HPA
Marine
Studies
Progress Report
Academic year 2021/22
CONTENTS
STRP Field Work………………………………………….….Pages 3-5
STRP Stranding Program ……………………….……Page 6-7
Community Education……………………………….…Pages 8-9
Marine and Climate Science Courses…….…Page 10
Scuba Co-Curricular……………………………………………Page 11
Weekend Opportunities…………………………..Pages 12-16
Independent Research…………………………..……Page 17-18
Fishing Line Project……………………………………..………Page 19
Summer 2022…………………………………………………..…Page 20
This report was written by Laura Jim
Sea Turtle Research Program
Field Work
Certification Workshops
Students wishing to participate in formal field work are required to complete a series of 3 seminars and demonstrate mastery of understanding. The seminars focus on sea turtle biology, current threats, safe handling practices, and program history. 40 total students signed up to earn their certification this year and of those, 21 completed all three seminars and the assessment. These students join those already certified and middle school students who participated in Barbara Kopra’s Middle School Turtle Club.
Student Field Research Participants - Thank you!
Tobias Ausserlechner | Ariana Hudgins | Alexandra Rose, |
Noah Brown | Helly Hughes | Savannah Matsui (2) |
Johanna Bruessow (3) | Catherine Hulugalle | Alden Mazo (4) |
Maja Burdova | Keilana Hunt | Tilda Noller (2) |
Luisa Clavadetscher | Stefano Ioannou | Andrew Sebastian |
Jule Dahmen (3) | Zane Imonen (2) | Lana Seward |
Gianna DeMille | Morgan Huddleston (2) | Josie Thorndike |
Annika Everett (3) | Charlotte Kassis (4) | Alexandra Thompson |
Piper Filler | Trevor Kaufman | Zoe Viani (3) |
Zetta Freitas | Luke Linebaugh (3) | Ali Wawner (2) |
Edoardo Greco | Jasmine Larson (2) | Spencer Wolman (2) |
Clara Groezinger | Ella Luz | Naue Wengler-Ioane |
Carson Hoover | Aubrey Maestas (2) | Phoebe Wyatt |
Victoria Holmes | Murphy Makely | Dahyeon Yoo |
Linda Holy (3) | Joao Malzoni Almeida Ribeiro | Emelie Zauner (3) |
# designates the number of research trips students attended this year
Field Research Work
Regular field tagging operations were resumed for the first time since the pandemic began. Our work with sea turtles involves capturing, tagging, tissue sampling, health assessments and release. Thank you to our various community partners including David Chai and his team from Hualalai’s Natural Resources Department, Pi’i Laeha and Ethan Souza from Mālama Honu Program, and Ava Williams (‘81). Sea turtle research and stranding response activities operate under the direction and authority of NOAA / NMFS. NMFS Permit #21260, USFWS permit #TE-722088A-3 AND DAR permit # 2018-301. We are grateful to George Balazs, Dr. Summer Martin, Dr. Camryn Allen, Shawn Mirakawa, and Dr. Alexander Gaos.
Mauna Lani Research Trip:A total of 10 turtles were collected with 5 of them captured and tagged previously. Their average mass was 15.9 kg (40 lbs) with a range of 9 to 34 kg (18 to 75 lbs). Their average curved carapace length was 54 cm (21 inches).
Hualalai Research Trip: A total of 9 turtles were collected, assessed and released. Of these, 2 had been captured and tagged previously. Their average mass was 12 kg (26.5 lbs.) with a range of 16 to 38 lbs. Their average curved carapace was 48 cm (18.9 inches).
Puako Research Trip: A total of 12 turtles were collected, assessed and released. Of these four had been previously tagged. Their average mass was 18.2 kg (40 lbs) with a range of 11.2 to 26 kg (25 to 57 lbs). Their average curved carapace length was 54.5 cm (21.5 inches).
Mālama Honu Program
Regular trips to support Mālama Honu’s monthly health assessments with a total of 6 trips (high school and middle school). Working with Uncle Pi’i and Ethan Souza is a gift to us and our students. We are grateful for their support and collaboration!
Sea Turtle Research Program
Stranding Program
In 2021/22 school year we responded to strandings from Kawaihae to Kahaluʻu, Kona. Many of the calls we receive from concerned citizens are educational opportunities. Of the stranding incidents we responded to this school year, 12 of them required line removal or turtle collection of deceased or otherwise injured turtles needing rehabilitation. 50% of the cases involved fishing line entanglement (6 turtles), 1 had buoyancy issues, 5 had undetermined cause of death and 1 had a suspected spear injury to the cranium. 3 were hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the remainder were green turtles (Chelonia mydas).
How to Report Turtle Strandings Contact Marc Rice (808)987-6903 AND / OR Contact Laura Jim (808)895-3174 laura.jim@hpa.edu | ||
Green turtle entangled with fishing line reported at Puako. All of these materials were removed from the turtle by Marc Rice. | ||
Hawksbill turtle found entangled with fishing line and ingested hook. Turtle was flown to receive veterinary care where the hook was removed through surgery. Turtle was released after rehabilitation. | ||
Turtle at Mahukona with braided fishing line coming from its oral cavity and wrapped around its flipper. Unfortunately we have not been able to locate this turtle and remove the line. |
Community Education
It is the mission of Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy’s Marine Studies Program to contribute towards the conservation of marine ecosystems and its organisms worldwide through education, research, and advocacy, working with students and community members to actualize their passion and commitment to a healthier marine environment.
The program’s mission to educate others about various environmental issues surrounding marine life including sea turtle biology and conservation, impacts of recreational fishing line interactions with wildlife, and marine debris reaches further than our school. Here are a few of the projects we have worked on this calendar year.
Toby Wang (Climate Science Student) and Laura Jim meet via zoom with former HPA teacher Jing Lei and her 5th grade students from Nanjing International School in the Qi Xia District of China. The students are in their research phase for the PYP Exhibition and learned about marine debris and potential solutions from us!
Thelma Parker Library houses a display created by the program which shares some information about our program, current threats to wildlife, HPA student independent projects, and celebrates the diversity of marine life in West Hawai’i.
In celebration of Earth Day Marc Rice, Laura Jim, Alden Mazo ʻ23, and Luke Linebaugh ʻ24 ran an information booth and helped with the cleanup itself at the Puako Boat Harbor. |
Marc Rice and Laura Jim ran a booth at the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Spencer Beach Malama Hawaii Earth Day. | ||
Marc met with Cobey Doi’s 4th grade students sharing information about sea turtles in Hawaii. This is an annual event and we appreciate Ms. Doi’s place based program. | OES students learn about turtles and Kiholo’s unique environment with Laura. | |
Tess Kelly ‘22 and Noah Brown ‘22 collaborate to provide Cobey Doi’s 4th grade class with an enriching morning at Paniau with tidepooling and a coastal cleanup. |
Marine & Climate Studies Courses
24 students joined the marine biology course this year. The course is an introduction to the study of the marine environment with a large emphasis placed on Hawaii’s coral reef systems with students participating in various field trips including tidepooling, coral surveys, fish behavior and identification labs, etc.
Through the Introduction to climate science and climate change course 17 students were provided an introduction to scientific principles behind climate change and global warming with the goal of developing climate-literate individuals.Through the help of our community, students met climate champions and learned about solutions based programs. Mahalo to Greg McKenna, Willie Quayle, Kealii Thone, Tee Suntharo, Dutch Kuyper, Alex Woodbury, and Zach Judd who shared their knowledge and expertise with us.
Student work and a few of the place-based field experiences in these classes. |
Scuba Co-Curricular
Congratulations to Isla, Luciana, Jule, Ella, Valentina, Alden, Kylie, Max, Pancho, Tilda, and Ida for earning their PADI Open Water Divers certification (Fall Term)!
Congratulations to Luke, Clara, Johanna, Atticus, Joao, Zoe and Tobias for earning their Advanced PADI Open Water Diver certification (Spring Term)!
Scuba Club & Weekend Opportunities
Semester 1, 2021
Nine weekend shore dives were offered to certified students (day and boarding) with 2 serving HPA’s Middle School Dive Club (run by Nikki Montenegro) and 7 serving high school students (both day and boarding).
Semester 2, 2022
Charlotte Kassis and Andrew Sebastian began the High School Scuba Dive Club and organized three shore dives once the surf calmed down. In addition, there were two boat dives with local dive companies organized with the middle school club running a manta night dive and the Outdoor Program arranging a two tank boat dive in Kona.
Student Divers (High School)
Tobias Ausserlechner | Ella Luz | Andrew Sebastian |
Johanna Bruessow | Murphy Makely | Zoe Viani |
Luciana Conde Cadena | Alden Mazo | Fischer Wawner |
Tiffany Golden | Malia Mitchell | Ali Wawner |
Justin Heilmann | Eli Monello | Max Weiss |
Catherine Hulugalle | Nathan O’TOole | Atticus Wiggins |
Charlotte Kassis | Clara Peraltas | Charles Wolford |
Brenna Kiyota | Adrian Ponce | Phoebe Wyatt |
Luke Linebaugh | Zeke Sarosi | Emelie Zauner |
Annita Lockwood | Kendal Scanlan |
Thank you to Scuba Club Leaders: Nikki Montenegro, Charlotte Kassis and Andrew Sebastian Flik for providing us amazing lunches for our various trips Lindsey Paulekas and John Moltz for the support of the program |
Student Divers (Middle School)
Cameron Goodwin | Nikki Montenegro | Jasmine Larson |
Carson Hoover | Matteo Larrua | Dylan Vincent |
Zane Imonen | Kian Nikkhoo | Spencer Wolman |
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Other Weekend Activities
In addition to scuba dives Laura Jim, Robyn Scarth, and Tani Wright Cordova provided weekend opportunities that included snorkel trips, night tidepooling, and coastal cleanups in conjunction with weekend activities. These activities were opportunities for students to explore and learn more about the environment of Hawai’i while building relationships.
Additional Weekend Certification Course
Students, many of whom arrived at HPA during the second semester,inquired about an additional Open Water Certification course and we were able to make it happen! Congratulations to Joao, Zoe, Ella, Linda, Clara and Johanna for earning their PADI Open Water Certification. They completed their eLearning independently and dedicated a number of weekends learning to dive! Joao, Zoe, Clara and Johanna continued on to earn their Advanced Open Water Certification during spring co-curriculars!
Independent Projects
“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, will we help.
Only if we help, we shall be saved.” - Jane Goodall
Through HPA’s Capstone Program, Independent Marine Biology Research Course, and HPA’s Sea Turtle Research Program, we strive to contribute towards the understanding of the marine environment, including sea turtles. Thank you to the students who contribute towards this challenging yet rewarding work. Two of our students, Alden Mazo ʻ23 and Eli Monello ʻ22 attended the 2nd Annual Sea Turtle Research in Oceania. Thank you to the workshop organizing committee (George Balazs, Brenda Jensen, Summer Martin, and Thierry Work).
Links to projects
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Eli Monello, for his capstone project, established a facial recognition database using I3S. | Marc Rice and Laura Jim both gave presentations at the 2nd Annual Sea Turtle Workshop |
Alden Mazo, for her semester-long independent marine biology course, conducted a habitat use assessment of green turtles in Puako, Hawaii. She will continue this work into her capstone project next year. | 2nd Annual Sea Turtle Workshop at Hawaii Pacific University in person attendees group photo and HPA delegation. |
Other notable projects in class of 2022’s Capstone cohort delving into the marine realm include Nathan O’Toole’s website of personal photographs to celebrate marine life of West Hawai’i, Tess Kelly’s project tackling derelict fishing gear on our shores, Phoebe Wyatt’s project investigating the relationship between coral abundance and fish diversity based on trophic levels, and Noah Brown’s project exploring tidepools. |
Fishing Line & Cigarette Recycling Project
In collaboration with South Kohala Reef Alliance, Keep Puako Beautiful and Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail we have developed a fishing line recycling program with bins placed at three store locations and currently 2 ocean locations. Along with partners, we will be maintaining the bins and our program will process and document all fishing line and gear collected through this. Mahalo to Tess Kelly for adopting this initiative as her capstone project and to our partners, especially Cynthia Ho, Kelly Rohlfs, and Mandy Johnson-Campbell.
Summer ‘22
Summer 2022
May 31-June 10: PADI Open Water Certification Camp
June 13-17: PADI Advanced Open Water Certification Camp
June 27-July 22: Summer Session Open Water Certification Course
“You are doing a very important job for every one of us while bringing the children the idea of how important our environment and nature is, and that these are the most important things to take care of.”
In memory of Shandell Brunson
Program Directors
Marc Rice | Program Instagram: caretta2016 Program website: turtle.hpa.edu | |
Laura Jim |