Hoʻomalu Ke Kai's Talk Story Times Volume II | Issue II December 7, 2022 |
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Wow, 2022 Went So Fast! What An Amazing Year It Was Protecting The Ocean... Mahalo Nui Loa, Kauaʻi! Mahalo nui loa to all of the amazing people, organizations, and the community as a whole for helping us to hoʻomalu ke kai (protect the ocean) this year! In this issue of the Talk Story Times, we're recapping some of the greatest hits, events, and initiatives past, present, and into 2023. Here's to an amazing first full year as a 501(c)(3) organization growing sustainable and vital projects and programs. Filling gaps and much needed niches in the ocean conservation realm for Kauaʻi. From collecting mini ocean plastics to upcycle, to spawning key native marine invertebrates for future restoration projects, and so much in between. We invite you to jump into this newsletter, and, given the ocean is connected to just about everything, to Hoʻomalu Ke Kai wherever you are in the world and however you can. We're just getting started, but it absolutely does take a village to protect the ocean around Kauaʻi. Sincerely grateful for the consistently growing village that has helped this effort and others alike. We're genuinely looking forward to continuously growing in so many positive ways within our community for the ocean and its inhabitants. Please reach out if you're interested in getting involved in any of our initiatives. And, remember, keep on keepin' on! ~ Hauʻoli Lanui & Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou ~ (Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!) -Tim Leichliter (Director of Operations) -Mike Raithaus (Director of Creative Initiatives) -Kenui Topp (Director of Media & Outreach) -Clifton Oliver (Director of Sustainability) -Pohaku Kekaualua (Director of Hawaiian Culture) -Mattea Topp (Honorary Jr. Board of Director) |
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A recap video of our top events and projects during 2022 by Director of Media & Outreach, Kenui Topp. We will continue to do as much as we can to keep these programs and initiatives going and growing for the community. We've invested everything we received back into our efforts and will always promise to keep it that way into 2023 and beyond. Mahalo Nui Loa! |
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Featured Article Restorative Aquaculture at Kauaʻi Sea Farm |
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Dave Anderson, Kauaʻi Sea Farm Production Manager and project PI for the NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Project to cultivate Hawaiian sea cucumbers species for local markets & export, as well as, Hawaiian fishpond restoration on Kauaʻi, finds a Hawaiian Spiky Sea Cucumber at around 60 feet underwater. October 3, 2022. |
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A Black Teatfish, or Holothuria whitmaei, as a larvae under the microscope. Just one of the species Kauaʻi Sea Farm is working with for restorative aquaculture. June 7, 2022. |
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Breeder collector urchins, Tripneustes gratilla, getting ready to do their thing. May 17, 2022. |
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Tripneustes gratilla larvae under the microscope after a successful spawning event. June 1, 2022. |
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A few juveniles, Tripneustes gratilla, were successfully reared by Kaua'i Sea Farm & Ho'omalu Ke Kai as part of their 2021-2022 County of Kaua'i Office of Economic Development Innovation Grant project. Instinctually as a "collector" urchin, this little guy is already using some of its limu kala (Sargassum echinocarpum) food to disguise itself. November 23, 2022. |
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Experiments to grow Sargassum sp. and other native limu (seaweeds) have been carried out throughout the year with Kaua'i Sea Farm at Nomilu fishpond. Limu kala has proven to be one of the best conditioning food for the collector urchins. Limu kala is combined with invasive Acanthophora specifera (spiny seaweed) to get this species ready to spawn and grow out for future restorative projects. July 8, 2022. |
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A quick look into a few of the stats we've collected during our first full year as 501(c)(3). From marine debris cleanups & educational outreach events, to restorative aquaculture projects & marine ecosystems' data collection, we covered a lot of water and shoreline in 2022. This movement is building and would not be possible without the conglomerate, village-style effort that the incredible community of Kauaʻi brings to the table when it comes to protecting what they love. Onward and upward! |
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| | Total pounds of marine debris removed from Kauaʻi's shoreline. |
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| | Breakdown of marine debris from 2022. |
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| | Total volunteers engaged. |
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| | Total number of cleanups and events. |
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| | Total amount of volunteer hours. |
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| | Total species worked with in restorative aquaculture projects with Kauaʻi Sea Farm. |
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| | Total number of active projects in ocean conservation for Kauaʻi. |
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| | Breakdown of amount of time spent on active projects. |
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| | Total number of community partners & collaborators. |
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Whatʻs Happening In 2023??? |
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What does 2023 look like for Hoʻomalu Ke Kai and ocean conservation on Kauaʻi? It is definitely looking like it's stacking up to be an incredibly positive year in achieving the all-encompassing effort in connecting the dots in the ocean conservation field; creating the much needed opportunities to get involved and give back to Ke Kai on Kauaʻi. Upcoming projects for 2023 include special coral reef ecosystem survey and monitoring training and projects to collect baseline data in areas in need of research. We also look forward to continuing our monthly community volunteer coastline cleanup days, as well as, monthly lokoʻia workdays at Nomilu with Kauaʻi Sea Farm. As always, please reach out if you're interested in participating or helping with any of our programs! And if you haven't checked out the environmental roundtable that Captain & Marine Biologist, Tara Leota, and her team of passionate ocean enthusiasts are putting together for Kauaʻi, check out their awesome work and new website! Kauaʻi Ocean Awareness. As you may have heard, the Hoʻoponopono Plastic Program, unfortunately, was stopped in its development this year due to situations out of our control. We hope to see the effort we helped to start with Plastic Paradise Kauaʻi to upcycle plastic on island continue and are supportive for anyone who takes on the endeavor moving forward. Please see this post if you are interested in helping to see plastic upcylcing on Kauaʻi continue. As we finish out 2022, we do have one last big group cleanup effort scheduled on December 17th. See the flyer and sign up at the link below to help us do one last big sweep of Kauaʻi's windward (and most exposed to marine debris) coast! |
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Mālama i ke kai, a mālama ke kai ia ʻoe!Care for the ocean, and the ocean will care for you! |
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First Community Volunteer Workday at Nōmilu Fishpond with this awesome crew consisting of members of Hoʻomalu Ke Kai, Kauaʻi Sea Farm, the Palama ʻohana, National Tropical Botanical Garden's Native Plant Nursery & Horticulture Center, and Hui Mālama Polihale. First of many to come. October 29, 2022. |
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