Windward Oahu: Leading the way in environmental education

1. Windward Oahu
Leading the way in environmental education

2. Hawaii: Leading by example
Hawaii is a small reflection of the world. We must pursue
sustainable solutions to conserve natural resources.

3. There are many approaches to
sustainability
 Through modern eyes…
 June 8, 2015: Hawaii became the first state to
propose fossil fuel-free energy by 2045. This
limits pollution which disrupts marine life and
ecosystems. The bill focuses scattered
initiatives to strive for a common goal.
 Looking towards the past…
 Hokulea brings old seafaring to the new
world. The vessel proves what we are
capable of accomplishing if we decide to
use our resources wisely. We learn how
dependent we are on the environment.
Hokulea
docked at
Kualoa Beach,
where royalty
manifested
their future

4. We have the same opportunities at
home
Not everyone rides on the Hokulea, but
opportunities are close to home with similar
ideals:
We become stewards by participating in
sustainable solutions.
The first step is finding a mentor and navigator.

5. Finding Teachers
 Few sustainability education programs with limited
access to students
 Teachers don't have relevant technology to teach
science
 Ambivalent student mentality due to assumptions that
science is hard and uninteresting
 Important to link programs to students and educators
Possible solution: sustainability education database

6. Windward Oahu Education Programs
WIRED: Connects students
grades 6-12 and graduates to
research entities
• Increases STEM interest
through field work
• Provides access to field
and lab equipment https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-
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Elementary and high school students collect water
quality data in Kaelepulu Stream for Oceanit (Division
of Forestry and Wildlife).

7. Windward Oahu
Education Programs
PaCES: Six week environmental
science internship at Windward
Community College
• Connects students of different
backgrounds
• Involves teacher training by
interns
• Produces college-level
research
• Fishpond water quality
Top: PaCES student selects disease associated marine
bacteria for genetic studies.
Left: PaCES mentors train Kamehameha teachers in field
studies.

8. Windward Oahu Education Programs
NALU Studies: Environmental stewardship
program empowering at-risk teenagers
• Students realize their potential for
positive change
• Post-program career opportunities
become available
• Program graduates mentor middle
school classes NALU students redefine their
identity through culture and
home.

9. Finding Our Classroom
• Environmental stewardship: taking responsibility for the land
• Educational and cultural opportunities are found outdoors
• Shows students that science is manageable, fun, and
relevant
http://questgarden.com/46/06/9/070129230128/process.htm

10. Learning About the Past
 Ahupua`a systems fostered ridge
to reef thinking. Everyting flowed
into the loko.
 Unique sluice gates (Makaha)
naturally grew fish.
 ~500 loko fed all of Oahu.
 These practices were taught
through generations at the
fishpond.
 Left: Kamehameha School’s representation
of an Ahupua`a showing ridge to reef
connection.
 Right: The makaha at Waikalua Loko.

11. The Ancient Icebox
 Waikalua Loko is one of 50 to 60 remaining ponds on Oahu. It is a loko kuapa (brakish water
fishpond).
 You could obtain 2000 pounds of fish per acre.
 It fell into disrepair until 1995 but has since been revitalized.
 Though the Waikalua Loko would not be able to feed Kaneohe it is still an important educational
outlet.
Progress of revitalization efforts in aerial view of the Waikalua Loko.
PC: Waikalula Loko Preservation Society

12. The Classroom Today
 Traditional practices are taught
with modern understanding
involving economics, history, and
science.
 Different age groups learn at the
pond from different social
economic backgrounds.
 5000 students use all 5 senses with
hands on learning at the pond
every year.

13. Community Cooperation
 Taking care of the fishpond
requires lots of help from different
people.
 Managing council involves
cultural specialists, scientists, and
community leaders.
 Effective management comes
from cooperation.
Limu removal by Castle High
School students.

14. Future Plans
 In the future Waikalua Loko hopes to turn the adjacent sewage plant into an
aquaculture facility.
 At the facility the intention is to sell fish commercially.
 This creates a modern method of aquaculture right next to a traditional method of
farming.
 The Waikalua Loko will still be used as our outdoor classroom.

15. How our vessel works
 Place-based learning programs involve different
populations in sustainability efforts
 Community commons focus many initiatives to feed
global needs
 Next steps are to qualitate success
PaCES and Castle
High School students
collaborate with
Waikiki Aquarium for
Earth Day Moi
release

16. Some anecdotal indicators
 There is a decade long running history with national and international
exposure
 Former students pursue degrees and careers in environmental science
and policy
 Education programs and school consortiums use our model for learning
PaCES delegation at the 2007 Coastal America
Student Summit
NALU national finalist for science education at
Washington DC

17. Our network of support
NALU
 Hui o Ko’olaupoko
 Sullivan Center for Innovation and
Leadership
 Center for Microbial
Oceanography Research and
Education
 Oceanit
 Pacific America Foundation
 NOAA
PaCES
 Hawai’I Community
Foundation
 UH Manoa
 Waikalua Loko Preservation
Society
 Minami Foundation
 Ameron Hawai’i
 The National Science
Foundation
 Islands of Opportunity Alliance
 Pam and Pierre
Omidyar Fellowship
 Fish and Wildlife
Services
 Hawai’I Juvenile
Court System
 Hawai’I Department
of Education
 Kako’o ‘Oiwi
 Windward
Community College
WIRED

18. Now we’re at SHYLI
MAHALO