Public invited to free Aug. 3 presentation on whale shark research and conservation in Hawaiʻi
2022-08-03 17:30 - 18:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Zoom webinar
MAʻALAEA, MAUI, HI – Whale shark sightings have been reported throughout the Hawaiian Islands, but very little is known about these slow-moving, filter-feeding giant fish. It’s unknown how many individual whale sharks frequent Hawaii’s waters, where they are coming from or going to, and where they are most frequently seen.
The nonprofit Hawai’i Unchartered Research Collective (HURC) is working to fill in gaps about whale sharks through research and investigations of local and global threats to these mysterious animals. Learn what HURC is discovering about Hawaii’s whale sharks at a free Zoom presentation by Maria Harvey, Director and Chief Research of HURC on Wednesday, August 3 at 5:30 pm. The presentation is free, but preregistration is required. To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/WhaleSharkWebinar
The presentation is hosted by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council as part of its monthly Know Your Ocean Speaker Series. This event is sponsored by the County of Maui Office of Climate Change, Resiliency, and Sustainability (CCRS).
Harvey formed Hawai‘i Uncharted Research Collective in 2017. Her research non-profit provides an avenue to couple her research and education background with her love for the Hawaiian Islands, ocean conservation and the charismatic whale sharks that inhabit the deep blue waters of the Pacific.
Her presentation will dive into some of HURC’s results so far, the efforts that are underway to protect whale sharks and the organization’s future plans.
Harvey graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and is currently working on her graduate degree in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.
Harvey’s love for the ocean, education, wilderness, and research has taken her all over the world in recent years. Notably, Harvey has worked in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico and Cape Cod. During her travels, she has worked as a Captain, naturalist, expedition guide, assistant researcher, and currently a level-4 marine animal disentanglement specialist. Her work and studies have encompassed a variety of species, including spinner dolphins, humpback whales, right whales, bottlenose dolphins, leatherback turtles and whale sharks.
In recent years, Harvey has been a guest lecturer and distinguished speaker for private universities and cruise operations, including the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School, Georgetown University, and UnCruise Adventures.
“Those who have encountered whale sharks in the wild say it is an extremely memorable experience,” said Meredith Beeson, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s Research and Program’s Coordinator and manager of the Know Your Ocean Speaker Series. “This free talk will bring you up-close to the world of whale sharks, through Maria Harvey’s work to understand and protect them. Come join us online for this fascinating evening presentation.”
To register, please visit https://bit.ly/WhaleSharkWebinar

Chase Great White Sharks with World-Renowned Photographer David Fleetham in Next Know Your Ocean Speaker Series Webinar
2022-09-07 17:30 - 18:30
KIHEI – For most ocean goers, coming across a great white shark would probably spark fear. But for underwater photographer and former National Geographic assignment photographer David Fleetham, these sharks sparked fascination and sent him on a journey around the world to photograph them and dispel the fear that comes with sharks.
The public is invited to learn more about these animals and Fleetham’s journeys in a free presentation, “Photographing Great White Sharks – A journey to Australia, South Africa, Guadalupe Island Mexico and back to Hawaii.” The Zoom presentation will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 5:30 pm as part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Councilʻs monthly Know Your Ocean Speaker Series, sponsored by the County of Maui. Admission is free, but advanced registration is required. To register, please visit https://bit.ly/SharkPhotographyWebinar.
Fleetham will share stories and photographs from his 30-year-long mission to learn more about great white sharks and nail down an iconic image of a misunderstood myth.
“For me, the path to good photos of great white sharks has been one with many twists and turns,” said Fleetham. “In terms of perceptions, cage diving with the sharks has become an industry in many parts of the world and has changed our view of these impressive fish.”
Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1958, Fleetham is one of the most published underwater photographers in the world. He began diving and photographing underwater in 1976 and has called Hawaii home since 1986. For the first ten years he photographed in the cold, rich waters of British Columbia, Canada, and worked as a PADI Instructor and USCG Certified boat captain in various dive businesses in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. From Hawaii, David has been on assignments to Indonesia, the Galapagos Islands, South Africa, the Bahamas, Micronesia, Australia, Sri Lanka, the Sea of Cortez, China, the Red Sea, the Socorro Islands, numerous locations in the South Pacific and Caribbean, and back to the cold waters of British Columbia.
“Sharks are vital for ocean ecosystems, including coral reefs, where they help maintain a sound balance in the food web,” said Meredith Beeson, Project and Research Coordinator at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “Changing public perception and protecting these animals is crucial if we want to continue to enjoy the reefs around Maui Nui, and we’re excited to hear what David has to share from his experience working on this.”
More about David Fleetham’s Work:
Fleetham’s photographs have been published around the globe, with over two hundred magazine covers to date. In 1991 his photograph of a sandbar shark appeared on the cover of LIFE. It is the only underwater image to ever be published on the cover. His award winning work has been published by National Geographic, The Cousteau Society, and every North American diving publication.
In 2010 Fleetham’s image of a manatee was selected from 50,000 entries as the grand prizewinner in the professional division of the National Wildlife Federation’s photography contest. Galleries and agents in over 50 countries reproduce Fleetham’s images thousands of times each year. The American Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian Museum, The North Carolina Museum of Natural History, The London Zoo, Hong Kong Museum, The Maui Ocean Center, The Waikiki, Vancouver, Monterey Bay, New Jersey State, and Ripley’s Aquariums and the Aquarium of the Americas all display his work.
Fleetham is a founding member of The Ocean Artists Society, whose members include James Cameron, Wyland, David Doubilet, and Al Giddings. You can see his work on his website, and he can be found on Instagram @davidfleetham.

Hui O Ka Wai Ola Reports on Six Years of Monitoring Maui’s Coastal Water Quality 2016-2022
2023-02-01 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom webinar
How do you know the water off your favorite beach is clean enough to swim in? You have a group of volunteers to thank for that. Prompted by caring for the health of our residents, visitors, and the culturally important and ecologically sensitive coral reefs off our shores, Hui O Ka Wai Ola (the Hui) has been keeping track of changes in water quality on Maui since 2016.
To register (it’s FREE), visit https://bit.ly/HOKWOwebinar2023.
Learn more about the Hui water quality monitoring program, how the past year’s massive storms and brown water events affected water quality, and the new pesticide sampling project on a free Zoom webinar on Wed. February 1 at 5:30 pm, presented by Liz Yannell, the Hui’s Senior Team Leader.
The presentation is part of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council’s monthly Know Your Ocean Speaker Series, supported by the County of Maui. Admission is free, but advance reservations are required.
To reserve your spot, visit https://bit.ly/HOKWOwebinar2023.
In this month’s MNMRC Know Your Ocean Speaker Series talk, Liz Yannell, the Hui’s Senior Team Lead, speaks about water quality observations taken over the last year and looks at long-term trends from the past six years. We’ll also hear about an ongoing collaborative project with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate pesticide contamination in waters along our coast.
The Hui O Ka Wai Ola is a volunteer-based water quality monitoring organization that is a partnership between MNMRC, The Nature Conservancy, and the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative. The Hui’s members include volunteers from diverse backgrounds like scientists and community organizations. The Hawaii Department of Health is mandated to monitor coastal water quality around the islands and encourages partnerships with groups such as the Hui to improve data about pollutants threatening coral reefs and human health.
The Hui’s culture of collaboration and a deep interest in ocean health made for a natural partnership with NOAA’s NCCOS (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science) carrying out the fieldwork needed for a research study to address a long-standing gap in our understanding of Maui’s water quality, “current use” pesticides. Current use pesticides are still legally in use for pest control vs those, like DDT, that are no longer on the market in the US. Current use pesticides are one class of chemicals that has long been overlooked here in Maui. Pollutants in the water are typically measured by collecting a one-time “grab sample” (i.e. a bottle of water). While these can provide good information, especially when repeated over time, the drawback to using grab samples is that low-level pollutants can be missed. Passive samplers that absorb chemicals in the environment over time can be used to sample for a longer period of time. This minimizes the likelihood of missing the presence of a pollutant. In the current project, silicone bands will be used to soak up any pesticides in the water at eighteen nearshore reefs along leeward Maui. This work will provide a more comprehensive assessment of pesticide pollution in our coastal waters, and help guide pollution reduction actions if needed.

Free Webinar: Catch and Release: Large Whale Entanglement Response in Hawaiʻi
2024-10-02 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom webinar
MAUI, HI – The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council (MNMRC) will host the October edition of its “Know Your Ocean Speaker Series” featuring Maria Harvey. on Wednesday, October 2 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Entanglement is one of the leading causes of mortality in large whales. In her talk, Harvey, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s (HIHWNMS) Large Whale Resource Protection, Rescue, and Monitoring Assistant will share stories, dive into the history of response efforts, and share strategies used by authorized entanglement responders. She will also share ways individuals can help in entanglement situations and what the future for large whale disentanglement looks like in the Hawaiian Islands.
Harvey earned her B.A. in Marine Science from the University of Hawaiʻi in 2009 and is currently working on her graduate degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. She has worked as a Captain, naturalist, expedition guide, assistant researcher, and a level-4 marine animal disentanglement specialist. Her work and studies have encompassed a variety of species, including spinner dolphins, humpback whales, right whales, leatherback turtles, and whale sharks. In recent years, Harvey formed Hawai‛i Uncharted Research Collective, a research non-profit, that provides an avenue to couple her research and education background with her love for the Hawaiian Islands, ocean conservation, and the charismatic whale sharks that inhabit the deep blue waters of the Pacific. Her educational background and professional experience brought her to Lynker in support of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and their large whale health monitoring and disentanglement efforts.
Registration for the talk is free and can be completed at https://bit.ly/KYOMHOCT24.

Speaker Series: Global & Local Coastal Water Quality Data Visualization: A New Tool for Maui's Community
2024-12-04 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom webinar
Join us for a conversation on how Aqualink, a leading platform for real-time oceanographic data, is partnering with water quality monitoring organization Hui O Ka Wai Ola (HOKWO) to empower residents and scientists alike to track water quality and ocean conditions in real-time. Learn about new tools for monitoring sea surface temperature, wind, and wave conditions alongside HOKWO’s essential data on salinity, pH, and turbidity. The partnership aims to highlight the importance of “thinking globally, acting locally,” equipping Maui’s community with insights to safeguard its cherished beaches and reefs. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the global network of ocean advocates and how you can make a meaningful impact in protecting Maui’s coastal waters! Register here:
Save your spot, register today!

Meet the Speaker: Caesar Hjertén, Project Manager at Aqualink

Caesar joined Aqualink in February 2022 with the goal of advancing the platform and increasing the organization’s impact. Caesar graduated from UH Hilo where he also played for the university’s soccer team. Caesar is passionate about our oceans and the environment. He likes to play sports, dive, surf, and other outdoor activities. At Aqualink, he manages the online platform, fleet of Smart Mooring buoys, and is Aqualink’s primary point of contact.

Meet the Speaker: Liz Yannell, Program Manager at Hui O Ka Wai Ola
Liz joined the Hui as Senior Team Leader in May 2022 and became the Program Manager in June 2023. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Florida Gulf Coast University. In 2022, Liz graduated from the Marine Options Program at UH Maui and worked as the assistant in the marine lab on campus. As Program Manager, she is primarily responsible for coordinating various aspects of the program, including field, lab, and logistical support, coordinating fellow team leads, and managing the volunteer program. Her responsibilities include overseeing monitoring operations and data collection, entry, and record-keeping; team lead and volunteer training and coordination; preparing and maintaining supplies and equipment; and meeting with advisory Technical and Steering Committees to ensure successful continuity and growth of the program. She also often joins volunteers in collection and analysis of coastal water samples in the field. Liz is from O’ahu and currently lives in Kula with her two kids and husband. She loves all things ocean-related and is very passionate about coral reef conservation.

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

Register today using the link below!

Volunteer Day: Collecting Limu Samples for Nutrient Testing
2025-02-11 08:30 - 11:00
Testing limu for excessive levels of nutrients can help identify potential pollutants entering nearshore waters. We’re looking for a small group of volunteers to help us collect limu (algae) samples from beaches in Kīhei on Tuesday, February 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The day will include a short training followed by the collection of limu at 2-3 sites in South Maui.
Spaces are limited so sign up today! Click here to sign up.

Volunteer Day: Limu Sampling in North/West Maui
2025-04-14 08:30 - 11:30
We are looking for a small group of volunteers to help us collect limu samples from sites in North/West Maui on Monday, April 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The day will include a short training day followed by the collection of limu at sites in North/West Maui.
Generally, ocean water pollution comes from commercial fertilizer, wastewater, or a mix of the two. Analyzing how much Nitrogen is present in sample tissue can give us clues about which one is the culprit. Levels around 2% or less are considered a normal standard for Nitrogen, but elevated levels signal enrichment in the water.
Spots are on a first-come, first-served basis. Mahalo!
Volunteer Sign Up

Volunteer Day - Limu Sampling West Maui
2025-07-15 08:30 - 11:30
We are looking for a small group of volunteers to help us collect limu samples from sites in West Maui on Tuesday, July 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The day will include a short training followed by the collection of limu at 2-3 sites.
Spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sign Up to Volunteer
