2008 LIVING REEF NOMINEE SUMMARY

COMMERCIAL DIVISION – OCEAN RECREATION BUSINESSES

KAYAK ALLIANCE OF THE ISLANDS, HAWAI'I
The Kayak Alliance of the Islands (KAI) is a group of local kayak tour businesses who work to protect the fragile coral resources of Kealakekua Bay. Member businesses such as Hawai'i Pack and Paddle and Kona Boys provide outreach and education to visitors, including in-store orientations prior to rental. KAI has been working to develop a management plan for the bay that includes a docent educator/safety program at Napo'opo'o landing that highlights the rules of the Marine Life Conservation District, proper behavior around marine mammals, correct procedures for snorkeling on the coral reef, and the cultural and historical significance of the area.

NANCY EMERSON SCHOOL OF SURFING, MAUI
Nancy Emerson's School of Surf promotes coral reef awareness among their students by making it an integral part of surf instruction. On the beach and in the water instructors highlight the importance of the coral reef for Hawai'i, its importance in surfing, threats to the reef, and steps students can take to ensure its preservation. To reduce their own impact on the reef, instructors primarily surf at one location and limit the number of classes and class size. Handouts and pamphlets that include tips on marine mammal etiquette and general reef protection and safety are available to their customers and the general public at their office. They are also highly involved in the Ocean Awareness C.O.R.A.L. (care of our Culture, Ocean, Reefs and Animal Life) card certification program, requiring their instructors to maintain current certification as well as certifying students at their yearly eco-surf camp.

TRILOGY EXCURSIONS, MAUI
For more than 35 years, Trilogy Excursions has maintained their "take pictures, leave bubbles" motto for their ecotourism-based sailing company. In addition to educating guests in reef etiquette and fish identification, Trilogy requires all divers to sign an Environmental Awareness Waiver that outlines suitable practices for minimizing their impact on the reef. Aiming to be an environmentally-friendly leader in the marine tour industry, Trilogy was an early adopter of the "Pump, Don't Dump" waste management policy. Additionally, they participate in regular beach and reef cleanups, maintain a youth internship for Lanai teenagers, and are actively involved with multiple environmental groups including the Maui Reef Fund, Project S.E.A.-Link, and corporate sponsorship of the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale Sanctuary.

COMMERCIAL DIVISION – COMMERCIAL/RETAIL BUSINESSES

PACIFIC OCEAN PRODUCERS AND UNITED FISHING AGENCY, O'AHU
Pacific Ocean Producers, the largest fishing and marine supply outlet in Hawai'i, has partnered with United Fishing Agency, a multi-million dollar fish auction, to promote the conservation of coral reefs through debris removal . Both companies are part of the Honolulu Derelict Net Recycling Program, the first program of its kind in the nation in which marine debris collected at sea is brought into port for proper disposal and conversion to energy at the H-POWER waste-to-energy facility. The specially-designed disposal bin is located at Pier 38 between the two businesses, which both volunteer manpower, time, and equipment to run and maintain the disposal system. Thanks to this partnership and the support of boats that bring in debris, nearly 56,500 pounds of derelict net and monofilament have been removed, reducing a serious threat to near shore coral reefs.

NON COMMERCIAL DIVISION – GOVERNMENT AGENCY

MAUI COUNTY INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE REEF TASK FORCE
The Maui County International Year of the Reef (IYOR) Task Force, initiated by Mayor Charmaine Tavares, joins local government, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individual residents in an effort to develop and implement county-wide projects that celebrate IYOR and promote coral reef stewardship and conservation. Kicking off the year with Mayor Tavares' formal proclamation, the Maui IYOR campaign has launched "Butts Off the Beach" and Reef Etiquette Sign projects, and has established educational tables in public venues such as Lahaina Harbor and Maui Mall where volunteers teach visitors and residents about coral reefs and ocean conservation. Highlighting marine debris as a major threat to the reef ecosystem, the task force has produced thousands of reusable cloth shopping bags for distribution to locals and visitors at stores and cruise ships. A list of 10 Ways to Protect Coral Reefs was created, as well as a highly recognizable logo and slogan - 'Ola Na Papa I Pulama 'Ia (Cherish the Living Reefs) -- that has been adopted statewide.

EDUCATION

OCEAN AWARENESS TRAINING, MAUI
Ocean Awareness Training provides reef etiquette instruction for those in the Maui community who regularly interact with visitors, such as marine tour operators, snorkel providers, hotel concierges, and volunteer marine naturalists. Their free C.O.R.A.L. (care of our Culture, Ocean, Reefs and Animal Life) certification, offered by a partnership of over ten local environmental organizations, equips participants with interpretive tools, cutting edge research and naturalist techniques to help them effectively educate visitors about the unique natural and cultural resources of Hawai'i. This ongoing education opportunity highlights Hawaiian culture and history, basic fish and algae identification, ocean safety, current land and marine animal research in Hawaii, and effective teaching techniques and tools.

THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE HAWAI'I INSTITUTE OF MARINE BIOLOGY, O'AHU
The Community Education Program (CEP) at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) offers free volunteer-led tours of the world-renowned research facilities on Moku o Lo'e (a.k.a. Coconut Island) in Kane'ohe Bay. The program seeks to increase marine science literacy throughout the State, make science relevant to general audiences by showcasing its influence on people's daily lives, emphasize the concept of "stewardship through science," and inform students of opportunities in marine science, education and conservation. In 2007 alone, CEP led over 120 tours reaching out to over 2,320 participants. CEP has also partnered with other education initiatives including Windward Community College and the Pacific American Foundation's Aloha 'Aina curriculum.

SARA PECK, HAWAI'I
For over 14 years, Sara Peck has worked to engage the community of West Hawai'i in the protection and conservation of coral reefs. She assists in facilitating, obtaining funding for, and building the capacity of the West Hawai'i Fisheries Council (WHFC), the first successful community-based marine resource management stakeholder group in the state. She developed programs such as ReefTalk, ReefWatchers, and ReefTeach to combat lack of awareness and lack of capacity for monitoring and managing coral reefs. ReefTalk has drawn over 6,500 participants to presentations by scientists, resource managers, and cultural advisors. Over 350 volunteers have been trained as ReefWatchers and ReefTeachers, assisting in fish counts, collection of intertidal characterization data, and education/outreach work that engages and educates visitors to marine areas. Sara has also assisted in the development of the Aloha Kai Program, a cross-peer teaching-based program that has trained over 17,000 students.

DAMIEN KENISON, HAWAI'I 
Damien Kenison provides important opportunities for youth to learn and actively participate in he management of marine resources in Ho'okena. Through after-school and summer fun programs, youth are involved in Makai Watch activities such as human use monitoring, biological monitoring, and outreach to visitors. He works to preserve kupuna knowledge related to caring for marine resources, such as using traditional outrigger canoes for fishing. His work has allowed youth to learn about and take pride in their culture while building local capacity to preserve ocean resources for future generations. Working with the Community Conservation Network, Uncle Damien has succeeded in getting students science, math, and social science credits for the important stewardship knowledge they acquire outside the classroom.

BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN HAWAI'I, O'AHU
Through beach clean-ups, litter prevention campaigns, invasive species removal, and environmental education, the Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai'i - B.E.A.C.H. - has enlisted countless volunteers and community groups to raise awareness of marine debris and its impact on marine life and coral reefs. Using buckets and custom-made sand sifters, B.E.A.C.H. volunteers have been able to efficiently remove thousands of pounds of plastic, cigarette butts, fishing nets, ropes, buoys, and other marine debris from seven O'ahu beaches. Targeting the hazards of discarded plastic bags for marine life, B.E.A.C.H. has launched a reusable bag campaign that has influenced other environmental groups and businesses to take up the issue. To reduce cigarette butt litter, the group gave out free reusable ButtsOut personal ashtrays at Sandy Beach and Makapu'u Beach.

EWA BEACH LIMU PROJECT, O'AHU
Invasive species, over-harvesting, and altered waterways have diminished Ewa Beach's once rich and diverse limu beds. The Ewa Beach Limu Project (ELBP), a community-centered, grassroots effort is committed to the preservation of coastal habitat through re-planting of indigenous limu. Led by community kupuna while partnering with dozens of schools, organizations and agencies, the ELBP has developed various programs to further marine and cultural education. Monthly gatherings are held to prepare, re-plant, and learn about limu and the surrounding ecosystem. Inquiry based lessons for local high schools and community colleges, in which students conduct ecological surveys alongside cultural studies, have increased student attendance and enrollment in marine science classes and achievement of marine science scholarships. The ELBP was instrumental in the establishment of a Limu Management Area, as well as halting a road drainage project that would have resulted in polluted runoff being discharged directly into limu beds off Ewa Beach.

THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION, KAUA'I
The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves, and beaches through Conservation, Activism, Research and Education (C.A.R.E.). The Surfrider Foundation's Kaua'i chapter conducts monthly beach clean-ups, with a separate task force, Net Patrol, dedicated to tackle marine debris. The chapter's Blue Water Task Force tests the water quality of six different north shore surf zones on a monthly basis, enlisting volunteers to paddle out to surf zones and collect samples that are tested for turbidity, salinity, and Enterococus bacteria.

DR. ISABELLA AIONA ABBOTT
With over 150 scientific publications and eight books to her name, Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott is regarded as the world's foremost expert on marine algae, or limu, in the Central Pacific region. Born in Hana, Maui, Dr. Abbott attended Kamehameha School and earned a BA at the University of Hawai'i and MS at the University of Michigan. She became the first Native Hawaiian woman to earn a doctorate in science when she graduated from the University of California-Berkeley in 1950. She was the first woman faculty member of the biological sciences department at Stanford University, and is currently Professor Emerita in the Botany department at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Whether conducting top tier research or authoring books such as Marine Red Algae of the Hawaiian Islands and La'au Hawai'i, Dr. Abbott's has always placed her work in a cultural context. In sharing her work within and beyond the scientific community, Dr. Abbott has contributed a lifetime of research, publication, and mentorship to the scientific and cultural understanding of the marine world.