UH Ocean Observing System and Outrigger Offer Free Presentations on Ocean and Environment

Waikiki, Hawaii — The University of Hawaii at Manoa is partnering with the Outrigger Reef on the Beach to present a series of free public presentations about Hawaii’s dynamic ocean and environment. Led by the University’s Hawaii Ocean Observing System (HiOOS), the talks will take place every second Wednesday at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, at 6 p.m., from August through November 2008, and in February 2009. Admission is free; validated parking at the hotel is $5.

The ocean series is part of the Outrigger Reef’s year-round observance of
the 2008 Year of the Coral Reef. Other educational programs being sponsored
or presented by Outrigger properties include a reef building activity for
children, Coral Reef Awareness Day, Papahanaumokuakea (Northwest Hawaiian
Islands) display by marine photographer Susan Middleton, and development of
an ocean-theme Hawaiian music CD that will help raise funds for education.
Many of these programs are being presented in collaboration with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other community
organizations.

Scheduled ocean presentations include:

August 13, 2008
Dr. Geno Pawlak
Associate Professor, Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering, UH-Manoa
The Kilo Nalu Reef Observatory: A Window into Hawaii’s Coastal Environment
The Kilo Nalu Reef Observatory on the south shore of Oahu provides a window
into Hawaii’s coastal ocean environment. Learn how researchers use a
combination of in-ocean instruments, ships and free-swimming autonomous
underwater vehicles (AUVs) to measure waves, currents and water quality, and
how they affect the everyday lives of Hawaii’s residents and visitors.

September 10, 2008
Dr. Eric Heinen De Carlo, Professor, Departmnt of Oceanography, UH-Manoa How
Local Rain Events Affect Greenhouse Gas in the Atmosphere The land, oceans,
and atmosphere are intimately connected. Monitoring buoys in Kaneohe Bay
and Waikiki are providing new information about these connections. Learn
how local rain events and microscopic life forms can impact carbon dioxide
(CO2), an important greenhouse gas, around the world.

October 8, 2008
Dr. Kim Holland, Researcher, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, UH-Manoa
Tracking Tuna and Sharks Around Hawaii and the Pacific Find out how far
fishes and sharks travel in the Pacific Ocean and which habitats they
prefer. Some animals travel further than originally thought, while others
don’t move as much as expected. The more that is understood about these
important marine animals, the better equipped are people to manage the
ocean’s living resources in a sustainable way.

November 12, 2008
Dr. Marc Lammers, Assistant Researcher, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology,
UH-Manoa EARs in the Sea: What listening to shrimp, fish and whales can tell
us about their world
Sounds are an important part of the marine environment. Listening to the
sounds produced by many species of fish, mammals and invertebrates provide
insightful information about what is happening in their world. Take an
acoustic journey of snaps, crackles and pops and find out what they are
saying about life in the ocean.

February 11, 2009
Dr. Grieg Steward, Assistant Professor, Department of Oceanography, UH-Manoa
Water Quality and Health of Hawaii’s Coastal Recreational Waters Bacteria
and viruses are the most abundant and widespread life forms on the planet;
the coastal waters are teeming with these microbes. Fortunately, only a
small proportion of these have the potential to be harmful to humans. A
great challenge in monitoring water quality and safety is detecting the very
few bad among the many good microbes.

About the Hotel

The oceanfront anchor of the new Waikiki Beach Walk(r), Outrigger Reef on
the Beach is ideally situated between beautiful Waikiki Beach and exciting
Waikiki. Currently undergoing a $110 million makeover, the hotel is being
transformed into Oahu’s newest haven of elegance, gracious hospitality and
unparalleled commitment to Hawaiian culture. The project is being carefully
completed in multiple phases to ensure the continued comfort of guests. On
property are a wide array of restaurants, shops and services including a
complimentary Hawaiian Vow Renewal Ceremony. The adjacent Waikiki Beach
Walk is Oahu’s newest entertainment destination, home to shops, boutiques,
art galleries, restaurants and accommodations spanning a nearly 8-acre area
in Waikiki.

About the Hawaii Ocean Observing System

The Hawaii Ocean Observing System (HiOOS) is a coordinated effort among
numerous researchers at the Universty of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth
Science and Technology (SOEST) as well as various federal, state, and county
agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies. HiOOS seeks to
provide accurate, timely and reliable information about the coastal and open
ocean. Data collection and product development is currently focused on four
main projects in the Hawaiian Islands: Coastal Resiliency, Ecosystem
Stewardship, Water Quality, Ocean-state and Forecast. A HiOOS database and
web interface to access real-time and historical data is currently being
developed (www.hioos.org).

May 29, 2008   Posted in: Hawaii