Reef Guardians Hawaii

REEF GUARDIANS' MISSION IS REEF PRESERVATION THROUGH RESEARCH, RESTORATION, AND EDUCATION. WE RAISE AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, CREATE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, FACILITATE RESTORATION, AND EDUCATE TOMORROWS ADVOCATES AND STEWARDS.

EDUCATION - REEF GUARDIANS EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDS AWARENESS ABOUT CORAL REEF THREATS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THE REEF AND WETLANDS. CORAL REEF KIDS CAMP, REEF GUARDIANS UNIQUE YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, OPERATES DURING ALL SCHOOL BREAKS. FOR CHILDREN AGES 8-13 THE WEEKLY CAMPS PROVIDE SCIENCE, ARTS AND HAWAIIAN CULTURAL INSTRUCTION AND DIRECT LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT. NEW EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THIS YEAR INCLUDED A SCIENCE AND ARTS OCEAN EDUCATION AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-8. OTHER INITIATIVES LAUNCHED THIS YEAR ARE A DIGITAL SEA SCHOOL, BASED ON THE REEF CAMP CURRICULUM AND A REEF VISITORS APP FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO RAISE USERS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND INFLUENCE APPROPRIATE AND PROTECTIVE INTERACTION WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

RESEARCH AND MONITORING - FOUR AREAS OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING CONDUCTED DURING THIS YEAR: REEF GUARDIANS, WORKING WITH ACADEMIC AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS, IS DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR DETECTING CORAL DISEASE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. ANOTHER AREA OF RESEARCH WAS A STUDY OF LAND-BASED OCEAN POLLUTION ON KAUAI FOR THE PURPOSE OF INITIATING WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS. THE MONITORING OF JUVENILE WHITE SHARKS IN CALIFORNIA LED TO A COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR INCREASED PROTECTION. MONITORING OF LEAKING OIL WELLS IN CALIFORNIA LED TO CAPPING OF WELL HEADS.

RESTORATION - REEF GUARDIANS PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ESTABLISHING A SHORELINE WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT ON SOUTH MAUI. THIS AREA IS PUBLICLY OWNED AND HASN'T BEEN BUILT ON IN RECENT HISTORY. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REGENERATING THE LANDSCAPE WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND LOOKING TOWARD RESTORING THE ANCIENT FISHPOND OFFSHORE.