Agency Details:

Reef Watch Waikiki

The goal of Reef Watch Waikīkī is to develop a community-based education and coastal monitoring program that inspires and facilitates community stewardship of Māmala Bay and leads to improved vitality of Waikīkī’s coastal and marine environment.

Description:
In partnership with other agencies and organizations, Reef Watch Waikīkī will recruit and train community volunteers to: 1) Share their knowledge of Waikīkī’s natural history with visitors and residents they interact with; 2) Gather valuable data regarding the use and condition of nearshore resources; 3) Learn and promote appropriate reef etiquette; 4) Document possible violations and report them to the State Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement; and 5) Participate in educational outreach events that promote Reef Watch Waikīkī activities and invite participation among other stakeholders in the Waikīkī community.

History:
Environmental stewardship, long-term economic development and responsible use of Hawai'i’s coastal and marine resources are at the heart of UH Sea Grant’s mission. Founded in 1968, the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program has a long-standing reputation for identifying Hawai'i’s critical resource management issues and guiding cutting-edge scientific research to address these challenges. As scientists make new discoveries, a dynamic network of extension professionals located on all the major Hawaiian Islands are poised to disseminate this information directly to coastal communities to assist and inform decision-making. By integrating scientific research, education, training, and technical assistance, UH Sea Grant’s interdisciplinary team of extension agents has developed an array of tools to assist communities in developing customized solutions to their most pressing marine and coastal management issues.

Contact person: Jennifer Barrett, Waikiki Coastal Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

Waikiki Beach / Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, HI 96815 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/seagrant

Last updated on April 27, 2010