August Seawords

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

August 2013

4 Editor’s Aloha

KAUA‘I

HEALTH AND THE OCEAN NELHA REEFS IN DANGER

AUGUST 2013 The Kaua‘i Issue Contents: Page 4: Letter From the Editor Page 6: Shore Bird Sanctuaries Page 8: Weekend in the Isles Page 10: Health and the Ocean Page 12: NELHA Page 16: Coral Reefs Page 18: Generation Blue Page 20: Blackfish Page 24: Ocean Poetry Page 26: Critter of the Month

Cover Photo: This month’s cover photo is courtesy of UHM MOP Alumni Dieter Stelling.

The photo on this page is the view of Kaua‘i from above.

Back Photo: Queen’s Bath, Naomi Lugo, Editor

Naomi N. Lugo, Editor

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Volume XXV XVII II,, Num mbe berr 8, 8, Aug ugus ustt 20 2013 1 13 Edit Ed itor o : Na or Naom omii Lu Lugo g go Associ Asso ciat ci atte Ed dit itor or: Jaames or mes St me Ston tone on ne Asssi sist sttan stan nt Ed dit itor or:: Ka or Kath t ryyn La th Lam m Dr. Cy Dr Cynt nthi hiaa Hunt nter (émin inence grise)) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Ro oad ad, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433, Fax: (808) 956-2417 E-ma mail: <seawords@ @ha hawa waii ii.e . du du> > W bsite: We e <w <www ww.h .haw awai aiii.ed edu/ u/mo mop> p> Seawor Seaw ords ds is a mo onthl ntth y ne news wsle lett tter er of th thee Mar arin inee Op Optio on Program on ro ro att the Uniivveers r it ityy of Haw awai ai‘i‘i.. Op O in inio ions io n exp pre ress ssed ed heer ere reeiin ar are not nece ne cess ssar aril ilyy th thos osee of the Mar arin i e Op in pti tion on Pro ro ogr gram gram m or of th thee Un Univ iver ersi sity tyy of Haawa wai‘ii Sugg Su gges esti tion onss an and d su subm bmis issi sion onss ar aree we welc lcom om me. e. Su Sub bm mis issi sio ions mayy in incl clude articl c es, ph phot otog ogra raph phs, s, art wor o k, k, or an nyytth thing hi that maay be of inte t rest st to o th thee ma mari rine ne com ommu muni nity tyy in Ha Hawa wai‘i‘i and around nd the worl rld. d.

All photos are taken by MOP MOP un u less ess oth therwi erw see credi d ted.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR This is it, the last pages of Seawords that I bring to you as editor of the publication that has helped me learn and grow, Seawords. It has been an honor and a thrill to be able to work for such a wonderful, inspiring and genuine program like the Marine Option Program.

I will be graduating this August with a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Journalism and a MOP certificate in Marine Journalism and Design and I leave this publication in the very capable hands of the new Co-Editors Kathryn Lam, and James Stone. I wish all of the students and staff in the program the best in their endeavors, and I truly appreciate all that you have taught and shared with me.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for this fantastic journey!

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UHM MOP

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The Bird Sanctauries of Kaua‘i Kathryn Lam, Assistant Editor

There are over 550 National Wildlife Refuges managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nine of these are on the main Hawaiian Islands.

Three of those are on Kaua‘i. In this issue, Seawords takes a quick glance at each refuge and highlights its’ wildlife, foundation, and visitor restrictions for those who might want to pop in.

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge Established under the Endangered Species Act in 1972, the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is the oldest of the three wildlife refuges on Kaua‘i, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website. The refuge was originally created to aid in the conservation of five endangered water birds that the website says rely on the Hanalei Valley’s habitat in order to nest and feed. In addition to these five birds, forty-five other avian species use the Hanalei Refuge. Eighteen of these are what are called “introduced species”, or species that are living outside with native distribution and arrived via humans whether accidental or intentional.

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The five endangered water birds are the ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), the ‘alae‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen), the ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), the nēnē (Hawaiian goose), and the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) of which are the largest endemic population in the world. Most of the refuge is closed to the public in order to preserve the endangered species.

There is one trail that passes through but quickly switches from refuge to state land. Wildlife can also be viewed from the Hanalei Valley Overlook and from driving on the Ōhiki Road. However, staying on the trail and the paved road is a must.

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge The Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985 to “preserve and enhance seabird nesting colonies” according to their website. Three years later in 1988, the refuge expanded its grounds to include Crater Hill and Mōkōlea Point. Also on Kīlauea Point’s grounds is the historic Kīlauea Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse is on the northernmost point of Kaua‘i and visitors can

and changed from a wetland agriculture farmland to a home for five species of endangered Hawaiian water birds. The refuge is home to fifty-seven species of birds, eighteen of which are introduced, including the endangered ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), ‘alae‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen), nēnē (Hawaiian goose), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) are also protected on the Hanalei refuge. As is the Hanalei refuge, the Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge is closed to the public. However, there is an overlook that the State of Hawai‘i maintains at the Menehune Fish Pond that is adjacent to the Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is networking with different nonprofit and government agencies in order to establish community partnerships. These partnerships will lead to collaborative projects such as the annual Nawiliwili Harbor Clean-up. Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge also allows volunteers for habitat restoration days. For more information, the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex can be contacted at (808) 828-1413.

not only view the historic lighthouse but also many of the seabirds and other wildlife that make their home at this refuge.

The Kīlauea Point refuge is home to nine different seabirds and thousands of migratory seabirds visit the refuge each year. Other wildlife such as nai‘a (spinner dolphins), endangered koholā (humpback whales), ‘Ilio holo i ka uaua (Hawaiian monk seals), and honu (green sea turtles) also frequent the refuge. Visitors can take a 0.2-mile walk from the entrance boothe to Kīlauea Point to view the wildlife or hang out in an observation scope in order to see the birds up close. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hopes to make regularly scheduled visitor tours and Crater Hill hikes a part of this refuge.

Hule‘ia National Wildlife Refuge The Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge opened in 1973 AUGUST 2013 |7

Weekend in Kauaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i

How to explore the Hawaiian isles on a budg 1 2

Living in Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i as students and professionals can have its upside as well as its downside. An obvious up is the fact that we are surrounded by a beautiful and biologically rich outdoor classroom as well as living space. The downside, bills, traffic, fulltime course loads or 9 to 5 work commitments that leave us with less time to explore the beautiful place which we call home.

However many legitimate excuses there may be, it is worth it to make time to explore and see the other islands. Otherwise, you may regret it later on if you have to leave or take on even heavier commitments.

As you will read in a later article by James Stone, our Associate Editor, studies are revealing health benefits regarding living close to the big blue. So it might be

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time to take that trip you always had wafting in the back of your mind.

Make a Goal for Your Trip You may be exploring the islands just for fun, or you may have some research prospects in hand, or you may even be interested in just hitting up all of the snorkel or dive spots you can find before your short vacay is up. Depending on what your goals are, a weekend may be plenty of time, or you may want to extend it. Knowing your goals before heading out is an important way to utilize your experience to its maximum potential.

Do Your Research Another way to ensure your time outer-island is the

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get

4 Scenes from the aisle of Kaua‘i.

1. A crab in a tidepool by Queen’s Bath (by Princeville).

2. A scenic lookout on the way to the North Shore and Hanalei.

3. The coastline from above.

4. One of the tidepools at Queen’s Bath, which is a great spot to practice underwater photography. The pools are like closed off little worlds.

best it can be is to do as much research as you can or need before arriving. As an example, do you need a car? or will public transportation be enough for you?

O‘ahu has a great bus system that will take you just about any where, but at the same time, the bus system on Kaua‘i is more limited with less buses and less destinations as well as a more spread out time table on the weekends.

With research you can also layout the places you want to visit depending on your goals. Look up the beaches you want to see, and check out dive conditions for different spots. If you know someone who has visited or even better lives where you want to go ask them for there take.

Save Up Travel isn’t cheap. Make sure that you have enough funds to book roundtrip tickets, lodging and car if needed as well as money for yourself for fun, food and emergencies. Don’t use this as an excuse not to go though. If you need, plan your trip in the future, but put a timeline on it. For example; “in 1 month I want to save $200 for my trip.” That way your goals are reasonable and the timeline will give you motivation to follow through.

Buy Your Tickets and Go For It! Just go for it! Have fun, and take things as they are.

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The Health Bene Living by the Oc -James Stone, Associate Editor

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armful storms, tsunami’s and other ocean hazards have plagued people’s minds when they paint their time near the ocean in a negative light, filled with fear and less of joy. Not to mention health benefits. In saying this, it’s no secret that spending time near the ocean also has a very positive effect not only on your physical self, but also mentally as well. New studies show health benefits by simply spending more time near the ocean.

This new study surveyed nearly 48 million people in England and found that participants that lived closer to the coast were more likely to report good health within this last year. This is by no means a surprise. As early as the 18th century special clinics have offered treatments such as seawater 10|

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baths to patients. Scientists have only recently begun to study the health benefits of being near the ocean.

Just breathing in the sea air has benefits in some cases. In recent years, patients diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that that affects the lungs, which is characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across an epithelium that leads to thick, viscous secretions.

For people living with cystic fibrosis, the salt in the air at the beach has a very beneficial affect and surfing is actually therapeutic for them.

24-year old Emily Haagar has cystic fibrosis and she likes to surf. “When I’m out in the water my lungs clear out. I feel great. I cough up a lot of

efits of cean

UHM MOP

“Just breathing in the sea air has benefits in some cases”

stuff. It opens up my airways and it makes a big difference,” said Haagar as reported by Denise Dador of ABC. Even when Haagar can’t make it into the surf or down to the beach to breath in the salt air, she inhales a salt solution twice a day. “I get to be in the ocean, I get to paddle around and feel normal. I’m out doing something that is fun and taking care of myself at the same time,” said Haagar.

For people that are fortunate enough to be living without a condition like cystic fibrosis, living and or spending time near the ocean still has health benefits. It can be argued that people living near the coast simply can afford better healthcare

services, but that is irrelevant when talking about the direct health benefits of simply being near the ocean and sea air. Living near the coast among other things, encourages people to be more physically active, thus creating a healthier lifestyle.

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The Natural Energy

Laboratory of Hawai‘i Sustainable Science Photos and Words by Naomi Lugo, Editor On the sunny Kailua-Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawai‘i lie 80 acres of laboratories facilitating innovative marine-related research.

The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), is operated by the state of Hawai‘i and works in an environmentally and culturally sensitive manner to develop energy and ocean-related research, education, and commercial activities, according to their mission statement.

NELHA is a group of tenants including commercial businesses, non-commercial research and education leasees. There are currently about 40 tenants at NELHA. Some of the facilities include research and the manufacturing of solar energy, deep ocean water for consumption as well as air

conditioning, along with aquaculture research and production including abalone, Kona lobsters and fishes. These tenants utilizing local sustainable resources to provide the local economy with diversity and sustainability.

Seawords spoke with Jane Kelleher of Friends of NELHA, an educational volunteer-based group dedicated to informing the public about NELHA. Friends of NELHA is located on site at a building near the entrance of the property.

The building itself serves as a sustainability model. “It was quite a unique building, and still is,” says Jane. The building is designed around a deep sea water facilities (water comes from about 3000 feet) and the air going into the building is cooled by the cool deep water.

The seawater circulation process also allows AUGUST 2013

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the facility to collect 60 gallons of fresh water a day from the condensation on the pipes, which is used to flush the building toilets and for watering plants around the building. The building has an LEED platinum certification (a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and in 2006 it was named eighth in the world for sustainability.

The building usually serves as an education base, and Friends of NELHA offers weekday tours of NELHA facilities. Also offered is an energy tour of the solar thermal energy plant, which is located right next to the education building and highway.

A third tour allows guests to taste the abalone that are grown on site. “We saw that a lot of wild fish were depleting in the ocean,” said Jane Kelleher about the discoveries that scientists were making about the aquaculture facilities that NELHA has developed, “We have three shrimp farms, we have an abalone farm, we have two microalgae farms and then other things.” There is a special blend of BIAC-patented algae grown by NELHA tenants especially for abalone production.

The abalone grown is by the company, Big Island Abalone Corporation, which according to their website has been working for 15 years to develop conditions close to what would be found in the wild.

There are opportunities available for students and graduates to study or even conduct research at NELHA. For more information, head to their website at www.nelha.org

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Abalone Grown on site.

Special algae developed for abalone

Deep Sea Water packaged and sold internationally

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Hawaiian Reef James Stone, Associate Editor

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n the northern coast of Kaua‘i and other Hawaiian shores, a coral disease has killed many colonies of brown rice (Montipora capitata) coral. “The disease levels have gotten much higher than they were.

We were seeing two or three colonies on all of our transects and now we’re counting five, six, ten colonies,” said Greta Aeby from the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology in a report by Hawaii News Now.

Other experts have also weighed in on the problematic disease killing our Hawaiian coral. Bernardo Vargas-Angel a coral ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, ‘Because it’s a rapid tissue loss disease you can see it spreading.”

Scientists surveyed 36 sites off the north shore of Kaua‘i, near Hanalei. White coral disease was found on every site and the infected coral spanned across four reefs. This is the fourth coral disease outbreak to hit Hawai‘i’s reef in the past five years.

There are many factors that contribute to spur these diseases. Aeby said. Over-fishing of reef fish, land-based pollution, sewage spills and injection wells that leak excess nutrients into the ocean are all contributors to reef disease.

Aeby said, “The reefs are not dead yet. They’re just headed in that directions, so we can easily reverse this but we are running out of time.”

On August 31st 2013, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard 16|

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went on an underwater tour of some of Kaua‘i’s diseased coral reefs to see their grim state for herself.

“It was troubling to see what once was beautiful, vibrant coral reef decaying and withering away,” said Gabbard.

Gabbard was escorted with the help of scientists and biologists who are conducting ongoing studies of the diseased coral reefs on Kaua‘i.

“We were so pleased to have a member of the congressional delegation come out,” said Aeby.

“To see people that are in a position to help protect our natural resources is very important.”

Along with Aeby, Gabbard was guided by Hanalei biologist Terry Lilley and Dr. Thierry Work of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Honolulu.

At the end of her day-trip, Gabbard stated, “I’m going to do whatever I can to help.”

“The disease outbreaks are the final straw that will break the camel’s back,” said Aebey. These coral reefs have been overused for how many decades now? Over fished for how many decades?

They are just at the tipping point and they are starting to tip down and that is really alarming.”

S

ince 2009 coral disease outbreaks have also been found on Maui and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The problem is not just found on Kaua‘i as scientists are quickly realizing.

fs in Danger A study conducted by NOAA once valued Hawai‘i’s coral reefs at more than $33 billion.

This is no small matter and there is much at stake if scientists don’t solve this problem.

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his is not only a John Coney/UHH MOP health issue for Hawai‘i’s coral, but an economic For more information on the state of Hawaii’s coral reefs, media coverage and locations of Hawaii coral disease sites, go to www.hawaii-reef.com issue as well. “You are going to start to love your fisheries and not to mention the tourist issue here. Economically, it is critical for the state of Hawai‘i to maintain the coral reef resources in a healthy state,” said Aeby in a column she wrote on Hawai‘i-reef.com, a website created in response to the fast growing crisis harming Hawaiian reefs.

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GENERATION

BL UE

THE OCEAN SPANS OVER 70 PERCENT OF OUR WORLD. It is responsible for regulating temperature, food production, sustaining numerous marine species, and is a source for inspiration among multiple other things. The ocean gives us so much and it is time for us to return the favor and take actions to make the ocean ecosystem healthy again. Almost every action that we take affects the ocean in some way. Our everyday choices can be tailored to support a healthy ocean. Here are some examples of green acts that will keep the ocean blue.

Actions for the Ocean

LIMIT YOUR FAST FOOD INTAKE. Not only will your body start functioning and feeling better, but you will also be doing the planet some good. Fast food takes a lot of shipping, factory farming and chemical to get to its final production stage and in front of customers.

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GIVE YOUR OLD FINS TO A FRIEND. Maybe your fins are too small for you now, or maybe you just have no use for them now. If so, give them to a friend who has maybe never snorkeled or explored the ocean before. Inspiring people to view the big blue is the most important part of keeping the ocean protected for years to come.

GET THAT DEGREE AND SAVE THE WORLD! You can do it! Graduate so that you can make the impact that you were meant to.

UHM MOP

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Captive Orca wha animal cruelty?

Blackfish, Death at SeaWorld, claims SeaWorld is not all it appears Kathryn Lam, Assistant Editor

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fter the death of SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau in 2010, Gabriela Cowperthwaite set out to investigate the captivity of Tilikum, the Orca whale that killed Brancheau, as well as the captivity of the species on the whole. Cowperthwaite’s findings resulted in a documentary that she both wrote and directed. It premiered in the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on January 19, 2013 and was picked up by Magnolia Pictures for wider distribution. The documentary comes to Hawai‘i on August 23rd in Honolulu at Kahala Theatres 8.

Cowperthwaite says that she initially decided to investigate after there were claims that Brancheau was killed due to her hair being worn in a ponytail.

She argues that this claim was conjecture. “There had to be more to the story.”, stated Cowperthwaite in an interview with IndieWire at the Sundance Film Festival. Indeed as Cowperthwaite began to look at the treatment of orca whales in captivity--which she believes led to Tilikum lashing out--there was more to the story.

Tilikum was captured off the coast of Iceland in 1983 as a young calf of only three years of age. He was captured alongside another male, Nandú, and a female, Samoa. Both of the other two orca whales are now dead. After he was captured, Blackfish argues, Tilikum was harassed by his fellow captive whales and kept in a dark tank only twenty feet across and thirty feet deep.

These conditions are what Cowperthwaite believes contributed to Tilikum’s aggression that has led to the deaths of humans.

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THE DEATHS Three deaths have been attributed to Tilikum.

The first death occurred in Sealand of the Pacific in 1991 when a trainer, Keltie Byrne, fell into the tank. Sealand did not allow trainers in the water with orcas and one of the orcas grabbed her leg and pulled her in. Byrne subsequently drowned. Tilikum was moved to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, and Sealand closed down. According to former trainers in the documentary, SeaWorld’s employees were not informed of how the incident happened. They were told that Tilikum had not instigated it and that it had been the two female orcas and that Tilikum had merely been present. However, witnesses of the event claim that they saw Tilikum grab Byrne. They knew who he was because of his “flopped over fin”.

T

he next death occurred when, in 1999, a man named Daniel P. Dukes snuck into the orca tank at night after the park closed and was found the next morning naked, covered in wounds, contusions, and abrasions. SeaWorld then concluded that Dukes died of hypothermia and drowning. It is unknown if the injuries were sustained before or after Dukes’ death as SeaWorld claims there was no video evidence. However as one former trainer, Dr. John Jett, marine mammal scientist and visiting research professor at Stetson University, in Deland, Florida, points out there

Movie Review

ales, were night guards and night trainers surveying the area as well as countless cameras stationed all over Shamu Stadium in the front and back pools for security purposes.

The third death was that of Brancheau, a well-known and loved trainer who was dragged into the water by Tilikum during a performance. The autopsy concluded that she died from drowning and blunt-force trauma.

While at least a dozen patrons were there while Brancheau was killed, there have been disputes over how she was brought into the water. Some say that the orca confused her ponytail for a toy or food as she had been feeding the orca before and may have touched her hair after, while others claim that she was dragged in by her arm.

I

t is Brancheau’s death that spurred not only Cowperthwaite to start investigating but also David Kirby, former journalist for The New York Times, to write a book called Death at SeaWorld.

Kirby found that after Brancheau’s death, former employees filed sworn affidavits that alleged SeaWorld “hid or destroyed documents sought by federal agents in the investigation of Brancheau’s death, and tried to impede other parts of the investigation.” However, they withdrew their allegations.

THE CAPTIVE ORCAS “We’re deeply transformed by them ...” says Dr. Christopher Dold, SeaWorld’s vice president of veterinary services. “SeaWorld executives say that without access to the whales — which are now bred at the parks, rather than captured wild — humans would be denied a connection to large, intelligent animals with which many feel a bond.” Besides, says Dold, only one trainer has been killed at SeaWorld’s parks. He did not mention Dukes, the civilian who was also killed by Tilikum in 1999 at SeaWorld or the trainer who was killed by Tilikum and his tank mates in Magnolia Pictures

SeaLand of the Pacific in 1991.

“One too many,” points out Bekoff who adds that 43 orcas have died in captivity. An orca’s lifespan in the wild can be up to 90, or more years, while in SeaWorld and related parks, most orcas die in their teens and twenties, “sometimes under abnormal circumstances,” according to Kirby. SeaWorld however claims that orcas die in the wild earlier than in captivity.

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ic O’Barry, world-renowned activist and trainer says that “there is no record of an orca harming a human in the wild. How ironic that SeaWorld, Miami Seaquarium and the dolphin “abusement park” industry refer to them as ‘killer whales’. There are many well documented incidents of ‘killer whales’ attacking and killing humans in captivity, but not in the wild. Why is this? I think it is because they become psychotic in captivity.”

The “many well documented incidents” that O’Barry talks about are 32 cases where the whale was identified and five where the whale was not. While only four of these resulted in a human death and three out of four were trainers, many of those injuries were very intense.

One trainer, Ken Peters, who had both feet injured and can clearly be seen in Blackfish as not being able to walk away from the scene while another, Joanne Webber, suffered a fractured neck as a result of having an orca land on her. Webber is not the only trainer to have had an orca land on her. Footage in Blackfish depicts a trainer riding an orca during a show when suddenly another orca jumps and lands directly on him. Although highlighted in Blackfish, Tilikum is not the only orca to have attacked and killed a human.

When she started the project of Blackfish, Cowperthwaite says that she began investigating with an open mind. “Only slowly did she conclude that orcas like Tilikum may be driven to aberrational — or, in the words of one of the film’s interviewees, ‘psychotic’ — behavior by their captivity.” When Cowperthwaite tried to interview SeaWorld executives, they refused to cooperate because they “doubted that the material would be used in good faith.”

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O’Barry trained the first captive orca in 1968. His name was Hugo and O’Barry says that the young orca would smash his head into his tank at the Miami Seaquarium and died of an aneurism. That’s when he realized that orcas do not belong in captivity. “That was a long time ago,” says O’Barry. “At least 43 orcas have died at SeaWorld since then. How many more have to die before the government outlaws this failed experiment? And how many more killer whale trainers will be injured or killed before the public stops buying tickets for killer whale shows?”

Additional facts can be found here on the website for the book Death at SeaWorld, click on ‘Talking Points’: http://deathatseaworld.com/

More information can be found on the website for Blackfish at: http://www.magpictures.com/blackfish/

Student Point of View: UHM MOP Student Logan Magad-Weiss

The documentary Blackfish really opened my eyes to the malpractices of Marine Mammal Parks such as SeaWorld. I always knew that parks were not good for the marine creatures, but I never knew just how bad.

The mistreatment of the whales such as withholding food, and leaving whales subject to attacks from the other whales really bothered me. Tilikum (the Orca responsible for the death of one civilian and two trainers including Dawn Brancheau) was starved at numerous points to get him to follow directions, and was also left to be mauled by his tank mates.

I do not understand how it is humane to close a tank door on a whale and walk away, when you know the next day they are going to be horrendously scarred, and bleeding. It is putting that whale’s life in jeopardy, and there are numerous cases of whales being killed this way. Not only is the entire incarceration at SeaWorld inhumane, but so is the means by which they get some of the whales. Boats are sent out into the ocean to chase down pods, and capture young whales to bring to the parks. It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch the mother whales hopelessly swimming around calling to their calves, and to watch the calves being pulled from the water calling out for their mothers. It is appalling that people are allowed to do this to whales, and the conditions we put them in are cruel. It should not be allowed.

Magnolia Pictures

Pen ink drawing by UHM MOP student Kari Barber.

Ocean Art & Poetry

Salty Abyss

-Kiana Gaspar, HCC Student The ocean is a world of its own.

The never ending abyss of salty sea water is manipulated by its own creatures, by humans, by time, and by Mother Nature. On the shore, people come to soak up the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rays and enjoy relaxation. The sand is warm and fine, finding its way into any and all crevices. Down towards the water, the sand is wet and thick.

People leave their foot prints behind as they create new memories. The salty sea sends scents sailing through the air and into 24|

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our nostrils. The saltiness is engraved into our minds. After swimming in the cool, inviting ocean, our skin is coated in saltiness. Some children are happily building sand castles while other children may be sadly watching the water destroy their creations.

There are individuals relishing in peaceful relaxation, and there are families taking a break from responsibilities and obligations.

The salty sea abyss can wash worries away The salty sea abyss can renew spirits.

The salty sea abysss can revitaize our sense of life.

The poetry on these pages were written by students of Honolulu Community College Professor Eric Paul Shaffer. Each of the students wrote ocean-related poems based on the idea of someway the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had encountered the sea for Shafferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creative Writing Class. The poems were written in the Spring 2013 semester.

Seaweed

We are called seaweed.

Rays of light shine through the ocean surface. and enlightens the paths we unfold.

Each ray of light from the sun glows with a luminous flame that gives us life as we absorb that light from the bottom of the ocean.

We grow with only salt, water, and light like the ocean itself.

Accept us for our mossy-green color, our fishy smell, our slimy texture, and our salty taste.

We can drape over the rocks near the shore and wiggle with the waves when boats pass by.

We wrap our webbed hands around fish to keep them safe from predators.

We are the homes that house the school of fish.

We are food to desperate gulls from the sky who also prey on the fish we protect.

We are the plants of the sea that provide oxygen to thousands of sea creatures.

Our arms feed the humans who shape us and cook us as they serve their children.

The glimmer of light from the sun we absorb is our only chance of survival.

We are seaweed.

-Christine Joy Rioca HCC Student

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CRITTER OF THE MONTH Seawords features marine critters seen and photographed by MOP students.

Send your critters to seawords@hawaii. edu to be featured and be sent an issue of Seawords in color and a MOP sticker.

(If you see your photo in the newsletter shoot us an email and we will send you a MOP sticker and color copy of the issue!).

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s critter photo is by UHH MOP student Daniel Jennings-Kam

Imperial Nudibranch Hypselodoris imperialis The imperial nudibranch, apart of family Chromodorididae, are found in Hawai`i and the Marshall Islands.

Pairs of these nudibranch are found at diving depths.

To submit photography, send an email with photographs attached to seawords@

Calendar of Events at UH Sea Grant’s Hanauma Bay Education Program Marine Science in East O`ahu ***Presentations take place in the theater of the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, beginning at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday evening***

August Events Coral Reef Ecosystems AUGUST 1, 2013 Ecological Evaluation of Coral Reef Resources at Kahalu`u Bay, Hawai‘i by Dr. Kaipo Perez, Doctoral Recipient, Biology Dept., UHM AUGUST 8, 2013 The Future of Coral Reefs: A Microbial Perspective by Dr. Ruth Gates, Researcher, University of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology AUGUST 15, 2013 The Potential Listing of Hawai‘i Corals as Endangered Species by Chelsey Young, Natural Resource Specialist, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office - Protected Resources Division AUGUST 22, 2013 To be Announced AUGUST 29, 2013 Reef Rival and the Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i by Dr. Eric Conklin, Director of Marine Services, TNC Hawai‘i For more information or questions please contact: Hanauma Bay Education Program 100 Hanauma Bay Rd. Honolulu, HI 96825 Phone: (808) 397-5840 Email: hanauma@hawaii.edu http://hbep.seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

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~Second Session Summer School Ends ~Maui Ocean Center Photo Contest: Deadline

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New Student Orientation & Camera Care Workshop 4-6 p.m.

UHM MOP

QUEST & MAST Information Meetings 4-6 p.m.

UHM MOP

First day of Fall 2013 instruction

Photo: Naomi N. Lugo, Editor

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University of Hawai`i at Mﾄ］oa Seawords, Marine Option Program College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Address Service Requested

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