LIHUE — Kamakai, the nearly-life-sized, inflatable whale, will be inflated for the public Saturday at the Princeville Public Library.
“This is not just a whale,” said Carolyn Larson, the Lihue Public Library branch manager, Wednesday when Kamakai joined other partners in presenting at the library’s Summer Reading Program. “We have six different stations, including the tour of the inflatable, anatomically-correct whale.”
Kamakai and its partner features will be available to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is the final stop of a tour that started with its World Oceans Day appearance at Kukui Grove Center, then Lihue Public Library, and ending Saturday.
“The theme is the ocean,” Larson said. “Once a person goes through the six stations, they will gain so much information and have a new perspective — numerous ideas on summer reading — on the ocean.”
The tour starts with external anatomy, where Kamakai’s external features are highlighted with emphasis on the impact the ocean has on whales. The orientation is followed by a 10-minute tour inside the inflatable whale.
Marine debris is displayed by the Surfrider Foundation, with information about the impact of marine debris on the ocean.
“No matter how we mess up, Mother Nature finds a solution,” said Kat Brickner of Surfrider, who displayed how coral grew around various marine debris, including ropes. A building block created from marine debris being shipped to New Zealand was on display, Brickner pointing out that Island School is planning on building a pavilion on its campus utilizing the blocks.
The tour moves to a craft station and a Summer Reading Program table suggesting reading material suitable for all ages in the free program.
“This gives people, especially the younger ones, a different perspective on the Pacific Ocean,” said Christa McLeod of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, who manned a massive, 35-foot map of the Pacific Ocean.
“The key word is ‘bathymetry.’ The map, which is on loan to the Kilauea Lighthouse, shows the topography under the water, the cliffs, sea trenches, and the Ring of Fire. A lot of the people have relatives in the Philippines and Japan. When they discover those countries and the relation to where we are in Hawaii, they start getting excited.”
There is no charge to experience the Summer Reading Program exhibits.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
