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Volunteers sought for Kaanapali Makai Watch ‘Action Teams’

By Staff | Jan 20, 2011

Kaanapali Makai Watch is forming “Action Teams.” The community is invited to get involved and help make a difference via “shovel ready” projects. A workshop will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Here, Rev. Earl Kukahiko and County Councilwoman Elle Cochran stand by the new Reef Etiquette sign at Kahekili Beach Park.

KIHEI — The Kaanapali Makai Watch program will host a community workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The public is invited to get involved and join an “Action Team” to help carry out various projects of a wide scope and appeal in support of the program, its partners and broader marine education and conservation goals for Maui.

The workshop’s agenda will include an overview of the Kaanapali Makai Watch program and its objectives, to be followed by breakout groups led by pre-assigned experienced community volunteers.

The majority of objectives and tasks will be already outlined for participants, making it easy to get involved and play a role in these “shovel ready” projects.

Additional scoping of projects will occur to take advantage of participants’ interests, ideas and expertise.

Robin Knox (left) demonstrates water quality monitoring techniques at a recent field day held at Kahekili Beach Park by the Kaanapali Makai Watch program.

The projects include:

1) Engaging youth in mentorship and career development opportunities involving marine science, education, resource management and marine tourism.

2) K-12 Educational Outreach: Developing curriculum, strategies and projects that can be carried out independently by teachers in support of local conservation themes, and visiting classrooms and working with youth groups to introduce topics and activities.

3) Hospitality Industry Engagement: Working to develop materials, tools and strategies that will assist local hotels in conveying stewardship themes to their staff and guests.

4) Outreach to the fishing community — volunteers are sought to assist in informal outreach strategies to interact with and provide educational materials to individuals within the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area in Kaanapali, specifically in support of the area and its rules and regulations.

5) Onsite educational outreach: Establishing a new education station within the boundaries of the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area. Developing outreach materials and strategies and enlisting volunteers to staff the station.

6) Stewardship Action Blogging Team: Establishing a team of community volunteers who will report on various local opportunities, events and outcomes via a consolidated online presence. This project will be linked to an upcoming workshop hosted by CORAL and Hawaii EcoTube, where participants will learn how to use Flip video cameras and contribute to social media platforms.

Refreshments will be served. To register, contact Kaanapali Makai Watch program Co-coordinator Liz Foote, Hawaii field manager with the Coral Reef Alliance, at 669-9062 or e-mail Lfoote@hawaii.rr.com.

The Kaanapali Makai Watch program continues to seek volunteers to assist with general opportunities in biological and human use monitoring, as well as education and outreach.

Upcoming field days at Kahekili will provide opportunities to get involved. The program’s “Saturday Something Series” that kicks off on Jan. 29 at 9 a.m. at Kahekili Beach Park will offer a variety of activities for volunteers.

For more information, contact Foote or visit www.facebook.com/kaanapalimakaiwatch.