Climate of Our Future

CORAL

The following report comes from Ellen Federoff with the Digital Bus:

We are proud to announce the completion of the Kahea o Ke Kai project, a grant project funded by CORAL. This project was created in order to build communities’ understanding of and connection to coral reef ecosystems on Maui through the wisdom and eyes of our keiki (youth). We introduced over ninety children ages 8–18 to the health and threats to coral reefs while instilling a sense of stewardship and responsibility for Maui’s reefs in both the students and the community. During this project students visited Molokini and West and South Maui beaches to gain a first-hand experience of the coral reef environment. They documented their visits and later created public service announcements and murals to disseminate throughout the community of Maui to raise awareness about protecting our reefs.
Students documented their experiences using
underwater still and video cameras

Staff from the Digital Bus, a mobile science and technology lab, recruited four youth groups to participate in the project. Prior to the youths’ snorkel trips, the Digital Bus staff and partners met with each group to prepare them for the project by introducing them to coral reef ecosystems, training them in fish identification techniques, and training them in the use of the video and still camera equipment. The students were taken to local beaches and on a local charter boat, the Trilogy, for a snorkel excursion to the target sites. During each trip they heard the on-board naturalist lectures, snorkeled the reef, conducted fish surveys, and used both video and digital still camera equipment to document their experiences.

After students completed their snorkel excursions, the Digital Bus staff individually met with each group to help the students in the creation of community outreach products. They had the choice of creating either a Public Service Announcement (aired locally and via internet) and/or murals depicting their message. The Digital Bus staff provided the use of laptop computers, additional video cameras and art materials for this process. Each group created at least one PSA, all of which have been sent to Akaku Television and are being aired on a regular basis. Two of the groups also created murals that will be on display at Maui Ocean Center this winter.