LIHU‘E — Aaron Swink of the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources likes sharks, said Jean Souza, the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery on-site manager.
“He has a lot of information on sharks,” said Souza, who also is the Kaua‘i Program Specialist for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. “He’ll be leading the distribution of the free Grab &Go learning kits, Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., near the educational panel on sharks that was just installed by the Kukui Grove Center.”
A lot of the material in the ocean learning kit comes from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, who is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery to make the kits available to the public.
The shark learning kits will include a Hawai‘i shark brochure, coloring book, and information sheets with online sources of Hawai‘i shark webinars and educational videos, a University of Hawai‘i shark lab link, and DLNR shark website.
The Kukui Grove Center partnered with the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery to install the large mural-sized panel that provides a myriad of information on the sharks in the world, but highlighting those found in the Pacific region near the Hawaiian Islands. The panel on sharks is also the first of several Kukui Grove plans on installing around the shopping center to support ocean learning in partnership with Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery.
“Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery is still closed, awaiting approval to open after it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March,” Souza said. “But the learning continues with these free learning kits that take place several times a year. For people who can’t make the distribution times, there will be a limited amount available at the nearby Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i after the tables close.”
“We know there is a lot of interest in sharks, so this outdoor panel across from Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i and the Keiki Korner Children’s Play area (which is also closed due to COVID-19) is in a prime location for all who want to learn more, without being confined to a room.
Matt McIntosh, one of the designers for the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery in the Kukui Grove Center, has several of the panels available, Souza said.
“Matt is the lead for the shark panel that was just installed by Sign Art,” she said. “He put his heart and soul into Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery panels, and now, we have one that can be shared outside with physical social distancing. The shopping center plans to install several more of these panels in the future.”
In addition to the periodic free Grab &Go learning kits, people are invited to participate in the free webinars and virtual programs coordinated by the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
“This is a great partnership,” said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack of the Kukui Grove management team. “Jean Souza and their team have been so creative in trying to come up with ways to share their resources on our ocean environment despite the limitation on events during this COVID-19 pandemic. The sharks don’t just look cool; every time I walk by I pick up a new fun fact. We are so fortunate to have access to these world-class resources for our kids right here in Lihu‘e.”
Souza said future programs will touch on the endangered seabirds to coincide with the fledging of the Newell Shearwater between Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. Additionally, more resources, including a dedicated Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery online resources page are in development to be shared later in this fall.
