 disentanglement efforts and helped free more than 50 large whales – 30 off Hawaiʻi. He assists NOAA in coordinating a community-based network to provide safe and authorized response to entangled large whales. However, the ultimate goal is working with fishermen, scientists, managers, and others to gain valuable information that may reduce entanglement threat in the future.
Ed graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where he received a Master’s of Science studying semi-aquatic mammals and island biogeography. He worked for the Shoals Marine Laboratory and Sea Education Association, where he gained a strong marine background. He has studied whales since 1994, when he worked for the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, a non-profit whale research and rescue organization. Ed also worked for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, where he worked with fishermen to reduce entanglement impacts.

About Maui Nui.Marine Resource Council:
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a Maui-based nonprofit organization celebrating 11 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 installation of caged oysters in the harbor. Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is also working in the Pohakea watershed above Ma’alaea Bay to prevent stormwater runoff to protect ocean water quality and the coral reefs located in the bay. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org

Free Presentation: Report on West Maui Ocean Water Quality
2019-07-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Lahainaluna High School, 980 Lahainaluna Rd,, Lahaina, HI, 96761, United States
How clean is the ocean water along the shores and at the beaches of West Maui? The public is invited to learn the answer to this question at a free presentation showcasing the results gathered by Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a unique community-based coastal water quality monitoring program co-managed by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, The Nature Conservancy and West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative.
The presentation will take place on Tuesday, July 30 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Lahainaluna High School Cafeteria in Lahaina. Admission is free. Residents and visitors are welcome. The evening will feature results from two years of ocean water quality monitoring at 19 West Maui locations from Honolua Bay to Papalaua near the Pali.
“Come learn about the scientific data that our volunteers and staff have gathered through their diligent work in the field and in the lab,” says James Strickland III, Project Manager of Hui O Ka Wai Ola. “We encourage everyone to attend, to learn about the water quality issues that we’ve found in West Maui.”
A Unique Community-Based Effort
Hui O Ka Wai Ola (“Association of Living Waters”) is the first citizen science-based water quality monitoring program of its kind in Hawai’i that works in close cooperation with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health Clean Water Branch to provide scientific, quality-assured data for use by State and County government, community groups, researchers and the public. More than 40 Maui residents volunteer with Hui O Ka Wai Ola. Since monitoring began in 2016, the program has collected and analyzed over 700 water quality samples from 49 sites in West and South Maui.
“Our primary motivation for launching this program was the health of Mauiʻs coral reefs,” says Robin Newbold, co-founder and Chair of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “Coral reefs need clean ocean water to survive; especially during this time of warming ocean water, sea level rise and climate change. Having this data is an important step in working for clean ocean water along our coasts.”
Quality Assured Data
The Hui O Ka Wai Ola program follows a strict Department of Health (DOH) approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). As a result, the DOH readily accepts the Hui’s data, and incorporates it into its reports and databases.
Every three weeks, trained volunteers wade into knee deep water to gather ocean water samples from the 39 monitored locations in leeward Maui, conducting evaluations of salinity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity (sediment) at portable labs carried in the volunteersʻ cars. Additional analysis of the samples takes place in labs that are hosted pro bono by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and Lahaina Luna High School. The samples are also frozen and shipped to the SOEST Analytical Laboratory on O‘ahu for additional analysis of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds.
Data is the First Step Toward Solving Maui’s Ocean Water Quality Issues
By identifying where water is impaired and why, the community can begin to identify the sources of the impairment. “For example, when we find areas with high levels of nutrients, we can look for upslope issues like chemically intensive landscape management practices or historic agricultural that impacts the ocean through runoff or via the groundwater,” says Tova Callender, Coordinator of the West Maui Ridge to Reef initiative.
All data collected by the Hui is made available to the public at HuiOKaWaiOla.com, PacIOOS, and Zenodo. The data has also been uploaded to the Environmental Protection Agency’s STORET database for use by State and Federal agencies. This volunteer-based citizen science water quality monitoring group’s data has been included in the State of Hawai‘i Clean Water Branch’s Integrated Report to the EPA, “2018 State of Hawai‘i Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report”.
“This community-based program is an excellent example of how people can organize to supplement the efforts of our hard-working State agencies,” says Kim Falinski, Marine Science Advisor for The Nature Conservancy. “Our program has paralleled State-collected data protocols and developed standards available for groups in Hawai‘i and beyond to adopt in creating similar programs.”
The Hui O Ka Wai Ola program is a partnership between the Maui Nui Marine Resources Council, The Nature Conservancy, and the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, and is supported by Maui County Office of Economic Development (OED), Hawai‘i Tourism Aloha ‘Āina Program, North Beach West Maui Benefit Fund, Napili Bay and Beach Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Lush Cosmetics, The Makana Aloha Foundation, Honua Kai West Maui Community Fund, as well as individuals, families and local businesses. To learn more, please visit www.huiokawaiola.com or at www.mauireefs.org.

Dr. Steven Businger to Speak on “Severe Weather in a Warming World”
2019-08-07 17:30 - 19:00 | 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 | 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.

An Evening with Nainoa Thompson
2019-10-08 18:00 - 19:30 | ‘Iao Theater, 68 N Market St,, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
An Evening with Nainoa Thompson:
“Mālama Honua (Care for Island Earth): In a Changing World, Hope Comes With Action”
President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and a master in the traditional Polynesian art of non-instrument navigating, Nainoa Thompson led Hōkūleʻa’s global “Mālama Honua (Care for Island Earth) Voyage.” Inspired by his kūpuna, his teachers, he has dedicated his life to exploring the deep meaning of voyaging. On long voyages, Nainoa came to appreciate the Hawaiian concept of “mālama” (caretaking).
“Our ancestors learned that if they took care of their canoe and each other,” Nainoa often told his crew, “and if they marshaled their resources of food and water, they would arrive safely at their destination.”
Nainoa is the recipient of numerous community awards, including the Unsung Hero of Compassion, awarded to him by His Holiness XIV Dalai Lama on behalf of the organization Wisdom in Action, the Native Hawaiian Education Association’s Manomano Ka ‘Ike (Depth and Breadth of Knowledge) Educator of the Year Award, the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the BLUE Ocean Film Festival Legacy Award, the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Marine Exploration, the National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Medal, and the Explorers Club Medal.
Don’t miss this inspiring presentation on Tuesday, October 8 at the historic ʻIao Theater in Wailuku. It is presented as part of the “Know Your Ocean” Speaker Series, presented by the nonprofit Maui Nui Marine Resource Council with support from the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Maui Visitors Bureau. Tickets are $10 – $20 per person with reserved seating. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Presentation at 6:00 pm.
To purchase your ticket, visit https://bit.ly/NainoaThompson

Talk Story with Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
2019-10-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 726 South Kihei Road, Kihei, HI, 96793, United States
What are your thoughts and concerns about Maui’s coral reefs, ocean water quality and the numbers of fish living in our nearshore ocean areas?
What issues relating to our coastal areas are most important to you?
What ideas do you have for projects and programs that would benefit our beaches and reefs?
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council invites visitors and residents to a community input meeting on Monday, October 28, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary at 726 South Kihei Road, Kihei. Come talk story with us!
You’ll also meet our new Executive Director, Christina Lizzi, who will be there to listen and learn from the community.
Free and open to all. Learn more at www.mauireefs.org.

"Ola Nā Papa i Pūlama ‘ia: A Tribute to Maui’s Living Coral Reefs" To Be Presented on November 6 by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
2019-11-06 18:00 - 19:30 | ‘Iao Theater, 68 N Market St,, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
An event titled “Ola Nā Papa i Pūlama ‘ia: A Tribute to Maui’s Living Coral Reefs” will be presented by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council on Wednesday, November 6 at 6 pm at ‘Iao Theater in Wailuku. The purpose of the event is to bring together Hawaiian culture and science to celebrate Hawaiʻiʻs coral reefs and promote better understanding of these remarkable undersea communities. It will feature presentations by three of Hawaii’s most noted coral scientists, Dr. Mark Hixon, Dr. Bob Richmond and Russell Sparks, plus a presentation on the significance of coral reefs in Hawaiian culture by Rhiannon Chandler-‘Īao.
It will feature presentations by three of Hawaii’s most noted coral scientists, Dr. Mark Hixon, Dr. Bob Richmond and Russell Sparks, plus a presentation on the significance of coral reefs in Hawaiian culture by Rhiannon Chandler-‘Īao and a hula performance by local Maui hulau, Hula Alapa’i i Malu’ulolele of Ka ‘imi Na’auao o Hawai’i Nei.
“The evening will feature hula plus four short presentations, each by an expert on coral reefs or Hawaiian culture,” said Christina Lizzi, Executive Director of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “This event is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s new ‘Know Your Ocean’ speaker series which kicked off in October with a presentation by Nainoa Thompson.”
This event is funded in part by the County of Maui Mayorʻs Office of Economic Development. Tickets are $5 (all inclusive) and are available at MauiOnstage.com. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the presentations will begin at 6:00 pm. Complimentary tickets for students and teachers can be obtained by emailing info@mauireefs.org.
The Tribute to Maui’s Living Coral Reefs will feature these presentations:

Performance by Hula Alapa’i i Malu’ulolele of Ka ‘imi Na’auao o Hawai’i Nei
This 20 minute performance will feature dances related to the themes of kumulipo, limu, fish, rains and the ocean. The performance will close with Mo’olele, which was composed Lahaina’s doublehull sailing canoe (Mo’olele) and starts with “let’s go holoholo…take us into our voyage of the night.”

The value of Hawaiiʻs coral reefs as cultural and natural resources
Rhiannon “Rae” Renee Tereari’i Chandler-‘Īao

The Kumulipo, the creation chant of the Hawaiian people, tells us that ʻuku koʻakoʻa or the coral polyp, was the first organism created. Discover the immeasurable value of our coral reefs in Hawaiian
culture and as a natural resource through this talk by Rhiannon “Rae” Renee Tereari’i Chandler-‘Īao. She is the Executive Director of O‘ahu Waterkeeper. Chandler-‘ Īao earned a B.A. in Ethnic St
udies from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 2004 and graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2016 with certificates in both Native Hawaiian Rights Law and Environmental Law.
After graduating, she worked as a Post-JD 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, Chandler-‘Īao served as a member of the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, a board member of the Maui Non-Profit Directors Association and a Steering Committee member of Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows Leadership Program.

Saving the Uhu (Parrotfishes) Can Help Save Our Reefs
Dr. Mark Hixon
Brilliantly colored with big “smiles” created by their fused upper teeth, uhu are not only beautiful, but are also very important in helping to save both our reefs and our beaches during this time of climate disruption. Dr. Mark Hixon will explore the essential role of uhu in Hawai‘i’s coral reef ecosystem. Dr. Hixon has been recognized as the “most cited American scientific author on coral reefs” (2003, ISI Citation Index). He is a Fulbright Senior Scholar, an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow, and a Fellow of the International Coral Reef Society. Dr. Hixon is the Hsiao Endowed Chair in Marine Biology at the Department of Biology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and he serves on the scientific advisory committee for the Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative plan for effectively managing nearshore ocean waters. Dr. Hixon has given TEDx talks about coral reefs and has published scientific studies of reefs in Hawaiʻi, Australia, French Polynesia, the Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands.
Cockroach Corals and the Sounds of our Reefs
Dr. Bob Richmond
You know how hard it can be to kill a cockroach? Some corals are just as resilient, thriving in impaired, sediment-laden ocean water – conditions that normally undermine coral reef health. Dr. Bob Richmond has been studying these “cockroach corals” in Ma’alaea Harbor and Olowalu. He’ll share theories about how these corals are so resilient and their possible role in replenishing reefs harmed by climate change. Dr. Richmond will also bring examples of the sounds emitted by coral reefs and help us understand why these sounds are a useful diagnostic tool to evaluate reef health. A Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, a Leopold Fellow in Environmental Leadership and Past President of the International Society for Reef Studies, Dr. Richmond is the chair of the Maui Coral Recovery Team convened by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and is a co-author of the Maui Coral Recovery Plan.
Coral Bleaching Off Maui: How Bad? And What’s Next?
Russell Sparks
Hawaiʻi is facing an unprecedented coral bleaching event, caused by overly warm ocean waters. What happened to our reefs during the last major bleaching event in 2015 and what did we learn about coral survival rates? What can we theorize about this current bleaching event and bleaching events of the future? Russell Sparks is the Aquatic Biologist of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources. Sparks received his B.S. in Biology from Oregon State University. He received his M.S. in Marine Biology from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1996. Since 1998, Russell has worked for the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources as an education specialist and more recently as an aquatic biologist. He is currently responsible for leading the design, implementation, and overall management of the Maui marine monitoring program, and for working with stakeholders and communities to develop marine management programs aimed at adaptively managing nearshore fisheries and coral reef resources.
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.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council Presents Free Talk on "Wildfire and Sediment: Addressing Two of the Biggest Threats to Maʻalaea Bay and its Coral Reefs"
2019-11-13 17:30 - 19:00 | The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center, 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI, 96793, United States
Wildfire and sediment are two of the biggest threats to ocean water quality in Ma’alea Bay. Wildfires burn away the plant cover on upslope lands, creating prime conditions for soil erosion. Erosion results in sediment in the ocean, which harms coral reefs, hindering their ability to feed, grow and reproduce.
What can be done about these threats to Ma’alaea Bay? Maui Nui Marine Resource Council invites you to learn more at a free talk on Wednesday, November 13 at 5:30 pm at The Sphere at Maui Ocean Center. Admission is free and the public is invited. Seating is limited, so advance reservations are suggested. To make your complimentary reservation, visit https://bit.ly/wildfireandsediment
Speaker Michael Reyes, Senior Ecologist at Maui Environmental Consulting, will take participants on a virtual trip to the Pohakea watershed above Ma’alaea, to learn about plans to mitigate wildfires in the area and resolve problems that currently contribute to erosion.
Reyes will be sharing the findings and the action steps outlined in the “Vision for Pohakea” plan that Maui Environmental Consulting created on behalf of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is in the process of taking the first steps to implement that plan.
The evening will also include updates on Maui Nui Marine Resource Councilʻs pilot project to use caged oysters to help improve ocean water quality in Maʻalaea Harbor. Amy Hodges, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s Programs Manager will speak about this project and will show photos of the oysters that are being raised for this project.
To arrange for your free reservation, follow this link: https://bit.ly/wildfireandsediment

About Michael Reyes:
Michael Reyes is the Principal and Senior Ecologist at Maui Environmental Consulting, LLC (MEC). His educational and professional experiences have provided him with an extensive background in several aspects of ecology and water quality. He has experience in environmental assessments, water quality evaluations, surface water monitoring, listed species surveys, and numerous wetland delineations/evaluations. Mike has been certified by the National Society for Wetland Scientists as a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS#2303). He serves as an Associate Director for the Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District and acts as the Watershed Coordinator for the Southwest Maui Watershed Plan.
Working with Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, MEC developed the Pohakea Stormwater Management Plan. This project involved canvassing the Pohakea watershed for current landscape conditions affecting water quality within Maʻalaea Bay. While this study focused on erosion and sediment transport caused by surface water flow during stormwater events, any on-site observations of nutrient, pathogen, or other pollutant sources, as well as any other land management practices that may be contributing to water quality degradation in Maʻalaea Bay or Maʻalaea Harbor were recorded. Implementation projects were then designed to address these sources of pollution. Michael will be offering a brief review of the Pohakea Stormwater Management Plan.
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.

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 | 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.
