REEF GUARDIANS HAWAII
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Mission Statement
The mission of Reef Guardians is Reef Preservation through Research, Restoration and Education. We are dedicated to raising awareness of the value of the marine environment, creating monitoring and environmental solutions, facilitating restoration, and educating tomorrow’s advocates and stewards.
About This Cause
Reef Guardians Hawaii is a scientific based nonprofit on a mission to protect our fragile coral reefs and to inform, educate and create life-sustaining action. Reef Guardians operates monitoring, restoration, education and research programs in Hawaii and California, addressing urgent environmental needs and educating children and the general public. Working with local communities, universities, business groups and government we continue to study the conditions that weaken our coral reefs and near shore habitats such as pollution and sedimentation from land sources. With a better understanding and clearly defining problems within these fragile ecosystems, we are creating solutions, protecting historical fishing areas, sustainable fisheries, and nearshore habitats for endangered and protected species of sea turtles, monk seals and sharks. We accomplish our goals by: • Continuing to be of assistance in supplying critical information regarding diseases, invasive species and pollutants that threaten and weaken the watersheds and ocean • Utilizing trained observers to monitor the health of our coral reefs and near shore ecosystems • Educating children and general population of Hawaii, California and the world about our marine environment along with protective actions they can take at home, in the community and when they visit the beach and ocean Community and visitor education is key. In seeking support for our high caliber and soon to be very far-reaching education program, we are responding to requests from parents, teachers, students, and community partners for continued and additional youth and public educational opportunities in-person, in-ocean and online. During this last productive year, participation in our Reef Camp in-person/in-ocean youth education program increased by 36%, serving over 300 field study participants. We achieved our dream to provide environmental education in the field for Hawaii Dept. of Education elementary and middle school classes. We initiated a teen intern program associated with other Hawaiian cultural, ocean, technology programs statewide, involving Kaua’i middle school students in local history study as well as participation in real-life watershed and ocean scientific data collection and research. While remaining flexible as Covid-19 has continued to impact Kaua’i, our seminal Reef Camp program has proven to be counted on by the community for weekly sessions during all school breaks. Led by our professional marine biologists, youth participants from across Kaua’i ages 8-13 plus teen interns dive into discovery using high caliber snorkeling equipment, small learning groups, first-hand exposure to scientific testing methods and quality investigation tools, Hawaiian cultural and place-based knowledge and wisdom, artistic expression and training, and stewardship and advocacy activities. As a necessary improvement to our system, we plan to acquire a van to both store and transport our mobile classroom, gear, educational materials and scientific equipment. Focusing on youth involves the whole family in education and caring through the enthusiasm of the child. Our youth education program provides for children’s and teen’s education in a way that is otherwise not available on Kaua’i. The program is inspiring participants toward further goals for themselves in their education and career. We see that through enjoying these learning adventures, the young participants identify as reef guardians, grow their knowledge and understanding, and contribute to the well-being of our community. Based on our well-developed Reef Camp program Reef Guardian’s Kula Kai Online Sea School is in the final month of product build-out. The 15-unit curriculum features both western scientific knowledge and perspective as well as that of native Hawaiian cultural practitioners. The on-line lessons include interviews with scientists and cultural practitioners, video lessons, virtual snorkel tours, science experiments, art projects, songs and more. Distribution will begin in December and access will expand in the coming year through marketing efforts to share this dynamic educational opportunity with many thousands of children and families on Kauai, statewide and beyond. Another Reef Guardians online innovation is our Hawai’i Reef Life App which will provide access via phone for thousands of children and families to easily identify and learn about the specific sea life they encountered when snorkeling in the Hawaiian near-shore reefs. The comprehensive App includes fish, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals and birds and is a unique product that will encourage understanding of and protection for the ecosystem. The child-centered App is designed to bring more awareness, knowledge and caring for the natural reef environment by recreational users. Kauai’s reefs undergo intense visitation, and an important role for the App is to provide education for children and families while they are directly experiencing the natural environment Current research and monitoring programs include California based shark research and advocacy, as well as our innovative AI coral disease monitoring system project Robot on the Reef (ROR). Reef Guardians Hawaii (RGH) has recently published a comprehensive report regarding the influence of pollutants and sediment from nearby lands onto Kaua’i’s ‘Anini lagoon and near-shore reefs. RGH’s emphasis is on the recovery and restoration of this culturally and economically valuable natural habitat. Recommendations and Requests for compliance with Best Management Practices and an outline of Action Steps are report and process outcomes. Stakeholder education and action is now the focus of this program. The ultimate goal is the restoration of the lagoon ecosystem stemming from improvement and protection of the water quality of all run-off emptying into “Anini’s fringing reef and waters. Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Aina i ka Pono. This is most commonly translated as “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” Help protect our fragile Coral Reefs and nearshore environments. They are a critical element in Life on Planet Earth. Your donation will help future generations and the Planet itself survive.