LIHU‘E — Ed Lyman, a large whale entanglement response coordinator, wrapped up two days of presentations on Kaua‘i as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Jean Souza, the Kaua‘i program coordinator
LIHU‘E — Ed Lyman, a large whale entanglement response coordinator, wrapped up two days of presentations on Kaua‘i as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Jean Souza, the Kaua‘i program coordinator for the Sanctuary, said there were about 50 people in attendance for Lyman’s presentation Wednesday evening at the Princeville Public Library and another two dozen people taking in the 90-minute presentation Thursday at the Kaua‘i Museum.
One of those attending the Lihu‘e presentation was a Kaua‘i Museum staff member whose family is heavily involved in fishing, said Jane Gray, the Kaua‘i Museum director.
The presentations, “Humpback Whales — Bumps, Gulps and Snags. What Does it All Mean?” centered on humpback whales and their ecology both here in Hawai‘i and in Alaska.
Cheryl Shintani, who along with Cathe Turley are Kaua‘i board members for the Hawai‘i National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, was on hand with information on the newly-formed organization whose primary goal is to support both the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
“This is a first,” Shintani said. “The Hawai‘i National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, signing its Chapter Agreement in July, is a locally-based, volunteer-managed chapter of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a private nonprofit organization which connects people to the most valued placed in our oceans — the national marine sanctuaries.”
Shintani said the Foundation envision the communities of the Hawaiian Islands to be engaged stewards of our healthy and culturally-rich Pacific Ocean for today and future generations.
A flier being distributed by the Foundation states that Hawai‘i has 1,370-square miles, which are protected by the Sanctuary, 10,000 people visiting the Kihei Visitor Center annually and 18,000 hours being contributed by sanctuary volunteers each year.
Additionally, 2,300 volunteers were part of the Sanctuary Ocean Count, which takes place in January, February and March, and 146 shipwrecks and aircraft can be found within the Hawai‘i sanctuary system.
Visit www.nmsfocean.org, or www.hawaiinmsf.org for more information or to contribute to the new support group.
