Education   VISIT OUR NEW KID'S PAGE! Please visit our new kids page to download games and activities that teach about Hawai`i's marine environment. The Maui Education Center offers many exciting educational opportunities. Click here to download the education brochure. Education and Outreach Mission  The scientific name for the humpback whales, Megaptera novaengliae, means "Great Wings of New England." (Photo: R. Cartwright - NMFS Permit # 895-1450) Through education and outreach, the sanctuary seeks to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of humpback whales and their habitat in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. In pursuing this goal, the sanctuary seeks to convey the multi-faceted value of a wildlife resource to a diverse public. From an international conference on marine debris to lectures on the cultural importance of whales in Hawaiian culture, sanctuary education and outreach programs make up a mission of enrichment that means many different things to many different people Overview The future of our ocean depends on the behavior and attitudes of ocean-users. Neither policy nor technology can ensure the survival of an endangered marine species such as humpback whales unless there is widespread acknowledgement that healthy marine wildlife is key to the future inhabitability of the planet. The sanctuary seeks to foster the adoption of such environmentally sound ocean values in the following ways: The sanctuary provides new information to the public as the latest facts on humpback whales become available from sanctuary-sponsored research projects. The sanctuary perpetuates its Native Hawaiian traditions, which emphasize wise use of ocean resources and a harmonious relationship with all forms of marine wildlife, including the kohola (whale). The sanctuary is dynamic and responsive to all segments of the community in interpreting the value of the humpback whale as it relates to many areas of human interest including recreation, economy, culture and religion. Sanctuary volunteers work with staff at various events like this one at the Waikiki Aquarium. Activities often include games, craft activities and information distribution. Notwithstanding current limitations in staff size, the sanctuary hopes to expand its educational and outreach programs beyond the current scope. Presently, offices are located on three islands (O`ahu, Kaua`i and the main headquarters office on Maui). A broader base of operations in the future will allow the sanctuary to accomplish its goal of increasing public awareness and transforming caring attitudes into positive actions. Education Highlights The sanctuary takes a proactive approach to educating the public about the value of the humpback whale and its habitat. The site of the main sanctuary headquarters in Kihei, Maui offers the experience of "a living classroom," where observers can learn about the whale and enjoy some whale watching on the deck--at a safe and non-intrusive distance. The site offers world-renowned natural beauty and presents many opportunities to learn about the ecology, biology, culture and history that are part of the spectacular setting. The Education Center on Maui was transformed from a dilapidated storage room to a colorful community center, thanks to the sanctuary's dedicated volunteers. A chief attraction at the headquarters site is the Sanctuary Education Center which is staffed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers. With over a dozen displays, the center offers artifacts and gems of information about whales, turtles, Polynesian canoe-making and much more. The education center also hosts a monthly lecture series featuring whale researchers, Hawaiian culture specialists and other marine science professionals. Community groups are also invited to use of the facility. The education center is currently open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The sanctuary has developed many products with educational value. These include signage at coastal viewing points, publications and brochures. Some of our more popular children's publications (including the "Sea Turtle" and the "Kohola and Kolea" coloring books) are available on the Web. In an effort to support both cultural diversity and our Hawaiian heritage, some of our educational materials are published in Japanese, Hawaiian and Samoan translations. In celebration of Earth Day, students from Roosevelt High School created a life size model of a humpback whale out of garbage bags. The inflatable model was put on display at Kapiolani park in Honolulu, Oahu. With help from local marine businesses, the sanctuary has created innovative educational activities that strengthen our community ties. During the National Geographic Society's Sustainable Seas Expedition in January 2000, the sanctuary partnered with the local boating industry to host 300 Hawai`i school children on whale watching tours and submarine rides. Students learned how to implement plankton tows, conduct water quality tests, perform fish surveys and document humpback whale sightings. A select group of students were also invited aboard the NOAA ship Ka'imimoana to learn about submarine tracking, submersible operations and deep-water exploration. For the past two years, the sanctuary has partnered with a local whale watching operation to offer free whale watch expeditions to Maui students, many of whom have never had the opportunity to observe these magnificent marine mammals. The sanctuary has also helped pioneer the Careers on the Water program, where at-risk students learn about different marine-related careers from experienced professionals and get a rare whale watching opportunity. Interactive craft activities make up a large part of the Hawaii Sanctuary's educational outreach efforts. Projects like this "squid mask" allow kids to work with their hands and learn about the various marine critters found in Hawaii's waters. Outreach Highlights Sanctuary staff actively teach curriculum on whales and other marine resources to both youngsters and adults in a variety of settings. Through vigorous collaboration with a variety of community groups, the sanctuary staff is proactive in making an impact with useful and interesting information. The staff is active in community events on all the islands. One example is the annual Family Ocean Fair on Kaua`i. This event provides a wonderful opportunity for the sanctuary to showcase the strength and diversity of NOAA's many programs. Presentations by marine mammal researchers, a children's theater ensemble and interactive children's activities all contribute to making this a popular consciousness-raising affair for thousands of ocean-users. Another successful sanctuary event is the annual Ocean Count which draws hundreds of volunteers each year. Volunteers station themselves around the islands of O`ahu and Hawai`i to count the number of humpback whales that they see in a given three-hour period. Working in groups, the volunteers record the frequency of marine mammal sightings, behavior activities and apparent relationships between animals, such as mother/calf pairings. The data is analyzed and put into a database for year-to-year comparisons of distribution patterns and population estimates. This annual survey, which is intended to introduce the public to some of the methods of whale research, has garnered increased interest and The Sanctuary Ocean Count is a tremendously popular annual event on the island of O`ahu. Here, volunteers station themselves at Lana`i Lookout in hopes of spotting breaching humpbacks. participation over the years. Many volunteers credit this experience with increasing their sense of stewardship and appreciation for Hawai`i's marine resources. Looking to the Future Through education and outreach, the sanctuary hopes to gain a recognizable identity that is synonymous with the successful recovery of endangered humpback whales. Eventually, the sanctuary's hopes to expand its efforts to all islands, even reaching groups that have limited access to the ocean. Implicit in this strategy is the recognition that a connection to the natural world enlivens the human spirit. Our mission is to expand opportunities for residents and visitors to both enjoy and care for Hawai`i's wildlife treasures.   [top] Revised by the HIHWNMS web team on March 25, 2006. URL: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/education/Education.html.