Lā 12: Pōʻakolu, Malaki 8 Sea Turtles – Dolphins – Marine Research
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Te Mana o te Moana is a marine protection and restoration initiative with sea turtle care center and a dolphin center located within the Intercontinental Moʻorea Hotel: http://www.temanaotemoana.org/. Gump Station & Atitia Center, http://www.moorea.berkeley.edu/outreach/atitia/ run by UC Berkley, engages in reef restoration research and other environmental science-based studies, with a cultural engagement component. A courtesy visit to island leadership allows Nāhiku to lift up our hosts and celebrate our shared Polynesian heritage.
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Hui! Welina mai kākou, ‘o kēia ka lā 12 o kā mākou huakaʻi kūikawā.ʻO kēia ʻo Kalehua lāua ʻo Jada e kūkala hou nei i nā hanana ma ia huakaʻi. I kēia manawa, aia mākou ma ka ʻāina hemolele i ka mālie, ʻo ia ʻo Moʻorea hoʻi. I kēia mau lā i hala aku nei, ua piha wale me ka hauʻoli a me nā haʻawina i aʻo ʻia mai ka ʻāina mai. ʻOiai he ʻāina pulapula ʻo Moʻorea, like me kākou ka Hawaiʻi, nui nā kanaka i makemake e kukulu i mau hale a me nā hōkele ma luna o ia ʻāina a hōʻeha ʻia ke kaiaola. Akā naʻe, loaʻa nā kanaka e hoʻāʻo nei e hoʻōla a mālama i ia mau ʻāina a me nā holoholona.
Today we were blessed with a tour hosted by Te Mana O Te Moana, a marine biology operation based at the Intercontinental Hotel in Mo‘orea. This organization is a non-profit member of the IUCN who focuses on marine conservation. We began with a powerpoint with our guide, Alice, a marine biologist, and she explained in detail about different species of mammals along with coral reefs and reef fish. Alice highlighted the challenges/problems that the ocean constantly faces such as over fishing, climate change, and littering. She mentioned how smart our kūpuna were by putting kapu on certain species on certain times of year to give them time to replenish their population. This presentation reminded us to think twice before you act because for every action there is a consequence.
After this presentation we were taken to Te Manaʻs sanctuary where honu and iʻa are cared for and observed. Many eye-opening moments occured during this portion of our tour as we got to see the effects of human pollution on such beautiful creatures. All honu within the sanctuary were brought in with some sort of defect due to human contact, such as spearfishing and trash/litter. While the honu looked majestic and lively within their habitats, the stories that Alice shared about their intense rehabilitation was very saddening. One thing learned from this experience is that we need to be aware of the day-to-day things we do that can have a devastating impact on our environment.
The island of Moʻorea is similar to our own island home of Hawaiʻi as both places are being stripped of natural resources and are being overdeveloped. Yet, groups of kanaka ʻōiwi and caring individuals are standing up for nature and are doing their best to conserve what is left of it. With such groups as Te Mana O Te Moana, the world can be a much better place. Even the simplest things matter in a destructive world like ours filled with buildings andother man-made structures, yet everyone can help to nurture our home by doing their part.
Today we were blessed with a tour hosted by Te Mana O Te Moana, a marine biology operation based at the Intercontinental Hotel in Mo‘orea. This organization is a non-profit member of the IUCN who focuses on marine conservation. We began with a powerpoint with our guide, Alice, a marine biologist, and she explained in detail about different species of mammals along with coral reefs and reef fish. Alice highlighted the challenges/problems that the ocean constantly faces such as over fishing, climate change, and littering. She mentioned how smart our kūpuna were by putting kapu on certain species on certain times of year to give them time to replenish their population. This presentation reminded us to think twice before you act because for every action there is a consequence.
After this presentation we were taken to Te Manaʻs sanctuary where honu and iʻa are cared for and observed. Many eye-opening moments occured during this portion of our tour as we got to see the effects of human pollution on such beautiful creatures. All honu within the sanctuary were brought in with some sort of defect due to human contact, such as spearfishing and trash/litter. While the honu looked majestic and lively within their habitats, the stories that Alice shared about their intense rehabilitation was very saddening. One thing learned from this experience is that we need to be aware of the day-to-day things we do that can have a devastating impact on our environment.
The island of Moʻorea is similar to our own island home of Hawaiʻi as both places are being stripped of natural resources and are being overdeveloped. Yet, groups of kanaka ʻōiwi and caring individuals are standing up for nature and are doing their best to conserve what is left of it. With such groups as Te Mana O Te Moana, the world can be a much better place. Even the simplest things matter in a destructive world like ours filled with buildings andother man-made structures, yet everyone can help to nurture our home by doing their part.
The beautiful waters of Moʻorea in the morning
Te Mana ) Te Moana has recently started a project with transportable coral where they have mounted the coral onto plastic to help them grow in difficult areas. This species of coral is called Montipora or “Rice Coral.”
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This turtle is being trained to swim straight because she is only able to turn right due to a speargun that was lodged in her left fin.
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