mark from the Director For those who have visited us recently, it is clear to see we are in the midst of some major renovations in Gallery 4, where construction of the new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands exhibit is now well underway. And this much-anticipated exhibit is the first in a string of exciting new changes. Once the NWHI exhibit is complete next year, we will begin work on the opposite side of the gallery on a new Hawaiian Streams exhibit, which will come complete with a cascading waterfall. Our attention will then turn to the wall near the exit, which currently houses the Reef Machine and the museum display. This will become the new home of an exhibit showcasing fishes of the family Syngnathidae, better known as the seahorses, seadragons and pipefishes. We can only anticipate that this will be a very popular addition to the Aquarium. The exhibit will be supported by a new Syngnathidae research and breeding facility behind the scenes. And next to this structure will be space dedicated to research on nautilus biology and breeding. Construction for these two behind-the-scenes projects should get underway this summer. The money for the seahorse exhibit and research area and the nauti- lus project have been approved by the Friends of the Waikïkï Aquarium Board and are derived from FOWA memberships and donations that have been generously provided by FOWA members over the years. We thank you for your support. The NWHI exhibit and the Hawaiian streams exhibit are both funded with money raised at Ke Kani O Ke Kai. The concert series is the Aquarium’s sole fundraising event and, since its revival six years ago, the Aquarium’s exhibits have benefited greatly. The Ocean Drifters jellyfish gallery was realized thanks to money from the concert series, along with generous support from the Goldfein and Spottswood families. To see where money from this year’s concerts will be directed, turn to page 8. We have enough major exhibit-related projects to keep us engaged for at least the next two years, all the while remaining true to our mission “ of education, research and conservation of Pacific marine life. The com- ing years will see significant changes in the galleries and in our research The coming years will see facilities; changes we think are positive and that we hope you will significant changes in the galleries approve of. It is always our aim to please, both the animals housed at the ” Aquarium, and you, our visitors who come to see them. and in our research facilities Dr. Andrew Rossiter Director ilo‘ia Issue Number 174 Summer 2010 Editor: Alice Keesing Art Director: Carlos Chang Graphic Design Assistant: Kelsey Ige Printing: Electric Pencil Kilo iça is published quarterly by the University of Hawaiçi and the Friends of the Waikïkï Aquarium and is dedicated to increasing the community’s knowledge of the Waikïkï Aquarium and Hawaiçi’s marine life. Waikïkï Aquarium, 2777 Kaläkaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaiçi 96815-4027 Telephone: (808) 923-9741 Fax: (808) 923-1771 Web: www.waquarium.org © 2010 Waikïkï Aquarium Printed on recycled paper Kilo iça Cover photo by Alice Keesing e mark a l h W your calendar A of a It’s summer and we’re rocking to the sounds of the ocean once again with our perennially popular summer concert series. Mark your calendar for these five unforgettable performances and see our calendar on page 11 for more information. Money raised ale by the concert series will help fund the first phase of a photovoltaic system at the Aquarium. June 17 Hapa July 1 Makana July 15 Willie K (sold out) Join us at the July 29 Amy Hanaiali‘i Aquarium as we Aug. 12 Ho‘okena celebrate Ocean Literacy Day with an afternoon As we get the stage set for this year’s concert series, we’d like of activities, storytelling and to send our mahalo to a long-time friend of the Waikïkï Aquarium, mythological creatures from the Outrigger Enterprises Group. This kama‘äina company has been under the sea. a long-time sponsor of the summer concert series. We also benefit Keiki activities will include greatly from the personal commitment and time of many of Outrig- arts and crafts, storytelling and ger’s senior executives, including our current board chair creative movement. Celebrity storytellers Dr. Chuck Kelley and board member Barbara Campbell. Over the will read popular books about the ocean and its years, Outrigger has sent thousands of its guests to enjoy our underwater creatures with books from Bess exhibits and learn more about marine life conservation and preservation. Press, Beach House Press, Mutual Publish- “The Waikïkï Aquarium is one of our state’s most treasured at- ing, Watermark and Bishop Museum tractions, with an important mission that Outrigger supports whole- Press. heartedly,” says Kelley. “I grew up in the waters off Waikïkï — Costumed characters includ- swimming, surfing, snorkeling — so I know how important it ing Ronald McDonald, O‘opu and is for all of us to do what we can to help people understand Sharky will entertain on the lawn, and appreciate the importance of a healthy ocean and while mystical mermaids whirl its marine life. That’s what the Aquarium is all through the event. Parents will ” about, and it does a phenomenal job.” also have the chance to win an Apple iPad from event sponsor Diamond Bakery. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free with daily admission. Saturday, ilo‘ia Cool September 18 summer nights July 13 & August 10 The doors to the Aquarium are open this summer for some special nights. Enjoy the nightlife in the galleries — you’ll spot some fishes and crustaceans who normally hide away by day — and take in the special presentations. On July 13, we celebrate Shark Week with Hawaiian craftsman ‘Umi Kai. Beginning as a teen- ager, Kai taught himself how to make the implements of old-day Hawai‘i — the weapons, poi pounders and boards, kapa beaters and fishhooks. Today, Kai is one of the most esteemed weapons makers in the Islands and his work is found in museums around the world. On Aug. 10, we celebrate the Wildlife of Waikïkï with Reef Watch Waikïkï and showcase our new Hawaiian cultural garden, which explores the ancient Hawaiian links between the animals in the ocean and the plants on land. See the calendar on page 11 for details. 3 CRUSTY CHARACTERS C rustaceans don’t have the immediate flash and dash of some ocean creatures. They The anemone hermit crab takes its shellmates along scuttle, they hide, they pugnaciously wave their armored claws. But linger awhile when it moves house into a new shell. The anemone’s and you can’t help but be enthralled. How can you resist the anemone crab, which stinging tentacles offer the crab a defensive curtain; bedecks itself with a protective garden of stinging shellmates? How can you help while the anemone may benefit by catching scraps of food thrown up by the crab’s messy eating habits. but respect the crustaceans’ venerable history, which reaches back to the Cambrian Period? Photos: Alice Keesing. In Hawai‘i we know the ubiquitous ‘a‘ama crabs that scuttle on the black rocks, and the delicious spiny and slipper lobsters and the humble hermit crabs. But Hawai‘i is also home to a much wider community of fascinating crustaceans — although most of them are rarely seen because they are such masters of disguise and because many of them only come out at night. This summer we’re diving into the fascinating crustacean kingdom. On Family Night, come and visit with some of these intriguing animals. And embark on some of your own crusty adventures — we’ve got some ideas here to get you started. KKiilloo iiççaa 1. Start here 7. Conduct a crustacean census CRUSTY Join us for Family Night on Aug. 27 and meet a whole cast of crusty Visit a supermarket that sells live crustaceans, like lobsters (try Don characters. (See the calendar on page 12 for more information.) In the Quixote, Tamashiros or the Beretania Foodland) and conduct your fall, sign up for one of our night reef walks, when you’ll see all sorts of own anatomy investigations. Spot the difference in a Maine lobster’s things that are hiding by day. Our exhibits, like Miniature Marine Life, claws: one is bigger — the lobster uses that for crushing — and the are also home to numerous crustaceans, although you sometimes have other is smaller — used for pinching. And check out their eyestalks. to look very carefully. Stop by the Käne‘ohe Bay exhibit during evening The lobster’s eye features a remarkable geometry found nowhere else in events and look for the marbled shrimps; they are green by day and red nature; it has tiny facets that are perfectly square. This marvel of design by night — do you know why? probably allows the lobster to detect motion in dim light; it has also inspired human designers in the design of an astronomical telescope that 2. Go on a ghost hunt can focus X-rays from heavenly bodies. Grab some flashlights and head to a Windward beach at nighttime for 8. Hatch a sea monkey a ghost crab hunt. The crabs are out foraging on the beach under the cover of darkness. See who can spot the biggest ghost crab — the males Remember those? You can still buy them and kids still love having them can reach at least 3 inches across the carapace. as pets. Sea monkeys are actually brine shrimp, an aquatic crustacean that has evolved little since the Triassic. Brine shrimp eggs can survive in stasis for years without water or oxygen; once placed in salt water, 3. Who are the pyramid builders? they hatch within a few hours. Brine shrimp are not found in the ocean, During the day, see if you can pick which holes belong to the mature male rather in inland salt lakes. They are an invaluable food source in the ghost crabs. They hang out a calling sign by piling their excavated sand aquarium and cultured shrimp trades. into a neat pyramid — females and juveniles just scatter their sand all over the place. 9. Find a raft If you see a piece of driftwood on the beach, stop and take a closer look. 4. Hermit crab real estate That floating piece of wood can become the nucleus of a little world with Real estate can be a scarce commodity in a tidepool, so if you find an numerous inhabitants, including barnacles. Yes, barnacles are crus- intact shell with a round hole — the kind that tidepool hermit crabs taceans, too, and they do have legs. But instead of crawling after food, prefer — put it in a tide pool and watch what happens. If the population they attach themselves to a hard surface (they have one of the strongest dynamics are right, you might see the hermit crabs move house. The No. known natural adhesives) and wait for food to wash by. Then they reach 1 crab will move into the new shell (once it’s determined it to be to its lik- out long feathery legs to strain out plankton and absorb oxygen. ing), then the next largest crab will move into its vacated shell, and so on down the line. Yes, this does belong in the “too cool to be true” category, 10. Feed the sand turtles but it has been personally witnessed by our Education staff. It doesn’t When Portuguese man-o-wars start washing up on the beaches, try always happen — but it’s fun trying. throwing them back (please, use a stick or spade) into the water line for the sand turtles. If the sand turtles, or mole crabs, are around, you’ll see 5. Rice crispies on the reef them burrowing under the sand in a beeline for the food. (For those feel- Head down to a rocky or muddy area at low tide (Kuli‘ou‘ou Beach ing a bit squeamish about the man-o-war’s fate; remember, if they’ve Park and the Kewalo end of Ala Moana Beach Park are good spots). washed up, their fate is already sealed.) Walk down to the water’s edge and listen. Hear rice crispies? That’s the sound of hundreds of snapping shrimp clicking their claws. The noise 11. Ode to a crustacean these tiny shrimps make rivals the sounds of much larger animals like Compose a poem to your favorite crusty. We like this one by Sandra sperm and beluga whales. The acoustic pressure they generate is strong Liatsos. (Send us your literary endeavors and you might get published enough to kill small fish. The shrimps also use it for communication. in the Kilo i‘a.) Hermit Crab 6. Walk like a crab I watch him scurry on the sand As Aristophanes once said, “You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.” To find a house that’s second-hand. But can you learn how to scuttle sideways like a crab? Try it. Then He crawls in someone else’s shell organize some crab races amongst yourselves. And stays because it fits him well. Imagine if we did the same, Just barged right in and staked a claim To any empty house that fit, Then settled down to live in it. 5 out Dragon figuring Spotting >> barnacles 1,220 Approximate number of known barnacle species. Barnacles are crustaceans and therefore related to Keep an eye out for dragons in the galleries in the near future. The crabs and lobsters. Aquarium has a new herd of weedy seadragons waiting behind the scenes. Weedy seadragons are the only member of the genus Phyllopteryx; 500-510 million years they are related to leafy seadragons, seahorses and pipefishes. Weedy seadragons are only found in the shallow coastal waters of southern The traceable geological history of barnacles goes back to the Australia, where they are protected. They spend their lives in kelp Middle Cambrian Period. forests, seagrass meadows and seaweed beds. 6 Number of plates on a barnacle shell. The ring of plates is homologous to the carapace of other crustaceans. Inside uCplamd undAergtoees the shell, the animal lays on its back, with its limbs pointing upward. Free-living barnacles attach their foreheads to the second joint surgery substrate using cement glands that are located in the first pair of antennae. 2 Number of plates that the barnacle can slide across like a Last year we shared with you some groundbreaking work performed door, helping it avoid predation from the likes of whelks, by Live Exhibits staff on the broken hinge of the derasa clam in the mussels and some sea stars. Coral Farm. The clam’s hinge had become worn and the animal’s health was declining because it was unable to open and close properly. 6 Number of pairs of limbs on a barnacle. They are feathery Aquarists Rick Klobuchar and Eric Curtis created an artificial joint for and very long and used to filter food from the water. the clam, which successfully returned the animal to health. 1,000 Approximate number of larvae released in one Over time, however, the plastic in that joint had degraded, so Cur- barnacle clutch. Most barnacles are hermaphro- tis fashioned a modified “beta” version with stainless steel. The clam dites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive continues to flourish. organs. They can fertilize themselves, but when other barnacles In June, Klobuchar presented this groundbreaking work at the are growing close by, as is typically the case, the male organ will Regional Aquatic Workshop at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. fertilize the eggs of the female half of a neighboring barnacle. While there, he was also able to take in numerous presentations on 0 Number of hearts a barnacle has. Instead, the animal has a corals and invertebrates. The trip was sinus close to the esophagus that pumps its blood. funded by the Pepsi/Carlson Grant. 1 Number of eyes a barnacle has. It’s likely this eye only senses light and dark. The animal’s main sense is touch; the hairs on its limbs are particularly sensitive. 12 inches Height of the largest barnacle, Austro- megabalanus psittacus, which is native to the coasts of Chile and southern Peru. This picoroco barnacle is used in Chilean cuisine. Kilo iça Behind s t i b i h Behind the scenes at the Waikïkï Aquarium — it’s x a place where pumps constantly hum, where it’s e often damp underfoot, where you get the occasional the s Cenes pungent waft of fish food. It’s also where you’ll find our e Live Exhibits staff, sometimes in wetsuits and masks v and always busy. They’re among the best in the i business, adept at taking care of the fussiest feeders, l the trickiest corals and the odd emergent situation. sea dragon e.r. Spotting The warning signs went up fast late last year when the weedy seadragons started showing signs of distress. Seadragons typically have hearty appetites, so Student Aquarist Krista Read knew something was wrong when they weren’t feeding well. They were also lethargic and floating near the tank’s surface. Aquarium Disease Specialist Eric Curtis knew he had to jump on the problem fast. The seadragons are among the Aquarium’s rarest residents and he knew the situation was critical. When one of the seadragons began floating belly up, the Live Exhibits team pulled together for an emergency response. Aquarist Alan Nelson placed bubble wrap on the water surface to keep Weedy seadragons the animals from drying out as they floated near the top of the tank. And feed through their Aquarist Mariko Katayama suggested trying an antibiotic that is relatively long pipe-like snouts new in the treatment of syngnathids. It’s a broad spectrum antibiotic for that they open rap- idly to suck in prey. humans, but she had used it with great success while raising young sea- updAte In the wild, they eat horses at the Maui Ocean Center. crustaceans, such as The team decided to avoid any further stress on the animals and treat plankton and mysids them in the exhibit rather than moving them behind the scenes. Getting and, occasionally, small fishes. When a medicine into a seadragon is no easy task. At night, a 10-gallon treatment bacterial infection left tank was suspended in the cylindrical exhibit and the seahorses were cor- our seadragons with ralled in there to bathe in a solution of the dissolved antibiotic. Curtis also severely damaged administered a second medication — one used to treat glaucoma in humans snouts, it posed a life-threatening chal- — to help with the animals’ buoyancy problems. lenge because they Several days into treatment, Katayama observed the mouths and extremi- were unable to feed. ties of the dragons eroding away — a probable sign of a bacterial infection. Live Exhibits staff The team continued with the treatment and slowly the animals’ behavior began responded with some ground-breaking work to return to normal. But the LE team was still very concerned. The animals’ that has helped the mouths had been eroded by the infection — one of them so badly that it was animals adapt to the impossible for it to feed. Without food, the seadragon was going to die, so Curtis challenge. decided to try tube feeding the animal — something that, to his knowledge, no other aquarium had been able to successfully do. Again, members of the LE team put their heads together to come up with a seadragon-sized feeding tube. They took a small pipette and heated it and stretched it into a thin flexible tube, which was attached to a syringe containing an enriched gruel of mysid shrimps. The procedure was a delicate job. Before opening hours, the team set up in closely, however. The animal’s mouth will not rebuild and feeding will always the gallery next to the seadragon exhibit. The seadragon was placed in a con- be a challenge. tainer and anesthetic was added to the water flowing past its gills. LE staff are working on ways to help it and may end up taking it off exhibit Curtis knew he had to be fast and accurate. Straightening the animal’s neck so they can work more closely with it behind the scenes on alternative ways of and snout, he gently inserted the modified pipette into the animal’s eroded jaw feeding. Still, the fact that it came this far is a remarkable achievement. and fed it down to its stomach. Once there, he slowly injected the gruel, before retracting the feeding tube. The whole procedure took no more than 10 minutes. To the team’s excitement, the animal recovered well from the procedure and soon began to show small signs of improvement. LE staff continue to watch him 7 When you enter the Aquarium’s doors these days, you are literally taking a step in the right direction. That’s because you are walking on new mats that are made from recycled plastic bottles. It’s all part of our energized push toward conservation. It is the Aquarium’s mission to protect and conserve Pacific marine life. To us, this does not just mean exhibiting and researching the fishes and animals that live in the ocean, it also means protecting the ocean that is their home. Therefore, it is not a great leap for the Aquarium to promote environmentally responsible practices. Our annual Earth Day event is a major move in this direction. Also, over the last few years we have replaced disposable plastic water bottles with reusable bottles at our concerts; we have installed a solar panel for hot water for staff showers; and our gift shop now carries an increasing range of environmentally conscious items. This summer’s Ke Kani O Ke Kai summer concert series will allow us to take another step in the right direction. The concert series provides some of the best balmy evening entertainment, but it is also the Aquarium’s sole fundraising event. In year’s past, money raised by the concerts has gone toward new exhibits. We currently have a swath of new projects in THE the works, so, this year, we opted to channel funds into our green movement. Money raised at the concerts will go toward the first phase of a photovoltaic panel array on our roof. Photovoltaic panels produce electricity from sunshine — a renewable energy source that is in abundance at our Waikïkï location. Using photovoltaic-generated power will reduce our use of fossil fuel-derived electricity and, thus, decrease our carbon RIGHT footprint. It will also lower our electricity costs — which are in the order of $25,000 every month — thereby freeing up money for other Aquarium projects. The shading provided by the panels will also save power because it will reduce the need for air conditioning in the upstairs offices — thermal insulation was an alien concept when our flat-roofed structure was built 55 years ago. STEP It is our hope that the array will also become a teaching tool to demonstrate to visitors how such systems can be both environmentally and financially beneficial. The proceeds from the 2010 concert series will cover only the first phase of this project; over the years, we will continue to allocate money from various sources to expand the array. So, as you enjoy the good vibes at the concert series this year, you can also feel good about the cause that you are supporting. Thank you. On Sept. 25, the Waikïkï Aquarium hosts marine ed- ucators for an evening of mingling with colleagues Marine Educators’ Night and learning more about the modern explorers who are uncovering the mysteries of our planet’s oceans. The galleries will be open, refreshments will be served and resource materials will be available from multiple organizations. NOAA’s Ocean Explorer program will also be highlighted. The Ocean Ex- plorer program allows educators and their students to follow the deepsea explorations of NOAA’s scien- tists through video, podcasts and other materials. You don’t have to be an educator to enjoy the Ocean Explorer site. At http://oceanexplorer.noaa. gov/, you can browse galleries of phenomenal undersea images; listen to the sounds of the sea, Participants at last year’s Marine Educators’ from a blue whale to a volcanic tremor; read about Night are illuminated by a hands-on look at the history of ocean exploration; and learn about the bioluminescence. technology and the people who make it happen. For more information on Marine Educators’ Night, see the calendar on page 12. KKiilloo iiççaa A D a y i n t h e L i f e Name Raina Fujitani Position Events & Membership Manager Year started at the Aquarium 2008 Education Kalani High School (1987), UH-Mänoa, BA journalism and communication (1992) Etc. My favorite time is spent with family and friends and watching my 2-year-old daughter, Eighla, grow and discover the world around her. I vol- unteer with çÖhiça Productions, both on-stage and back-stage. Plus I enjoy yoga and dance (jazz and ballet) whenever possible, and love attending any type of musical or theatrical experience. I am also a Disney fan — I just visited Disneyland with family and was reminded of how much anything Disney-related makes me smile. 7:15 a.m. Check email and phone messages. This is a major such as stainless steel water bottles, cushions and tote seats, which will be communication line with everyone from members to sold at the concerts. Then I revise and update the event timeline: This is given FOWA board members to facility renters to corporate sponsors. to everyone working at the event to ensure everything runs smoothly. 3 8: 0 a.m. 2 p.m. This time of year we are deep into preparations for the Ke More phone messages and emails have come in through the Kani O Ke Kai summer concert series. This morning I con- day. I respond to an inquiry about our facility rental service and duct training for volunteers — they are the core of our manpower for the event. get back to a confirmed renter who has questions about the equipment that can be set up at the Aquarium for their event. I ask our events staff to work 10 a.m. I update the concert information on our website and add with the facilities department to meet the renter’s request. I also reply to sev- sponsor logos and links to their websites. eral messages about membership and upcoming programs at the Aquarium. 10:15 a.m. 2:30 p.m. I make a quick call to our marketing company, Becker I drive to our storage facility to grab supplies, signs and Communications, to check on details for the restaurants seating zone markers and reusable water bottles for Ke that will be serving food at the concerts. We need to be sure of their arriv- Kani. While I’m there I put away supplies from SeaHunt. al times and equipment requirements, plus I need their menus, their logos 3 p.m. and other company information to include on the event programs. I sit down with Community Outreach Director Marylou Foley to coordinate details for an upcoming Keiki Fair at Kähala 10:30 a.m. Do a map of the concert layout and confer with Mall. We will provide an activity for the kids, answer questions from the public Facilities Manager Gerald Crow. Placing equipment and and share information about the Aquarium and our membership program. other stations at the right places helps avoid people traffic jams during the 3:30 p.m. concerts when we can have more than 600 people on the lawn. I interview a facility rental staff candidate and train three new facility rental staff members on policies and procedures. 11:15 a.m. I stop by our graphics department to review proofs of 4:15 p.m. programs, posters, banners and event signage and work It’s time to leave so I can pick up my daughter. I take some with Kelsey Ige to adjust the layouts and add and revise copy and images. files home with me so I can catch up on more paperwork. “ noon I grab a quick lunch at my desk, taking the time to read the daily newspapers online. (On Fridays I treat myself to lunch out!) It makes my day when I see the excitement in the eyes of children who visit the Aquarium. It’s also 1 p.m. We have a green movement here at the Aquarium: I order great to hear from the families who attend our special ” compostable cups for wine service at the concerts, along with five events or who rent our facility that they had a great water coolers and 30 five-gallon bottles of water so we don’t have to sell time and to know that I had a hand in providing those plastic water bottles at the event. I also order Waikïkï Aquarium logo items experiences for them. 9 Volunteer eileen awai SP TLIGHT Position Gift shop assistant Length of Service 24 years Occupation Retired after 30 years teaching in the public schools. Background Eileen was born in Hilo and is a graduate of Hilo High School. She attended the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa’s teachers’ college where she earned her Bachelor’s in education and a fifth-year teaching certificate. Eileen has two children, one of whom is Marj Awai, a former Aquarist at the Aquarium. Interests Traveling to visit children in Phoenix and Atlanta. Baking and making jellies and mango chutney. Doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku. Enjoying luncheon dates with other retired teachers, high school classmates, friends and relatives. “I also love to sew and do both sashiko (Japanese quilting) and Hawaiian quilt- ing — I make bedspreads, baby quilts, cushions and hangings.” I Volunteer “because I love the Aquarium! The animals and fish are just beautiful. It’s a lively place and I’ve seen it grow: the Edge of the Reef was built, the seal pool was moved, the dolphins left. The staff has changed and people have moved on, but all were friendly and delightful and the present staff are very considerate and friendly.” The Most Rewarding Part of Volunteering “is meeting all kinds of people from all over the world who are shopping for their loved ones. It’s good knowing that I am part of a team that helps the Aquarium.” Best Part of the Aquarium “All the colorful fish, the seals, the coral — we need them all.” Best Marine Encounter “At the Aquarium actually. It was waiting for the nautilus to hatch for the first time. I was able to go behind the scenes to see it happen.” Favorite Aquarium Resident The octopus! on BOARD There are 15 people currently serving on the Friends of the Waikïkï Aquarium board. To acquaint you with these people who volunteer their time to help the Aquarium, Kilo i’a features one board member in each issue. Name What do you enjoy most about the Aquarium? Kimo Greenwell I enjoy the fact that the Aquarium allows anyone, regardless of age or resi- dence, to observe and learn about our oceans’ inhabitants. All of the exhibits Joined FOWA board provide visitors with an authentic up-close and personal experience with January 2010 Hawai‘i’s sea life. I also really enjoy attending the various events that are held Can also be found at on the lawn; the views overlooking Waikïkï and the ocean are spectacular. commercial real estate developer MW What do you believe is the Aquarium’s role in Hawai‘i? Group Ltd., where he is a leasing Primarily, I would say education. I know I learn something new every time I manager. visit the Aquarium and I have always admired the wide variety of youth- Education related programs that the Aquarium provides. The Aquarium also does a Punahou (1994), University of Denver (1998), great job of educating the public about the importance of ocean conservation. Chaminade University (MBA, 2004). On a personal note Favorite Aquarium resident In my free time I usually try to do something in the ocean, whether it is Ulua surfing, paddleboarding or fishing … I always feel better if I can spend some time in or around the water! What inspired you to become a FOWA board member? The Aquarium has given so much to so many people. Whether it’s memories of a special event held on the lawn, to seeing a monk seal for the first time, to learning more about the ocean that surrounds us. Being a part of FOWA is just one small thing I can do to give back to such a great resource. Kilo iça