July 2013Th e Marine Option Program Newsletter

QUEST 2013

SPRING MOP GRADUATION

AMERICAN SAMOA QUEST

Seaw rds

8 “ I came back to QUEST to push myself as a leader and because I had an extremely amazing time last year. ”

BIG ISLAND

JULY 2013

Contents:Page 4: Student Perspective

Page 6: MOP Spring Graduation

Page 8: Th e Dangers of Lava Deltas

Page 10: Hawksbill Turtles

Page 12: QUEST 2013

Page 14: 364 Students

Page 18: Generation Blue

Page 20: American Samoa QUEST

Page 22: Ocean Art

Page 24: Critter of the Month

Cover Photo: Th is month’s cover photo is courtesy of friend of the Marine Option Program, Don Mcleish.

Th e photo on this page is of MOP students hiking along the Kapalua Coastal Trail, more details are on the fol-lowing pages.

Back Photo: Amber Simon/UH Maui MOP

Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP

The Big Island Issue

VoVolulumeme XXXVXVII, Numbeb r 7,7, JJJululy y 20201313

EdE itor: NaN omi LugooAsA sociate Editor: James StoneAssistant Editor: Kathryn Lam

Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise)Seawords- Marine Option Program

UnUniversityty of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A

Honolulu, HI 96822-2219Telephone: (808) 956-8433, Fax: (808) 956-2417

E-mail: <seawords@hawaii.edu>Website: <www.hawaii.edu/mop>>

Seawords is a monthly newsletter of thhe e MM rarinine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Oppinioions expressede herein are not

neceessarily thosse e ofo tthehe MMaarine Option Program oro of ththe UnUniviversity of Hawai‘i y pp

SuSuggggese titionons and submissions are welcome. Submissionsmam y includde articles, photographs, 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.

Seawords

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Oceanside Yoga:QUEST students use the morning before their dives to stretch out and prepare for the day ahead of them with yoga at the Ke‘ei campsite.

JULY 2013 |5

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Naomi N. Lugo, Editor

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MOP Spring

Graduation

Kathryn Lam, Assistant Editor

On May 2nd, the University of Hawai‘i Marine Option Program (MOP) invited its friends and ohana to celebrate the MOP graduating class of 2013. Th ere were a total

of 17 graduates from UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, Leeward Community College, and Windward Community College. Th e graduation started off with a potluck and then moved on to the keynote speaker Jason Leonard, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Field Operations Coordinator. (Closing remarks were made by Dr. Cindy Hunter, MOP Director.)

Leonard’s speech entitled “Cool Aquatic Resource Jobs and How Not to Get Th em” covered his job evolution from pet store to Field Operations Coordinator at NOAA. As Leonard continued working, his network-ing circle started to grow, he made connections and worked his way up until he had a job with NOAA. Leonard gave tips to the graduating MOPers as well as the other students and family and friends who came to

watch. He spoke about his work experience, showing how those tips came in handy for him and helped him to further his career.

Hunter then presented Seawords to the audience, talk-ing about the latest issue and the work that goes into it by the staff : Naomi Lugo, Editor; James Stone, Associ-ate Editor; and Kathryn Lam, Assistant Editor. Th en Jeff Kuwabara, Coordinator for the Mānoa branch of MOP introduced the student offi ce staff who were present at the ceremony.

Th e graduates were called up by their respective cam-pus and presented with a certifi cate, a lei, and then had their picture taken with their campus coordinator. As each graduate was called up, their achievements in MOP and MOP Project were also announced and once the graduate reached the front of the room they dis-cussed their future plans.

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Th e graduates, their campus, certifi cate and project titles are as follows;CHELSEY J. BRYSON, UH HILO - Cer-tifi cate Title: Elasmobranch Research,Project Title: Investigation of diet stability in juvenile black tip sharks (Carcahrhinus limbatus) using multiple-tissue stable isotope analysisJOHN M .CANTERO, UH HILO - Cer-tifi cate Title: Coral Research Project, Title: Eff ect of feeding and shade on the growth of three Hawaiian Corals: Porites com-pressa, Montipora capitata and Pocillopora damicornisBRITTANY A. DOLAN, UH HILO - Certifi cate Title: Elasmobranch Research,Project Title: Survey of Elasmobranchs in Hilo Bay, Hawai‘i: Community analysis and trophic ecologyLAURA J. KNIGHT, UH HILO - Cer-tifi cate Title: Coral Reef Ecology, Project Title: Relationship between percent coral cover and fi sh assemblages in the North-western Hawaiian islandsHŌKŪOKAHALELANI PIHANA, UH HILO - Certifi cate Title: Cnidarian Re-search, Project Title: Cassiopea androm-eda, the upside-down jelly-fi sh, a baseline feeding trial study

ALANNA SUTTON, UH HILO - Certifi -cate Title: Phytoplankton Research, Project Title: Monitoring of a spring phytoplank-ton bloom in Hilo Bay, Hawai‘i: Determin-ing the cause of peak fl uorescence valuesDEREK J. WATTS, UH HILO - Certifi -cate Title: Marine Debris Research Project, Title: Plastic Shores, Th e Persistent Pollut-antJENNY BERNIER, UH MĀNOA - Certif-icate Title: Maritime Photography Project, Title: A Photographic Journey of Iron and SeaMARY KATE FOSTER, UH MĀNOA - Certifi cate Title: Marine Mammal Train-ing, Project Title: Internship with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal ProgramNAOMI N. LUGO, UH MĀNOA - Certif-icate Title: Marine Journalism and Design,Project Title: Keeping the community con-nected, updating Seawords for the digital ageJULIA SMITH, UH MĀNOA - Certifi -cate Title: Endangered Species Research Project, Title: What it is like to work in a marine mammal veterinarian lab and research facility: For the endangered Ha-waiian monk sealDIETER STELLING, UH MĀNOA - Cer-

tifi cate Title: Underwater Videography,Project Title: Kai Nohona: Th e Making of an Underwater Film DocumentaryKAT SULIK, UH MĀNOA - Certifi cate Title: Marine Animal Hubandry,Project Title: My life as an AquaristJACOB VANDOR, UH MĀNOA - Cer-tifi cate Title: Underwater ArchaeologyProject Title: SUPer Surveys: Using stand-up paddleboards to document and exploreO‘ahu’s submerged cultural resourcesJAMES D. BERLES, WINDWARD COM-MUNITY COLLEGE –Certifi cate Title: GIS for Hawaiian FishpondsProject Title: GIS Mapping for Waikalua Loko Fishpond resources and circulation for planning and educationASHLEY YAMASHITA, WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE –Certifi cate Title: Environmental Science Education, Project Title: PACES Summer ProgramHA‘AHEO TIAVE, LEEWARD COM-MUNITY COLLEGE - Certifi cate Title: Marine Biology, Project Title: KIRC internship: Working with Marine Biologist Jen Vuer

UHM MOP

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Big Island Lava Delta Hazards

When lava meets the sea and begins to create new land, this beautiful natural wonder can be a very deceiving hotbed for observers. Th e new land created

may seem safe and stable to the untrained eye, but it is nothing close to safe. Th is new land that is formed is referred to as the lava delta. Sometimes there are casualties because of a false sense of security when venturing too close to the lava delta.

Recently police on the Big Island of Hawai‘i are inves-tigating the death of a woman, whose body was found fl oating near the Kilauea volcano lava delta entering the ocean in Kalapana. Th e police and fi re department re-sponded to a body caught in a fi shing line near the lava viewing area. Th ough the police say they have not ruled out foul play, this case could be a very real example of the danger of venturing dangerously too close on the lava delta and it may have risked this women’s life.

When people are standing too close on a building lava delta, during a collapse, can very easily be swept into sea, into water of scalding temperatures. Visitors to the active volcanoes on the Big Island are advised and urges not to get to close to the new land and the lava delta itself.

At times lava delta collapses are so vast and unexpected, areas the size of football fi elds can quickly collapse into the ocean at a moments notice. Currently the case od the woman found fl oating in the waters near the popular volcano visiting area on the Big Island is still unsolved, but nonetheless it should stand as a testament to the powers of Mother Nature and as warning to future visitors. Th e Big Island is home to some of the most famous active volcanoes in the world and what comes with that title is also some of the most visually stunning lava deltas to see with two-eyes, but in saying that, some of the most dangerous.

James Stone, Associate Editor

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Story Behind the Photo: businessinsider.com/CJ Kalewww.businessinsider.com/cj-kale-nick-selway-lava-ocean-hawaii-2012-9?op=1

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A Profi le on: Th e Hawksbill Sea TurtleKathryn Lam, Assistant Editor

Hawksbill sea turtles or honu ‘Ea are recognized by the two pairs of prefrontal scales on the top of their head and the two claws that are on each of their fl ippers. Th ey live in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacifi c, and Indian Oceans, both in deep waters and near coastlines

because of the abundance of sponges and nesting sites according to National Geographic. According to NOAA Fisheries, female hawksbills return to the beaches where they were born, called natal beaches, at night every two to three years to nest. During nesting season they return every 14 to 16 days and each female tends to leave about 3 to 5 nests with an average of 130 eggs per nest each season. However, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park says that the Hawksbills that nest on the beaches of the Hawai‘i, Maui, and Moloka‘i return in two to six year migration intervals.

Th ere are nine known nesting beaches for hawksbill turtles on the island of Hawai‘i, one on Maui and an unknown number on Moloka‘i. Th ree of the nine beaches on Hawai‘i are pro-tected because they are in the National Park. By both state and federal laws, all Hawaiian sea turtles are protected from harassment in the form of harm, pursuit, shooting, killing trapping, or collecting.

Hawksbill turtles are endangered for many reasons. Large fi sh, sharks and octopuses are their main predators, along with humans. Hawksbill eggs are eaten around the world and the turtle itself is killed for its fl esh and shells. Being caught as bycatch is also a danger to the Hawksbill. According to NOAA Fisheries, loss of coral reef communities, commercial exploitation, and increased use of Pacifi c nesting beaches for recreational and commercial purposes also contribute to hawksbill endangerment.

The National Park Service has monitored beaches on the Big Island and found that loss of nesting habitat, predation, and poaching have negative impacts on hawksbills. Poaching of turtle shells has reduced

hawksbill numbers to critically low levels internationally. Th e

shells are used for jewelry aplaced on tortoise shell com

Educating the publicseason lasts from lthat no camping oris also prohibited t

disorient female sea turtles

Image: NOAA/Marinebio.org

Highlights from the 2011 Nesting Season (the most recent infothe National Park Service’s website)6 beaches: ‘Āpua Point and Halapé inside the Hawai‘i VolcanPark and Kamehama, Punalu‘u, Kōloa and Pōhue Bay along Coast9 female Hawksbills were spotted and 1 female Green Sea Tur5 newly tagged4 returning from previous seasons29 Hawksbill nests and 1 Green Sea Turtle nest1 nest at Pōhue and at least 2 at Kamehame were washed awarecord high surfOther nests were likely there and not observedApproximately 3,000 hatchlings reached the ocean safely

Photo: sea.edu JULY 2013 |11

Later this year, Google maps will be unveiling new underwa-ter content of the Galapagos Islands that includes Underwater Street View photography.

Th e islands are famous for their incredible biodiversity and Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution aft er a visit to the islands in 1832 aboard the HMS Beagle. Th e Galapagos are now administered by Ecuador and currently are under threat of invasive species. Google’s eff ort to document the islands vast wildlife and plant life couldn’t have come at a better time.

Raleigh Seamster, the project lead for Google Maps talks about their trip to the Galapagos. “Our 10-day adventure in the Galapagos was full of hiking, boating, and diving around the islands to capture 360-degree images of the unique wildlife and geological features of the islands with the Trekker (Google Street View)” said Seamster.

itproportal.com

Google Maps Underwater in the Galapagos

australiangeographic.com.au

Scientifi c Project to Capture Underwater Sounds of the Great Barrier Reef

Researchers from Queensland, Australia are aiming to deter-mine whether or not human activities like shipping impact communication between marine animals. A recorder has been submerged for three months at Wheeler Reef, Townsville.

“Most of the knowledge we have comes from other places – we’ve never really looked on the Great Barrier Reef for this sort of stuff before, listened for it on the Great Barrier Reef before,” said Professor Colin Simpfendorfer of James Cook University.

As it turns out, the reef is actually quite noisy. “Th ere are things like snapping shrimps and crabs that make noise but there are also human noises out there, so there is shipping and those sorts of things.” Said Simpfendorfer. “We are trying to under-stand what’s the soundscape out there in the Great Barrier Reef and are trying to understand the human components of that aff ecting the animals that live there.”

and are sold worldwide as tortoise shell despite the ban mmerce in 1973 to protect the endangered Hawksbill.

c can help to reduce the amount of impact. Th e nesting ate May to December and during this time it is important r walking livestock through nesting beaches occurs. It to build campfi res on nesting beaches as the light can and hatchlings. According to the National Park Service,

fl ashlights should also be pointed away from the ocean as artifi cial light can attract the hatchlings and cause them to head away from the water, eventually stranding the hatchlings and leading to their demise. Cross nets at inlets should be removed in order to provide better access for female hawksbill turtles to return to their natal beaches and all turtle sighting should be reported to Park Rangers. Time, date, and location are all important pieces of information that will help the Park Rangers take protective action. Volunteering time to monitor hawksbill nests is a great way to protect these creatures.-

ormation on

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QUEST 2013

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Naomi N. Lugo, Editor

The types of experiences a student in the summer QUEST fi eld school can gain set them apart from peers in the same fi eld of study, and with the divers exploring such protected locations, are genuinely unique.

JULY 2013 |13

Above two photos, Naomi N. Lugo, Editor

Students observe various species of limu that were collected at the dive sites.

QUEST (or Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques) 2013 ran from May 13th to May 25th and like in past years took place on the Big Island in Ke`ei Bay. 30 students enrolled through UH Hilo in classes MARE 264 for fi rst time QUESTers and MARE 364 for second year advanced students. All of the students (two from the mainland and oth-ers from outer islands) converged at the Kame-hameha Schools camp-site at Th e Bay where they would learn and sleep for 2 weeks in their outdoor classroom.

Students learn techniques in coral disease assessment, fi sh,

limu and coral surveying, statistical analysis, and more. Th e program includes 30 students in 6 teams along with staff divers each year, and since its beginnings on Hawai‘i Island in 1991, QUEST has trained 720 students in these techniques. Aft er attending QUEST, students have used the skills they have gained in the course to work in conservation and on research projects related to Hawaiian coral reef systems. Each diver within QUEST has to be certifi ed and have achieved UH Scientifi c Diver in Training Status through the UH Diving Safety Program. Th e students have to be able to identify about 200 species of corals, invertebrates, fi shes, and limu in order to participate in QUEST.

The daily life of a QUEST student usually included dive briefi ngs over breakfast, a set of dives in the mid-morning at some of the most beautiful and thriving coral

reef spots Hawaii has to off er, then dive logs over lunch various lectures on the surveying techniques and some lectures outlining the opportunities that QUEST may open up to them. Needless to say the two weeks are jam-packed, but it’s all essential information that leaves the students at the end better divers and better scientists.

QUEST students all vary in their dive experience, so QUEST is not limited to master divers, and that’s a part of the fl uidity of the program. Students learn

from each other, also in a very objective sense due to the fact that the teams of 264 students are lead by one advanced 364 student known as their team leaders. Th e 364 student and their teams are linked for nearly the whole 2 weeks in their diving and

learning.

Each dive corresponds with a new skill that the students learn. As an example, students learned how to survey invertebrates on the reef, and collected

data on urchin cover of the reefs.

On the second week, community members were in-vited to attend student presentations of the research

projects based on scientifi c observa-tions of the reefs.

In taking the QUEST course you are setting yourself up to be successful in your professional life as a marine bi-ologist (or other fi eld scientist). If you are interested in applying to QUEST 2014 get started now, there are many requirements including dive certifi ca-tions and identifi cation exams to pass. To learn more about how to apply to QUEST see our advice article in the November 2012 issue of Seawords.

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Emily WilsonWhy did you come back to QUEST?

QUEST last year was the coolest thing ever. Pretty much the coolest thing that I’ve ever done, it was just so exciting. Th e opportunity was so wonderful and I learned so much. I felt that I really wanted to come back and being able to help train the next group of sci-ence divers was really rewarding for me. It gives you so many great opportunities to meet all these great people who are actually doing the research that we want to do. Being able to talk to them about that is really invalu-able. You can send people emails and stuff like that, but to be able to sit down with them everyday at dinner and ask them questions like “Oh… what did you do with all these fi sh?” and hear all the things that they’ve done.

What has been the most exciting thing about QUEST so far?

I guess the challenge, like when the surge rolled in. We all had to adapt and the whole camp was out of their comfort zone. Having that kind of real-world wrench to throw into the machine, I think was super valuable, especially for the newer divers. “Th ose are the condi-tions we work in.” You have to get used to being in surf, having to move your dive site on the spot.

What was the coolest thing that you saw on any of your dives?

Th e fi rst two dives that we did on the fi rst day of div-ing, I saw a white tip reef shark.. It was just hanging out there, cruising around. I fi nally saw a fl ame angel! I saw a couple pairs of the rare black long-nose butter-fl y fi sh. I thought that was awesome and I got to swim with them! Th at was pretty neat. Every time I go out diving, I see something awesome. I just get stoked ever time I’m diving.

James Stilley

Why did you come back to QUEST?

I came back to QUEST because I really had a good ex-perience as a fi rst year student and I saw all the oppor-tunities it presents for all the various students to learn diff erent skills for marine science and all the network-ing opportunities presented here.

What was the most exciting thing that happened on your dives or at QUEST?

Th e most exciting thing was the freak weather we had this year. Having to move our tents, being allowed to have our tents on the beach and watching the surf come up. Having to dive Honau’nau four times. I was just really excited, everyone was able to really adapt, especially the new students, never being here they were able to still perform really well, even with these condi-tions.

What was the coolest thing that you saw on any of

Returning Students: Interviews with QUEST Team Leaders

QA

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your dives?

Th e coolest thing happened over at Ke’ei, by the sandpit over by the safety stop. We saw an eagle raw feeding on some type of crab species. We watched it dive down and it was digging through the sand fi nding its food.

Jenny Bernier Why did you come back to QUEST?

I came back to sharpen my diving skills and to see QUEST in a diff erent way.

What has been the most exciting part about QUEST?

A dive that I went on where I had an early end to the dive because of some dive issues.

What has been the best thing that you’ve seen out on your dives?

Th e best thing I saw was an eagle ray eating and a shark and an octopus.

Tate WesterWhy did you come back to QUEST?

I came back to QUEST to push myself as a leader and because I had an extremely amazing time last year. I learned a ton and I’ve been extremely impressed on how much I’ve had to push myself and how much I’ve learned this year, so I’m super glad I came back.

What has been the most exciting part about QUEST?

Probably watching my team grow and get better throughout the two weeks.

What has been the best thing that you’ve seen out on your dives?A shark (laughs…)

Taylor SheddWhy did you come back to QUEST?

I came back to QUEST because I was accepted! But I really came back because I wanted more experience and leading my own dive team. Having that respon-sibility and that experience of being responsible for my own divers. I’m experienced diving and I’m ex-perienced doing science and I kind of wanted to add them together and be trusted to lead my own team and prove myself.

What has been the most exciting part about QUEST?

Defi nitely, the change up from diving at Honaunau, because that’s really a pretty sight and usually we dive Ke’e, which is also awesome, but we had the big surf, so I like that we changed it up. It was just diff erent.

What has been the best thing that you’ve seen on your dives?

Cardinal fi sh I’ve never really seen them before be-cause they’re a cryptic species that live deep in the Porites compressa (fi nger coral) I’ve seen two of them now, just kind of looking down. Also, we saw a eagle ray that was feeding at the time.

Stephen Matadobra Why did you come back to QUEST?

I came back to get leadership experience and I loved QUEST so much, I thought it’d be cool to see how it was run and kind of switch roles. It’s a challenge as a team leader and it’s something that I thought would be a lot of fun.

What has been the most exciting part of QUEST?

To be honest I’m looking forward to super-team’s, I think it will be something that will challenge the new students and the team leaders. Basically we are thrown into a situation where it’s just like being in the fi eld, everything is going to be new, but we all have tasks.

What has been the coolest thing that you’ve seen on your dives?

My eyes are just drawn to turtles, I’m a turtle guy! It’s got to be the turtles.

GENERATION

Actions for the Ocean

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.

BLUE

UHM MO18| Seawords

PLANT YOUR FOOD. Consider starting your own vegetable/fruit garden. It not only will provide you with fresh and very local produce, but it’s also a reason to get outdoors.

OP JULY 2013 |19

TRADE YOUR OLD BOOKS.If you’re itching to read something new but don’t want to pay $20 plus at the book store, you may want to consider swapping the books you already have.

Some places (like coff ee shops) have a wall where you can choose a book to take home and the only thing you have to do is leave one your old books. If you can’t fi nd any place that does this, try seeing if friends would be willing to swap with you.

BREATHE, IT’S SUMMER!

Use your break times, whenever they may be, to their fullest. Th ey may be summer vacation, breaks between classes or even just the weekend, but tak-ing that time to chill will allow your body to heal and you may be less likely to get ill.-

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Training opportunities in underwater biological survey-ing are hard to come by, especially if you live in American Samoa. Th e vast majority of these are found off island and the costs are prohibitive to interested students. Th e University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program and the American Samoa Community College Marine Science Program and Community and Natural Resources Division are addressing this need by off ering the Quantitative Un-derwater Ecological Surveying Techniques (QUEST) fi eld course each year. Th is course is available to anyone at least 18 years old. QUEST participants do not need to be ASCC students, though ASCC students can earn two credits for the course.

Th is year’s course began on March 11th and continued until March 16, during ASCC’s spring break. Students and staff camped at Faga’alu Park in the old Boy Scouts facil-ity and immersed themselves in learning various methods for counting and measuring fi sh, algae, and invertebrate species such as corals. Th ese methods allow many diff er-ent questions to be answered, such as “How healthy are our reefs?,” and “How big is the average parrot fi sh?” along with many others. Students conducted small research projects in teams to learn and apply the scientifi c method and present their fi ndings at a symposium on the last day of QUEST. To accomplish this, they had to learn experi-mental design, sampling methods, statistical analysis, and forming conclusions. All of these skills were learned dur-ing QUEST.

Th e class of six students was comprised of three ASCC students and one student each from the National Park of American Samoa, Department of Marine and Wildlife Re-sources, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-ministration Pacifi c Islands Regional Offi ce. Th is was the fi rst experience with identifying underwater organisms for some of the students. Others struggled with the required swimming skills. However, by the end of the week, the stu-dents could dive down to 15 feet to take pictures, identify corals, and measure the shape of the coral reef.

One student, John Leau, said, “Aft er six days at QUEST, I have learned all 200 species and am able to identify all when I see them underwater. Not only that, I have learned and know how to conduct monitoring surveys for fi sh, corals, and algae. I have also learned how to collect and analyze data and be able to interpret what it means.”

Valentine Vaeoso and Rocco Tinitali completed QUEST in 2012 and later completed undergraduate research proj-ects in Hawaii through the Undergraduate Research and Mentoring program. Valentine assisted this year as a guest lecturer on coral diseases and anomalies and Rocco was on site to serve as a staff member to improve safety in the water. QUEST graduates from previous years used their QUEST experience as a launchpad to other opportunities such as SCUBA diving training, paid internships, and re-search and monitoring in Faga’alu Bay with NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Division. Th e National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa has shown great interest in QUEST graduates through paid internships and scholarships for further undergraduate studies in marine science. Students in the QUEST program are able to expand their profes-sional networks and improve their chances of securing future employment on island in marine science areas.

Ephraim Temple and Kelley Anderson Tagarino, the organizers of the QUEST course, would like to recognize their partners that made this year’s QUEST possible. Much gratitude goes to Jeff Kuwabara of the University of Hawai‘i Marine Option Program, Tim Clark of the National Park of American Samoa, Wendy Cover of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, Afa Uikirifi and Alice Lawrence of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, and Trevor Kaitu’u and Whitney Peterson of the Coral Reef Advisory Group housed in the Department of Commerce.

Ephraim Temple, American Samoa Community College

QUEST in American Samoa

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Image: www.weltrekordreise.ch

Th e students and instructors of American Samoa QUEST. Th e next QUEST course is expected to be held during spring break of 2014. Anyone interested in participating in this course should con-tact Ephraim Temple at 731-8169, ephraim@hawaii.edu. Th ey may also contact Kelley Anderson Tagarino at k.anderson@amsamoa.edu.

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Art by the students of QUEST 2013Each year QUEST students and staff give back to the community by donating a decorated blue picnic table Each yeathe tables are adorned by a great variety of marine crittersHere are some of the designs that were created.

JULY 2013 |23

f

m-ar s.

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 month’s critter photo is by UHH MOP student Rebecca Ziegler.

Garabaldi Damselfi shScientifi c name: Hypsypops rubicunda

The two photographs to the right show the Garabaldi Damselfi sh in both its juvenile and mature states. These fi sh were found at Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach, California. The fi sh are very commonly seen around the area.

The Garabaldi is the state fi sh of California and can get to be about 12 inches long.

Juvenile Garabaldi

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

26| Seawords

July EventsCoral Reefs

JULY 4, 2013No Program: Independence Day

JULY11, 2013

Exploring Social-Ecological Interactions in Hawaiian Coral Reefs: Implications for Managing Towards Sustainability,

by Dr. Jack Kittinger, Social Science Fellow, Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University

JULY 18, 2013Monk Seal Crittercam Deployment,

by Dr. Charles Littnan, Lead Scientist & Supervisory Research Ecologist, NOAA/PIFSC Protected Species Division

JULY 25, 2013 Can Sea Urchins Help to Restore Hawai‘i Reefs,

by David Cohen, DLNR-Division of Aquatic Resources, Anuenue Fisheries Research Center

Calendar of Events at

UH Sea Grant’s Hanauma Bay Education ProgramMarine Science in East O`ahu

***Presentations take place in the theater of the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, beginning at 6:30 p.m. every Th ursday evening***

For more information or questions please contact:

Hanauma Bay Education Program100 Hanauma Bay Rd. Honolulu, HI 96825

Phone: (808) 397-5840 Email: hanauma@hawaii.edu

http://hbep.seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

FLASHBACK: 1995QUEST students posing at QUEST 1995.

The caption read, “Whales aren’t the only ones who like to breach in front of a camera.”

Photo: MOP Staff

J U L YMOP & Community Events

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Shark-Tacular Month: Maui Ocean Center

Photo: Naomi N. Lugo, Editor

31Submit to Maui Ocean Center Photo Contest: Deadline Aug. 15th

Second Second Session Summer School Starts

Next Issue: Kaua‘i

University of Hawai`i at MānoaSeawords, Marine Option ProgramCollege of Natural Sciences2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105AHonolulu, HI 96822-2219

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