MAMDRP Ho'ike prep for this Saturday...

Aloha Gang,

We are on the final stretch of our MAMDRP adventure for the year *sniff* *sniff*.  It has been one tremendous experience and to see the huge growth amongst everyone who has committed to this program.  Come this Saturday, April 27th, there's a lot of work to be done in preparation for Ho'ike.  Here's the schedule:

*Drop off at QLCSS Building at 8:30am*
8:30-10:00am Ho'ike run through
10:00-12:00pm Poster presentation practice
12:00-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-3:30pm Prepare for Ho'ike (finish kihei, lei and kupe'e)
3:30-5:00pm Get ready for Ho'ike
*Very important!: Please don't forget to bring your jeans pants for Ho'ike!

MAMDRP Ho'ike, UH Manoa Campus Center Executive Dining Room
(click here to view invitation)
5:00-6:00pm Poster Presentations (Presented by MAMDRP students) & pupu
6:00-8:00pm Ho'ike

Trip to Hawai'i Island, Day 3...

Came Sunday morning,

After breakfast, we headed on over to Kilauea Crater again for Kukulu Kumuhana.  It was a much more foggy, foggy and rainy morning, but still a beautiful one.

After Kukulu Kumuhana we headed over to the Jagger Museum to check out the information displays there.

The group then returned to KMC, and everyone practiced for the upcoming Ho'ike.

Both Uncle Nakoa and Aunty Megan invited us to the Malama Kanaloa event out in Hilo One (Bayfront), so after lunch we checked out and headed on over.  Malama Kanaloa is an awesome event where the public is invited to attend.  There's activities and information for all ages on hands on activities, college programs, clubs, associations, etc. all related to ocean conservation and awareness.  We couldn't have timed our trip any better!

You gotta love it, Uncle Lelemia even modeled at the marine debris photo display area at Malama Kanaloa!

Before heading over to the airport to return to O'ahu we made a quick stop at Big Island Candies, for all of the students (and adults for that matter) to satisfy their sweet tooth fixes.  All in all it was a great trip, the students were awesome and on point and it was jam packed with memories and opportunities of a lifetime.

MAMDRP trip to Hawai'i Island, Day 2...

Day 2 of our trip,

Friday evening after our talk and dinner with Nakoa Goo, we headed over to Kilauea Military Camp and got checked in.  There was a quick orientation and it was lights out.

Came Saturday morning, everyone woke up nice and early and had a nice breakfast.  Soon after everyone headed to Kilauea Crater for Kukulu Kumuhana.  It was there that the group did their oli.

After that was done, the group drove on over to Ka'u area and met up with Megan Lamson, the Hawai'i  Wildlife Fund Debris Project Coordinator.

At Waiohinu Park, Megan provided an orientation to everyone about what to expect and as she put it, it was our last sighting of "porcelain toilets" we'd be seeing for the day.

After orientation, everyone jumped into their vans and then headed off road style to Kamilo, an area a few miles away from South Point, Ka'u.  During the one hour off road drive beauty surrounded us without a building in site.

After the drive we parked our vans and everyone got their gloves, bags and buckets to help collect   marine debris during our foot trek to Kamilo.

Along the way Megan pointed out a site where a konane board (Hawaiian checkers) was carved out.

Along with the cleanup, the scenery was just amazing.

Here were some of our interesting finds during the cleanup...

A toy dinosaur...

A toy dolphin pendant...

A part from (what we think) a boat...

A can of Japanese brand cigarettes...

After a session of community service and lunch, there was some time to enjoy the area, where everyone got to go swimming if they wanted to.

About 50 yards away from where we were at, a monk seal had recently given birth and was cruising in the area with her newly born pup.  (Take note of the marine debris on the beach.)  Though the Kamilo Beach area has been cleaned up quite extensively, there was still micro plastics and other debris along the coastline.

After our break, Megan walked us over to two alkaline ponds that have been cleaned up recently and is an ongoing restoration project.

After our awesome day at Kamilo, everyone headed back to KMC for dinner and a little bit of R & R...

MAMDRP trip to Hawai'i Island, Day 1...

The MAMDRP traveled to Hawai'i Island,

And it'll be a weekend jam packed with productivity, huaka'i (excursions) and fun.  Upon arrival and dinner, Na Pua No'eau alumni Nakoa Goo spoke to the group about his work with NOAA and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in Hilo as an educational coordinator for Hawai'i Island.  He spoke about his job as an educator to thousands of children grades K-12 on Hawai'i Island and beyond about marine debris and what's taking place in our Pacific Ocean.  He also spoke to the students about what it took for him as a college student at UH Hilo to get to where he's at today.  Na Pua No'eau is very proud of Nakoa and his awesome accomplishments!

MAMDRP Ho'ike!

Our MAMDRP program is nearly coming to a close,

Below is the invitation for our Ho'ike, feel free to click on the pics below to enlarge:

Yellow blocks found on Tern Island!

Aloha Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that three blocks were found on South Beach, Tern Island.  The email dated March 26th was sent as follows:

"Hello,
We found three of your yellow painted drifter blocks on South Beach, Tern Island, (within French Frigate Shoals, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge). Unfortunately, I cannot give you a very precise date of when the blocks would have arrived. The field station was hit by a severe storm in early December and all personnel had to be evacuated. We normally patrol South Beach once per week for marine debris and invasive plants, but nobody was on the island for a period of 3 months this winter. We returned to the island on March 18th and found the blocks on the following day.
The numbers on the blocks are: xxx, xxx, and xx. 

Let me know if I can answer any questions,

Wildlife Refuge Specialist
Tern Island Field Station, French Frigate Shoals
Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument"

We're on for April 6!

Aloha Everyone,

I hope you all had a nice spring break.  We're looking to seeing everyone again on Saturday, April 6, 8:30-3:30pm at the Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services Building on the 4th floor.  Here's the schedule for that day:

8:30-9:00am Kukulu Kumuhana
9:00-10:15am Wrap up poster presentations
10:15-10:30am Snack
10:30-11:00am Poster presentations
11:00-12:30pm Kapala
12:30-1:00pm Lunch
1:00-3:00pm Kapala
3:00-3:30pm Clean up/evaluations

A few friendly reminders:
1.  Bring your water bottles
2.  Dress comfortably and in clothes you don't mind getting paint on.  For our kapala session we will be working with acrylic (permanent) paint.

See you all then!

A weekend of productivity and bonding, Na Pua No'eau style...

What to say about this past weekend's sleepover with the MAMDRP hui,

It was for sure a weekend of productivity and bonding, Na Pua No'eau style.  On Saturday everyone met up at UH Manoa, and began our day with Kukulu Kumuhana, reviewing our oli.

Got some nice shots of the alaka'i and haumana...

After Kukulu Kumuhana, everyone broke up into their groups and continued working on their poster presentations for Ho'ike coming up in April.

Everyone worked hard!  Each of the groups were able to complete a majority of their posters with content on the MAMDRP project.  Everyone had lunch, much thanks to Aunty Lisa and soon after the group headed on to Hau'ula for the MAMDRP sleepover.

After orientation and getting settled in students began working on their kapala (stamps) which will be used to print on their kihei for Ho'ike.  Everyone got in the "zone" making sure that their thoughts and designs were executed to the best of their ability.

After the kapala were done, there was some down time.  Everyone was allowed to go swimming, play volleyball, enjoy the jacuzzi and yes there was more 'ono food from Aunty Lisa...

After dinner it was movie night and for some, soon after it was lights out (and in true sleepover fashion there were those who stayed up!)  The following morning everyone woke up and had a nice big breakfast for the last leg of work at hand for the MAMDRP weekend.  The day opened up with Kukulu Kumuhana.

After a short break everyone met up in the theatre room and each of the groups did their first poster presentation practice session for each other, and provided critique on how they can improve their presentations in time for Ho'ike.

It was for sure a memorable weekend.  A lot was accomplished and it also allowed the group to enjoy each other, share memories, laugh and partake in great food as one huge 'ohana.