Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter
March 2015
MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY SYMPOSIUM 2015
OCEAN UPDATES GENERATION BLUE OCEAN ART: VICTORIA KANO
March 2015
Volume XXVIV, Number 2
Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: 26th Annual Symposium on Maritime Archaeology and History of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Page 16: Ocean Updates Page 18: Generation Blue Page 20: Wanna sea something cool? Page 22: Ocean Art: Victoria Kano Page 26: Critter of the Month Page 28: Hanauma Bay calendar of events Flashback Page 30: MOP calendar of events
About the Photography -Cover: UHM MOP Student Mael Flament sent this to us two years ago in color. We stylized the image in black and white. -Table of Contents: Rebecca Ziegler, UHH MOP Student as part of our 2014 photography contest. -February calendar of events: Taylor Shedd, UHM MOP Student as part of our 2014 photography contest. -Back cover: Koa Matsuoka, Former UHM MOP Student as part of our 2014 photography contest. -All uncredited photos by: MOP -Disclaimer: any photo taken from flickr.com is used under the Creative Commons liscense and are credited appropriately with links to the user’s flickr account.
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Letter from the Editor
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his February, the 26th Annual Symposium on the Maritime Archaeology and History of Hawai‘i and the Pacific was held on Ford Island. Many speakers from Hawai‘i, the continental United States, and Canada came to present on topics and included a former MOP student and three current MOP students. Those who weren’t in attendance can read all about the symposium and the talks in this issue of Seawords. In other news, the Seawords photography contest will be open until 11:59 p.m. HST April 30. The rules and guidelines can be found on our website, http://www.hawaii.edu/mop on the Seawords page.
Thank you for reading,
--Kathryn Lam, Seawords Editor
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“Cultural landscapes bridge the l sea barrier”
-Dr. Hans Van Tilburg, Ma Heritage Coordinator of th National Marine Sanctuari
M A R I T I M ARCHAEOLO S Y M P O S I U
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26th Annual Symposium on Maritime Archaeology and History of Hawai‘i and the Pacific: Pu‘uloa Beyond Pearl Harbor Kathryn Lam, Editor Brijonnay Madrigal, Associate Editor Camra Hopper, MOP Student
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The 26th Annual Symposium on the Maritime Archaeology and History of Hawai‘i and the Pacific was held at the Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center on Ford Island on February 14 and 15, 2015. This year’s theme was “Pu‘uloa--Beyond Pearl Harbor.” The event was put together thanks to the help of this year’s sponsors: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Maritime Archaeology and History of the Hawaiian Islands Foundation (MAHHI), and the University of Hawai‘i Marine Option Program (MOP). The symposium consisted of 23 presentations from maritime scholars from around the world including two MOP students.
Day One: Keynote Speech: Remembering Pu‘uloa Dr. Jonathan K. Osorio presented his keynote speech, “Remembering Pu‘uloa”, explaining the importance of not only Hawaiian culture, but the historical and personal stories from around the world. A personal memory can be told in a story or through music, but there is also history in text from newspapers and textbooks, which may provide a different perspective of an event. He demonstrated his belief that personal stories are the most important by opening and closing his talk with a song. The last song was sung in the native Hawaiian language to illustrate how the songs tell a story of the people by relating them to nature and places. One of the most impactful stories we can attempt to relate to is the bombing of Pu‘uloa, which is currently mostly known as Pearl Harbor, that happened on December 7, 1941. Many people have heard the story through documentaries about the U.S. Navy personnel in the area, but Dr. Osorio stressed the importance of understanding the stories of how the event affected the Native Hawaiians, Japanese military, and Japanese families on O‘ahu or relatives who were lost during the Hiroshima bombing that ended the war. “Although America owns all the land, they do not own the stories,” said Dr. Osorio. Another example he gave was Hawaiian fishponds, such as Pu‘uloa lokoi‘a. They are not just beautiful ponds with fish, they were the main source of food and protein to maintain a healthy life style and an amazing surf location to the Hawaiian people. A particular story he told was of Noho‘anaapiapi. Chief Mā ‘ilikūkkani (Kānepukoa) was loved by his people, but his grandson, Piliwale (Lolale) was not a strong warrior or leader. Instead of taking his place as chief he wanted to get married. Because he had no wife, Kauna‘iki was stolen from the Pu‘uloa surf location. After years of being together they had two children. Kauan’iki missed surfing and was finally allowed MARCH 2014
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to go. While in the waves, she found Kalamakua. She ran away with him and started a new family. Dr. Osorio explained that these individuals are imbedded within the landscape as stories. O‘ahu, and Hawai‘i in general, has had several military influences throughout its history. Pearl Harbor was an important strategic location. “Memory, culture, love for the land and environment, along with economics and militarism makes up Hawai‘i’s history,” Dr. Osorio said. Dr. Osorio concluded with a song about the fresh water springs, fishponds, and beauty of Pu‘uloa. Within the song “momi” means pearls, something beautiful and precious, but also symbolically means children, also precious. Session #1: Swimming with sharks: intangible cultural heritage of ‘Ewa/Pu‘uloa— Matt Sproat and Trisha Kehaulani Watson, Honua Consulting Inc. Matt Sproat and Trisha Kehaulani Watson, part of Honua Consulting Inc. which works with underwater heritage also spoke of the historical Pearl Harbor and ‘Ewa district, Pu‘uloa. Sproat opened with a Native Hawaiian song to not only explain the history of a culture, but what we can learn about the historical ecology and resources available at the time. Their presentation told the story of two sharks that lived in the Pu‘uloa area that were known as the Guardians of The above photo was taken by UHM MOP Studet, Mael Flament. Pearl Harbor to protect the Chiefs and the people. One day a construction company wanted to construct a $1 million dollar dry dock project where the sharks were believed to have lived. Since they had several problems throughout the construction it took four years and $4 million dollars to complete. Coincidentally, on opening day, the dock exploded. When researchers dug deeper they found the remains of two sharks in a cave. Pearl Harbor used to contain pearls, but no longer does because it was believed that the protectors of the pearls, the sharks, were disrespected, leading them to hide and removed the pearls for good. West Loch disaster: a lasting legacy—Deloris Guttman, Historian and Jenna Robinson, Graduate Student, African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawai‘i O‘ahu The West Loch Disaster occurred on May 21, 1944, but isn’t as well known as the bombing of Pearl Harbor even though it happened nearby because the information remained classified until 1960. This tragic event resulted in six ships being destroyed by an explosion, leaving hundreds of known dead, and only six survivors, one of which is still alive. The actual cause of the explosion still remains unknown. As a historian of the African American Diversity Cultural Center, Guttman emphasizes the number of black lives lost due to their “less glorious task” in transporting ordanance by hand. “The West Lock Disaster story isn’t told - they don’t want to tell it, but it needs to be told.” Wade H. Young, a marine aboard one of the closer ships, was left in the ships’ remains for 10-13 days before someone found him covered in shrapnel; he survived, but later died of infections from his wounds. Other survivors who have now passed include: James Willie Askew, PFC Owen M. Norris, Jack Sampson, Lewis Walters, and Ray Emory.
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Session #2: Konaliloha, the one shipwreck we should really go find—Rick Rogers, Sandwich Island Shipwreck Museum The Konaliloha shipwreck may hold the key to the many similarities between early European and early Hawaiian cultures. Though Captain James Cook is the first recorded European to reach Hawai‘i in 1778, there were three separate accounts of “foreigners” arriving in the Hawaiian Islands according to undated Hawaiian records. These match up with European ship logs including one that dates to 1548 claiming to have seen an island with five volcanic peaks emitting smoke. From the early 1500s onward, records of two islands “Los Bolcanes” and “La Farfana” have appeared on European maps at the same latitude and longitude as Hawai‘i. In the 1600s, knowledge of these had become international as they began to appear on Japanese maps. However, it was also around this time that “Los Bolcanes” began to disappear off European maps. A European letter dated 1599 show that eight sailors after having deserted the ship were presumed eaten by cannibals after coming ashore at 16˚N, which lines up with a Hawaiian legend of eight foreigners who came ashore and ruled the islands for some time. Indeed upon Cook’s arrival he was presented with a cutlass very European in style which resembled a cutlass described in King Kalakaua’s book. Furthermore, in 1705, a Manila galleon, the San Francisco Xavier, disappeared en route from Manila to Acapulco. Meanwhile in Kulou, South Kona, a pair of shipwreck survivors landed. In order to find these missing links, Rogers believes the Konaliloha (the Hawaiian name) must be found. The Falls of Clyde: where she has been; where she is going—Don Froning, Friends of the Falls of Clyde An active duty colonel in the U.S. Marines, Don Froning is also a member of the board of directors of the Friends of the Falls of Clyde (FOFOC), the non-profit organization which formed in 2008 to rescue the historical ship. The ship is Hawai‘i’s only non-military museum ship as well as being the only surviving iron-hulled, fourmasted, fully-rigged ship in the world. She was built in 1878 and was named after a river in Scotland, her country of origin. For the first twenty years of her life, the Falls of Clyde travelled the world and in 1898 she began her work transporting sugar from Hilo to San Francisco for Matson. In 1907 she was converted into an oil tanker and carried oil and molasses. It was only in the 1960s that the Falls of Clyde was returned to Hawai‘i after it was suggested she be made into a museum. Restoration took place in 1969 largely encouraged by the late Bob Krauss. She was opened up to the public in 1971 and made a national landmark in 1988. By 2008, because she hadn’t been maintained properly, Bishop Museum wanted to sink the Falls of Clyde due to the estimated $30 million in repairs she needed. In response, Bruce McEwan bought her for $1 and the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization FOFOC was formed. Currently she is undergoing maintenance and the hope is to have her dry-docked in 2015. However, because the state of the hull is unknown, FOFOC is not sure they can pay for repairs. What readers can do to help is to visit friendsoffallsofclyde.org where they can choose to make a tax deductible donation or ask to volunteer. Above, is a female old woman wrasse (Thalassoma ballieui) pictured in front of a shipwreck taken by former UHH MOP Coordinator, John Coney off Kure Atoll.
Crossing an ocean: the benefits of hands on education and experiences—Taylor Shedd, UHM MOP Student
Last fall, Taylor Shedd was given the opportunity to attend school with Sea|Mester, a university study abroad program that teaches students through hands on learning. The Sea|Mester was founded by Jim Stoll who also founded Action Quest, a sailing adventure camp for high school students. Stoll was Continued... MARCH 2015
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one of the sailing protégés of Irving Johnson, the first person to create a vessel based program for students to learn both academically and also the technical skills of sailing. Johnson, who circumnavigated the world seven times with his wife aboard their vessel, Yankee, taught inexperienced university students many of whom had never seen the ocean before. During his semester with Sea|Mester, Shedd sailed over 7,400 miles from Singapore to Cape Town, South Africa, crossing the Indian Ocean and learning many skills along the way. As part of the program, Shedd also participated in various service projects along each stop that helped him to learn about the native cultures. Session # 3: This session was presented as a panel of three talks: “Pacific Passages: Lady Washington in Hawai‘i and the Awkward Alliances They Formed”. Beachcombers and kings: Lady Washington’s people in Hawai‘i and the awkward alliances they formed— David Cotrell, Board Member, Grays Harbor Historical Seaport A Board Member of Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, David Cottrell told the story of First Contact. “There are many stories, not all are public or for sharing but they are important,” explained Cottrell. The Lady Washington ties into the Hawaiian history within the five trips she made to Hawai‘i. The first trip occurred on September 28, 1787, but originally had no intention of coming to Hawai‘i. Three crew members, Samuel Thomas, James Mackie, and Isaac Riddler, were left on the shore to assemble small schooners, but ended up not surviving their violations of the kapu system stemming from the misunderstanding between the two cultures and the language barriers. The Lady Washington then left three more crew members on the shore, within this group James Coleman ended up
living with the young king, Kaumuali`i, and was given part of Waikīkī and a sugar cane plantation. These men created a large impact on Hawaiian society. Intercultural journeys during the Lady Washington’s Hawaiian odyssey—Jim Mockford, Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority Advisory Council The second part of the panel was presented by Jim Mockford, who showed the Hawaiian version of the Polynesian Triangle, the Tall Ship Triangle of Voyages to America, which connects Hawai‘i to China and the Northwest. Wynee, a native Owynee, was aboard the Lady Washington when she sailed to Hawai`i. Attoo and Opie were two Native Hawaiians who joined the voyage of the Americans to Boston, and became the two first Hawaiians to circumnavigate the world. On another trip two Native Hawaiian girls were taken (14 year old Teheopea and 17 year old Tahommeraroo) to sail with them to Monterey, California. When William Broughton returned with Lady Washington in 1796 the two girls were still aboard, but were then known as Rahina and Timarroe. Although their stories aren’t known, Don Francisco de Paula Marin moved to Honolulu in 1794, bringing the first Kona coffee plants to Kona in 1828. As other Native Hawaiians sailed the seas to far off lands, some stayed on the Mainland to mate with Native Americans, losing their Hawaiian cultural history and their stories of these expeditions. Historic ships creating cultural awareness—Captain Constance Allen, Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority Captain Constance Allen presented the final panel, “Historical Ships Creating Cultural Awareness” in current time. Natives were encouraged to make canoes. The Hawaiian Chieftain, a ship joined the Lady Washington in the trade connections. With
Mael Flament/UHM MOP
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John Coney/UH Hilo
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these ships sailing in seas, they were encouraging knowledge and awareness about the different tribes along the Western American Coast. The K`wen`inishha in Koosbay, Washington were very welcoming of the Chieftain entering their seas as they were greeted with gifts, and the relationship remained strong as the Chieftain became the rescue ship for their tribe. The K`wen`inish-ha are one of the few remaining cultures that build canoes to paddle all day for resources; they often have to be hosted by local communities while on their overnight trips. Today, they have 100 handmade canoes. Now that the Hawaiian Chieftain has sailed the seas recovering histories of different cultures along the mainland’s western coast, she wishes to come home to the Hawaiian Islands in hopes of benefitting the Hawaiian people and their rich culture. Session #4: Native Hawaiians and other Native Pacific Islanders in the Northwest US and Canada—Elke Sundstrom, University of Victoria From the 1780s to the 1870s, Native Hawaiians and Native Pacific Islanders were sent to work in the Northwest areas of both Canada and the continental United States. The ships these peoples worked on or traveled in did not keep an accurate record, mixing up both ethnicities and names as well as creating identities for those they were not sure of, even going so far as to omit some from the records. Due to recent progress in the field of genetic research it is now possible to use DNA technology to trace historic records and discover where ancestors came from and whether or not one has a predisposition to any number of diseases. This makes taking DNA samples imperative to be able to create individualized treatments—the future of medical technology. However, because of the reluctance on the part of many native peoples due to their strong belief that blood and tissue is sacred, it can be difficult especially considering the unethical use of Native peoples’ blood in the past to do unauthorized research. Kim Tallbear, author of Native American DNA, urges young Native Americans to engage themselves in both biological and genetic sciences and DNA technologies in order to help advance scientific knowledge in their communities and there by create a better path for their communities’ medical futures. A case of experiential learning and archaeology: the voyage of the Charles W. Morgan—Suzanne S. Finney, MAHHI Foundation 10|
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Suzanne Finney was given the opportunity this past summer to become a voyager on the last day of the Charles W. Morgan’s 38th voyage, a trip meant to emulate the 37 previous whaling trips she made in her past and give modern day scholars, artists, writers and researchers the opportunity to experience what it was like to partake in 19th century sailing on a whaling vessel. A prominent example of a similar experience in Hawai‘i is the Hōkūle‘a. According to Finney, the Charles W. Morgan is the last 19th century American whaling vessel still afloat. Not only did the voyagers learn how crews lived and worked they also learned the importance of a crew being in sync with each other. They were taught how to raise the anchor, sail, climb the rigging, man the helm, and the importance of staying clear of the line as well as the wear and tear of sailing vessels. Experiential learning such as this can be difficult for archaeology classrooms, however Finney stressed how educational and engaging such experiences are, and the value of experimental learning in the classroom is unprecedented. After having taken part in this monumental experience Finney believes she will be able to transmit what she learned regarding archaeology, whaling and 19th century sailing through experiential learning into the classroom. As part of her experience, Finney also wrote a log book entry—a required part of being a voyager.
Day Two: The second day of the conference began with a session on “Maritime Archaeology and New Discoveries”. This session included eight speakers who described the discovery of submarine aircraft and vessel wrecks in Hawai’i as well as highlighting technologies aiding in new maritime archaeological discoveries. The last session of the conference, “Hawaii and the World”, contributed a Hawaiian cultural perspective to maritime history with a series of three speakers. Putting the “LRT” Into Archaeology- Steve Price, Hawai’i Undersea Research Lab Steve Price serves as Chief of Submersible Maintenance at the Hawai’i Undersea Lab (HURL). As a skilled submersible technician, he led the Launch Recovery Transport (LRT) operation project. Due to financial stresses, HURL sought to reinstate an old technology that had not been utilized in almost two decades. This 49-ft pontoon barge served as a submersible launch platform in the 1980’s. The LRT has the capability of not only serving as a launch platform but also
Rebecca Ziegler/UHH MOP
deploying heavy material such as hovering with a 13-ton submersible while submerged. The LRT is equipped to assist in recovery operations because of its heavy lifting ability. Price’s presentation detailed the reactivation process and how a new team was trained in LRT operating. The LRT required repairs and underwent renovation of the decks and valves including painting of the exterior and welding. The team underwent a crew training to prepare and test dives were completed to assess standalone success and having a submersible onboard. After the test dives were completed, the LRT became fully operational. HURL completed a successful season with 32 submersible dives over a 47-day period including maritime heritage dive trips which yielded the discovery of cultural artifacts from the 1880-1930’s time period. Price believes that the LRT will assist in making future discoveries that will contribute to the maritime heritage of Hawai’i. Finding the I-400- Terry Kerby, University of Hawai’i Undersea Research Lab Terry Kerby has dedicated decades to researching lost submarines off the coast of O’ahu. As the HURL Director of Submersible Operations, he led the discovery mission of the I-400, on August 1, 2013, which he detailed in this presentation. The I-400, an enormous Japanese submarine, is a relic from World War II and was found off the southwest coast of O’ahu. Submersibles Pisces IV and Pisces V were used to locate the submarine found submerged at a depth of 2,300 ft. The I-400 had the capacity to carry 1,800 lbs. of bombs and hold up 3 winged flight planes. The I-400 represents the technological advancements of that time period, because they threatened a Japanese attack on the U.S. mainland. However, the I-400 was never used in combat as only a few were launched.
At the end of World War II, the U.S. Navy brought back five of the Japanese submarines to Pearl Harbor for further inspection. Due to threats of submarine confiscation by the Soviet Union, the submarines were sunk in order to maintain anonymity about their exact location. The I-400 now serves as a unique artifact from World War II. Thus far, HURL has successfully found 4 of the 5 submarines that were captured by the U.S. Navy. These submarines serve as reminders of the events of World War II that transpired in Hawai’i and the types of warfare used in battle by adversaries. Dickenson/Kailua: A New Exhibit in the Museum of the Sea- Hans Van Tilburg and Jim Delgado (NOAA ONMS) and Terry Kerby (HURL) A trio of three experts in maritime archeology contributed to the discovery of the Dickenson, a cable ship from World War II. The 2013 objectives were to assess unknown sonar targets detected. Using a 3-man submersible dives on Pisces V, the Dickenson was discovered. The discovery of this vessel contributed to the historical knowledge of communication and World War II history. The Dickenson was launched in 1923 and subsequently laid down 6,912 miles of cable across the Pacific creating a communication network. In addition to servicing cable it was used to supply Midway station. In 1941, the ship aided in evacuating British telecommunication employees to Honolulu Harbor. Following this transport, the ship was renovated and after chartered by the U.S. Navy, the Dickenson was renamed the USS Kailua. The USS Kailua then joined the 7th Fleet in the South Pacific. Post World War II, the usage of this vessel was obsolete so it was towed out to sea and sunk to the ocean floor. Although the USS Kailua was intentionally sunk by a torpedo, no evidence of damage from the impact was apparent from the vessel. The Dickenson was in MARCH 2015
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pristine condition evident by the upper deck from the bow to the stern. The discovery team was even able to identify the ship through a Navy identification number that was visible on the bow of the ship labeled, 1X-71. The Dickenson/USS Kailua is an example of an American ship that played an important role in maintaining global telecommunication between isolated locations such as Hawai’i. Warhawks under the Waves: Two P- 40S Located on Windward O’ahu, Hawai’i- Blade Shepard-Jones, United States Coast Guard (USCG) Blade Shepard-Jones aids in surveying Warhawks, planes used prevalently in World War II. These war planes were 37 feet long and could carry up to 120 lbs of bombs. A total of 211 Warhawks were lost among the Hawaiian Islands during World War II. ShepardJones was interested in determining the location of these wrecks and conducting surveys of the wreck sites. For one such discovery, he gave the history for the initial discovery of the aircraft. In the 1970’s, while swimming off the coast of Kailua, three young boys found submerged machine guns at 12 ft. in depth. They retrieved the weapons and brought them back to shore. Their verbal confirmation of this discovery was recorded but no further identification of the wreck was made at the time. Initiated by Shepard-Johns, an assessment of the site 45 years later revealed that that the P-40 was an early model evident by the engine plate. Landing gears were also found at the site. The wreck had become an artificial reef for tropical sea life. Shepard-Jones had also received word of a P-40 in Kaneohe and had been searching for the wreck for a decade. He finally he found the wreck approximately 150 yards offshore, in a heavy surf zone. At the site, a prop was visible sticking straight up from the sand and was actually a hazard as it had injured at least one surfer. The placement of the prop was able to give Shepard-Jones information about what happened during the crash and revealed that it had stopped moving before descending. He concluded this because if it had continued rotating at the time of the crash, the props would have bent upon impact and not remained straight. The cockpit was visible although some gears were difficult to find because the heavy wave action causes sand movement to cover sections of the wreck. The P-40 Kailua and Kaneohe wrecks lacked crash reports, so extensive research was necessary for determining the history of the wreck, plane model and the pilot. Shepard-Jones concluded his presentation 12|
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by acknowledging a alleged P-40 wreck offshore of Bellows Beach. After many attempts to locate the wreck via paddle board in the field, on the second day of the search, Shepard-Jones located the P-40 Warhawk! His presentation conveyed the excitement of new discovery right off the coast of O’ahu and illuminated the history that is tied to these crash sites. Supposed LSM Maritime Archaeological SurveyGeorge Huss and Sean Dimoff, University of Hawai’i Marine Options Program The Maritime Archaeology Survey Techniques (MAST) field school is offered annually to train university students in the application of maritime archaeological surveying techniques through diving field work. Marine Option Program student, Sean Dimoff, attended the MAST 2014 course along with fellow classmate and recent MOP graduate, George Huss. Dimoff detailed the steps involved in surveying a wreck in the field course. The initial steps included marking the site and utilized underwater mapping techniques to identify the specific location using the following: baseline trilateration, baseline offsets and underwater photography. Upon witnessing the wreck, they learned that the stern section was the only portion of the vessel that remained, and the bow portion was absent. Two major features were used for identification, one of which was the bow door. Through exploration of the wreckage, evidence was found that supported the ship identification as a Landing Ship Medium from the World War II era. Now an artificial reef, this vessel played a major role historically in World War II operations. There were two possibilities for the correct ship number but confirmation could not be made. Dimoff conveyed that he hopes that wrecks that remain from World War II will gain more public recognition because they are important artifacts of maritime history. Sunken Aircraft at Midway Atoll; A P-40K Warhawk Discovered on the Reef- Kelly Gleason, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (NOAA ONMS) Kelly Gleason has been heavily involved Midway Atoll surveying as the Maritime Heritage Coordinator and NOAA Maritime Archaeologist. In August 2014, a P-40K was discovered at Midway Atoll on the southeast side of the shallow barrier reef. The aircraft, pilot and crash history were able to be identified through archeological surveying, oratory history and
Photos: Mael Flament/UHM MOP
archival research. From the wreck, Gleason was able to gain a historical perspective on the warcraft activity of the time. At the site, an Allison V-1710 engine, landing gears, .50 caliber shells and 3 propeller blades were found. A machine gun muzzle plate indicated the type of gun and to what aircraft it belonged. These artifacts allowed Gleason and her team to trace the aircraft to a fleet of P-40 Warhawks of the 78th fighter squadron. The 78th fighter squadron completed a record breaking flight in 1943 from Kauai‘i to Midway Atoll. They were stationed in Midway to protect the island from enemy attacks. The pilot of the P-40 found at this site was Lieutenant Ray Obenshain Jr. who survived the crash by parachute evacuation and continued on to have a successful career in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). This discovery was exciting because although there are many P-40 aircrafts dispersed throughout Midway Atoll, this wreck represented
the third aircraft to be found in this area. Gleason conveyed that plans are ongoing to continue surveying other aircrafts submerged at Midway Atoll. This discovery is able to not only shed light on aviation history during World War II but also the life of the aviators that exemplified their valor in protecting Hawai’i. Maritime Archaeology Survey at Site Hale O Kapuni- Stephan Matadobra, University of Hawai’i Marine Option Program Stephan Matadobra, a recent MOP graduate, was intrigued by a sacred Hawaiian shark heiau named Hale O Kapuni located near the Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on Big Island of Hawai’i. This temple is submerged offshore and was dedicated by Hawaiians to the shark gods. Sacrificial practices are still conducted today, with pigs being offered to the sharks. Unfortunately, it is impossible to see the heiau because of sedimentation caused by harbor MARCH 2015
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construction. Natural events such as tsunamis and anthropogenic causes, such as runoff, make for poor visibility in the area of the heiau. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer surveys in 1994 revealed anomalies that identified 18 possible sites of the heiau but no exact location was determined. To expand upon this information, in March 2014, Matadorba conducted a non-invasive survey in hopes of locating the heiau. Utilizing an echo sounder and sub-bottom profiler, 18 150m transects within the area were surveyed. Sixteen anomies were found within a 20x13 meter region and led Matadobra to conclude that his data supported the presence of a heiau in that area. The re-discovery of the heiau will play a significant role in Hawaiian cultural preservation. Matadobra’s research will add to the community and oral knowledge and he hopes that his information will allow for further research of other submerged heiau. Pirates and Provenance: New Methods for Establishing the Identity of the Queen Anne’s Revenge Shipwreck- Elizabeth Briggs, University of Cambridge Elizabeth Briggs incorporated the use of science in maritime archaeology to determine the origin of infamous ships to solve historic mysteries. She sought to answer a question that maritime historians are still grappling with, “Was the Queen Anne’s Revenge shipwreck that of the infamous pirate Blackbeard?” Some are proponents of the theory that the vessel belonged to the famous pirate Bakckbeard and others believe it cannot be linked and the site is merely a historic shipwreck. Dendrochronology, the study of tree ring dating, was used as a tool to determine where the wood originated in attempts to determine if the locality matched with Blackbeard’s geographic history. Isostope analysis of lead also aided in concluding that based on wood from the hull structure, the construction of Queen Anne’s Revenge occurred in Southern France. Briggs identified that there are growing possibilities emerging in the determination of the origin of the shipwreck and this continues to be a maritime controversy. She believes that her research has the potential to contribute to this healthy, longstanding academic debate. Ka Waihona Palapal Manaleo: Research in a Time of Plenty Navigating the Hawaiian Language “Archive” – Noelani Arista, University of Hawai’i Noelani Arista was the first speaker of the session 14|
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“Hawai’i and the World” and is an influential historian of Hawaiian culture. In 2010 she was awarded “Best PhD Dissertation in the Nation” by the Society of American Historians. Throughout her presentation, Arista emphasized the importance of culture and Hawaiian language in understanding the history of the past and enabling us to apply this to maritime archaeology. Her desire is to increase use of Hawaiian texts from the colonial period. Arista and her graduate students spend extensive amounts of time translating Hawaiian documents into English but as she conveyed, this is difficult in light of the changes in the Hawaiian language that have occurred throughout history. She emphazied the availability of online resources such as ulukau.org, Papakilodatabase.com and wehewehe.org, which are being underused by the public. Arista stated that these archive “continues to convey the importance of orality”. Her “punchline” was this; “Anyone can do this research; you don’t have to be Hawaiian to do this research.” She encouraged others to get involved. Due to lack of funding, it is a slow process for the archived Hawaiian texts to be translated to English and they need more manpower and resources in order to continue to make important contributions to the cultural history of Hawai’i. The Business of a Shipyard: War on the Home FrontBrendan L. Bliss, Hawai’i Pacific University Brendan L. Bliss has a research background focused on 19th century naval and maritime history. He is a history professor at Hawai’i Pacific University and received his master’s degree in war studies. He provided valuable insight on the history of a shipyard during World War II governed by Rear Admiral William R. Furlong. Furlong was a powerful business man of O’ahu and was able to create a living environment for employees on the shipyard. This industry dominated civilian and military life in the midst of World War II when resources were needed in the war zone. Housing was developed for workers, both men and women. A transit system was set in place with a railroad and bus John Coney/UH Hilo service for workers to efficiently travel on base. Furlong exercised segregation to deal with issues of racism in the shipyard community. Pasttimes of workers off the job included drinking at the bar available and sporting events such as football games. The Coast Guard and the Navy were involved in these activities. The Pearl Harbor shipyard faced many interrelated challenges in order to fulfill its wartime mission, but Furlong maintained order in the community and shaped the
daily lives of the workers at the shipyard. The Second Asia-Pacific Regional Underwater Cultural Heritage Conference- Hans Van Tilburg, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Marine Sanctuaries (NOAA ONMS)
the site was indicative of American whaling history. The ocean landscape depicts the historic footprint of human impact on this seemingly remote island in the Pacific. .
Hans Van Tilburg, the NOAA Maritime Heritage Coordinator for the ONMS/Pacific Islands Regional (PIR) office, gave a report to the symposium attendees about the Asia-Pacific Regional Underwater Cultural Heritage Conference that transpired in May, 2014. The first conference in the series was held in Manila, Philippines in 2011. The 2014 conference was the second conference in the Asia-Pacific Regional Underwater Cultural Heritage series and was attended by 145 participants from 27 different countries. NOAA and the University of Hawaii were able to provide funding, enabling many participants to attend the conference. The goals of the conference were to provide a forum for discussion, address management and protection strategies and facilitate regional cooperation. Workshops, sessions, banquets and field trips were all included in the symposium schedule. The powerful address given by the keynote speaker, sought to empower the maritime archaeology community to only conduct maritime archaeology if they are empowering the public. As Van Tilburg conveyed, these conferences provide “face to face interaction that you can’t duplicate”. The opportunities for collaboration are expanded from these conference opportunities. Swains Island: A Lost Tale from the South PacificHans Van Tilburg, NOAA ONMS Hans Van Tilburg concluded the conference with a presentation on a Swains Island survey and the cultural heritage represented by found artifacts at the wreck. Swains Island in American Samoa comprises a 220 nautical mile coral atoll, isolated from the world, uninhabited by man. This small island was first discovered in the 1830’s and later claimed by sailor Eli Hutchinson Jennings in 1856. It is now part of the National Marine Sanctuary system. Prior to 2013, no investigation had been conducted at this isolated atoll. Van Tilburg was involved in surveying the area for artifacts and wrecks of maritime archaeological significance. Around the islands, 19th century tools, anchor and ship tanks were found. As evident of the building capabilities, a foot and hand powered table saw was also identified. A whaler’s tri-pot found at
Mael Flament/UHM MOP
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news OCEAN UPDATES By Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student
SHARKS BITE ROUGHLY 70 PEOPLE EACH YEAR WORLDWIDE, WITH PERHAPS 6-10 FATALITIES. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE KILL ABOUT 20-100 MILLION SHARKS ANNUALLY. There is so much going on in the big blue that here at Seawords we like to keep you updated on some of these happenings. Each month in this space readers can learn about a few interesting things that are going on in the ocean around the world. Ocean Updates facts brought to you by: http://marinebio.org/
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Seal fossil ends five million year ghost lineage Researchers from New Zealand University at Otago are closer to ending a 5-million-year gap in fur seal and sea lion history after discovering a fossilized partial jaw of the oldest known fur seal.
temperatures enough to end the last ice age.
The fossil was first discovered in 1980, in a 15-17 million-year-old rock structure in Southern California, where it was mistakenly classified as a species of walrus. Doctoral student, Robert Boessenecker, was searching through the collections at the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center in Orange County, California when he noticed the fossil, and instantly recognized is as belonging to the fur seal species.
According co-leader of the Southampton study, Dr. Miguel Martinez- Boti, there is a direct link between higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the ocean and the rising of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the final stages of the last ice age. Martinez-Boti and other scientists from the university suggest that as the oceans get warmer, their ability to absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reduces. This causes a faster global warming by creating more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than the ocean can absorb.
Boessenecker knew the jaw belonged to a seal because the teeth were a cross between modern day seal teeth and the bear-like teeth of the earliest known seal.
It is estimated that the ocean currently absorbs about a third of the world’s atmospheric carbon dioxide caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Until now, the fur seal and sea lion family had a very limited fossil record that only extended back to about 10-12 million years ago. Boessenecker said in an interview with Nature World News, that he knew the species had to be older than what was recorded because walruses, which are the closest relative to the seal family, have fossils dating back 16-17 million years.
Rising levels of plastic found in oceans
Boessenecker named the new species, Eotaria crypta, meaning ‘dawn sea lion’. He estimates the species was relatively small, with adults being slightly larger than the average sea otter today. It is the only fossil to show evidence of the first five million years of fur seal and sea lion evolution. Oceanic carbon dioxide ends the last ice age A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Southhampton suggests that a carbon dioxide leakage from the ocean ended the last ice age. Research published in Nature shows the carbon release came from an isolated reservoir in the Southern Ocean. The carbon in the reservoir “re-connected” with the atmosphere to release a high level of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which caused an increase in global temperatures. Scientists were able to study the CO2 content in the calcium carbonate shells of surface organisms that inhabited the ocean during the last ice age. Their study showed a direct correlation between an increase of carbon in the organisms’ shells and an increase in atmospheric CO2, proving the ocean emission raised
Between 4-12 million metric tons of plastic wash up on ocean shores annually, according to a recent report that appeared in Science. Lead author of the report and assistant professor of environmental engineering at the University of Georgia, Jenna Jambeck, along with her colleagues, have put together a detailed study on how much plastic land debris ends up in our oceans. They have reported that anywhere between 1.5 to 4.5 percent of all the world’s total plastic production made its way into the ocean in the year 2010. Based on their findings, Jambeck expects the amount of plastic pollution to nearly double by 2025. The crew totaled the amount of waste produced by 192 coastal countries, some of which had no formal waste management systems. The total estimated amount of waste from each country that ended up in the sea was between 15-40 percent. China led in producing the most marine debris, contributing as much as 3.5 million tons of garbage annually. The U.S. ranked at number 20, with 111,000 metric tons per year. An article written in Plastic News has stated that the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) has acknowledged the problem, and is currently working with NOAA to prevent such a huge increase in marine waste, along with an effort in planning to improve recycling efforts nationally. MARCH 2015
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BLUE By Brijonnay Madrigal, Associate Editor
Actions for the Ocean
GENERATION
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.
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billsoPHOTO/Flickr.com
Francis Storr/Flickr.com
Lee Cannon/Flickr.com
“No Dumping, Drains to Ocean” The watershed of Hawai‘i is significant to the ocean because it can carry eroded sediment and pollution to the shoreline. In urban areas like Honolulu, it is important to remember that clean water on the ‘aina will help to maintain a healthier ocean. Public awareness is essential to eliminating dumping toxic wastes into storm drains and causing people to think every time they walk past a drain that what we do every day directly affects the oceans. The Department of Environmental Services places storm drain markings next to drains within the city of Honolulu. They convey their message through the statement “No Dumping, Drains to the Ocean” often a picture of a sea creature in the design—the drain at the top left has a humuhumunukunukuapua‘a while others (not pictured) have an o‘opu (native goby). Other organizations have adopted the slogan “Only Rain, Down the Drain.” The City encourages volunteers (over the age of 12) to help with this project to increase awareness that storm drains lead to the ocean. This project is best conducted in groups and the American Cetacean Society at UH Mānoa will be helping with this project this month. Call (808) 768-3300 for more information on getting kits and you can visit their website at http://www. cleanwaterhonolulu.com/storm/get_involved/marking.html
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features
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Wanna sea something cool? By Rachel Shackne, UHM MOP Student
E
Rachel Shackne/UHM MOP Student
very ocean lover’s dream when they come to Hawai‘i is getting to experience those big, pelagic animals that have captivated us through our childhood and influenced us to be passionate about the ocean. Sharks, dolphins, turtles, whales, and those other organisms that you see on posters and in movies instill the endearment of the ocean ecosystem in the public eye and make the conservation of the marine world that much more valuable. However, there comes a point where although those big animals are beautiful and ecologically important, they often make us overlook how incredibly diverse the organisms of the oceans can be, and how taking a more in-depth analysis into the marine biology can instill an even deeper appreciation for the marine world. Then you see that the organisms that you find the most brilliant aren’t always those large, well-known ones, but the ones you find inconspicuously and ask yourself “What the heck is that?!” Seen here is a species of ctenophore called Cestus veneris, found out of the corner of my eye while on a morning dive, barely noticeable yet incredibly beautiful. Commonly known as the “Venus Girdle” these ctenophores float in the pelagic waters off the North Shore, filter feeding and giving us a chance to understand how incredibly magnificent overlooked organisms can be.
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ocean art by Victoria Kano Victoria is a student at Honolulu Community College. Her poem was one of two chosen to be published from a collection of poems submitted to us by Eric Paul Shaffer, an HCC English professor, from his English 241 classs.
(L’ocÊan fatale)
Sharp lava rocks overlook a never ending sea. Waves hitting the rocks create little pools for our sea friends. Little pools filled with rainbow colored fishes, shells with hidden meaty treasures inside, and tiny stars that mirror the ones in the sky. A miniature paradise not only beautiful, but dangerous. Hidden water snakes looming in under water caves, spiky urchins that are scattered across the sandy bottom, crustaceans with menacing claws that will chop fingers off.
Tate Wester/UHM MOP Student
These little pools, are the femme fatales of the ocean shore.
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2015
PHOTOGRA COMPETITI
ATTENTION! – Fancy yourself an ocean photographer? Submit your sea-worthy photograph and who knows‌ You might just find it on the cover of Seawords. Email photos as hi-resolution attachments to seawords@hawaii.edu along with some info on your photograph*. The winning photo will be featured on the cover of the special photography edition of Seawords. *Complete details along with rules of the competition can be found on the MOP website at: http://hawaii.edu/mop/?q=photography-contest-rules-guidelines
APHY ON
critter of the month
Photo credit: Former UHM MOP Student Dieter Stelling
Raccoon butterflyfish Scientific Name: Chaetodon lunula Hawaiian Name: Kīkākapu A common nocturnal species, this fish can be found either alone or in aggregations on reefs down to 100 feet. The raccoon butterflyfish feeds on benthic invertebrates and algae and can grow up to 8 inches in length. Although this species can be spotted from South Africa to Japan to the Austral Islands in French Polynesia, this particular fish was photographed off the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
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CALL TO ACTION Please check nearby coral reefs and report any signs of bleaching. Make an online report: www.eorhawaii.org Send photos to: rrcpcoordinator@gmail.com Bleached coral (on right) next to normal coral (leŌ) at Lanikai, O‘ahu on 9/23/2014 Photo credit: C. Hunter
MulƟple reports of coral bleaching have recently been received through the Eyes of the Reef Network. ‘Bleaching’ is a coral stress response, in this case likely due to high temperatures. It describes the loss of color from coral Ɵssue, which makes the coral appear white. Corals can recover from bleaching if temperatures return to a normal range. The peak bleaching season for the Pacific is July-- September.
More examples of coral bleaching:
Photo credit: J. Kenyon Photo credit: G. Aeby
Want to know more about the EOR Network or coral bleaching? www.oerhawaii.org www.facebook.com/eyesoŌhereef Flyer created by and used with permission from: Eyes of the Reef
FLASHBACK: 1998 This photo from the April 1998 issue of Seawords shows the remains of the S.S. Maui, an inter-island steamship that sank in 20 feet of water off the Kona Coast State Beach Park in 1917. This was the site of the 1998 Maritime Archaeology Surveying Techniques (MAST) field school. Photo credit: John Coney. 28
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Spring Break No school.
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MOP & Community Events
Next month: Sunday, April 12 Day/Night Snorkle Natatorium, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Seawords Volume XXVIV, Number 3, March 2015 Editor: Kathryn Lam Associate Editor: Brijonnay Madrigal Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433 Email: <seawords@hawaii.edu> Website: <http://www.hawaii.edu/mop> Seawords is the monthly newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Opinions expressed herein are not necessariliy those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai‘i. Suggestions and submissions are welcome. Submissions may include articles, photography, art work, or anything that may be of interest to the marine community in Hawai‘i and around the world. All photos are taken by MOP unless otherwise credited.
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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
Thank you for reading!