Papahānaumokuākea `Ahahui Alaka`i (PAA): Reflections: Ron Hirschi

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Papahānaumokuākea 'Ahahui Alaka'i (PAA) is a ten-day experiential leadership program that brings together teachers, business people, policy-makers as well as potential community leaders interested in learning and being inspired by science and traditional knowledge management practices. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument encompasses roughly 140,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean, an area larger than all the country's national parks combined. The area around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is an important safe haven for wildlife such as the threatened green turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. ‘Ahahu‘i refers to society, club or association. Alaka’i is Hawaiian for ambassador or leader. The Hawaiian word /acronym PA‘A means steadfast, learned, determined, strong, to hold, keep, retain.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Reflections: Ron Hirschi

It is so good to be home, but I return feeling even more responsibility than ever before. I carry my laptop around and have done many impromptu slide shows at the Post Office, grocery store and up at Marty's print shop too. Then too, I have been sending off the postcards to kids, Postcards from Papa that many of you participants kindly replied to. It was the set of questions from kids that really sent me on this journey and I feel a special bond with young Evelyn who wrote the most difficult of questions, one we all need to find answers to.

I want to share this with all of you.........the last morning at Midway, I looked closely at a handful of sand at my study site, a place where I had come each morning to collect data on visible chunks of plastic (lighters, toys, bottle caps, and assorted debris)..... I was admiring the beautiful white coral pieces chomped by uhu and wrasse. Mixed in the beauty were tiny bits of red, blue, and lavender. The ocean's plastics have, sadly, gone micro to add their toxins to food webs other than those of the Albatross. So I got back in touch with John Klavitter, biologist on Sand Island and posted a note on Scuttlebutt, asking for sand samples. Already, people from around the world are sending me sand so that we can collaborate on a new project, Serious Sand. Sinister Sand. John told me that plastic absorbs PCBs and other toxins and so I am diving into the current research into how the fragments of plastic work their way into the food of fish, seals, and whales. Tonight as I walked the beach here on Marrowstone Island, I picked up yet another stream of plastic debris now destined for recycling. We can all do these endless beach cleanups but it is for sure, time to go to the sources to find solutions. Aloha nui loa, Ron Hirschi. www.ronhirschi.com

photo credit: Ron Hirschi

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2010 Participants

Marion Ano

Hometown – Oahu, Hawaii

Occupation - geospatial processor

You should know – Marion is an intern at NOAA’s Pacific Services Center and considers the ocean to be a great teacher which she is contunually humbled by.

Jennifer Barrett

Hometown – Honolulu, Hawaii

Occupation – Waikiki Coastal Coordinator for U.H. Sea Grant College Program

You should know – – Jen is pursuing a Master of Environmental Management degree, she is passionate about volunteer service, and she spent much of her youth exploring the outdoors as a Girl Scout (which inspired her proposed project to develop a Junior Girl Scout badge!).

Chris Baird

Hometown – grew up on Kauai, now lives in Honolulu on Oahu

Occupation – social studies teacher at a family courts juvenile detention facility

You should know - Chris majored in parks and recreation at Western Washington University, his current main environmental interest is removal of invasive algae from Maunalua Bay on Oahu, and he enjoys paddling, sailing, gardening, playing with his dogs, and spending time with his wife and son.

Al Braun

Hometown – Hilo, Hawaii

Occupation –flight nurse and paramedic with Hawaii Life Flight

You should know - Al was born and raised in Hawaii, he is a former firefighter and US Navy veteran, and as a surfer and hunter has been involved in conservation his entire life.

Randi Brennon

Hometown – island of Hawai’i

Occupation - teaches 7th and 8th graders

You should know - Randi takes her students out of the classroom as much as possible, she works with her husband as a co-teacher, and has both sons as students!

Robin Craig

Hometown - grew up in Long Beach, California, now lives in Tallahassee, Florida

Occupation – Environmental lawyer and law professor

You should know – Robin majored in English, went through the Masters program in Writing About Science at John Hopkins, and spent several years teaching marine biology and island ecology on Catalina Island, where she also met her husband.

George Hanks

Hometown - grew up in Louisiana bayou country, now lives in Houston, Texas

Occupation – justice on the Texas Court of Appeals (soon to be US Magistrate Judge in Houston)

You should know – George is a volunteer marine science educator with the Flower Garden Banks Sanctuary and with the Houston Bar Association’s Lawyers in Public Schools program, he is an avid scuba divers and amateur underwater photographer, and recently ran in the Great Aloha Run on Oahu.

Norbert Larsen

Hometown – grew up in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, now lives on Oahu

Occupation - 4th grade teacher at a public charter school

You should know – Norbert’s past experiences include working as an Education Specialist in Hawaiian Natural History, hosting a public television series on the Islands and Polynesian voyaging, as well as performing with modern dance and ballet companies in Hawaii.

Maya Plass

Hometown - Devon, England

Occupation - marine biologist and founder of Learn to Sea

You should know - Maya enjoys spending time on/in the water with her husband and young daughter, she has a veggie patch, and she is already teaching the children in Devon to pronounce Papahanaumokuakea!

Doug Schmid

Hometown – Long Island, New York

Occupation - Environmental Education Program Director

You should know – Doug started his career in marine research before moving into education, he has led student and teacher field study programs across the US and South America, and he enjoys kayaking and diving in his free time.

Hugh Story

Hometown – grew up in Virginia Beach, now lives on Oahu

Occupation – part-time Global Studies teacher with the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council

You should know - Hugh also works at the Hawaii Coffee Company, is a former Peace Corp volunteer in Kazakhstan, and recently completed his MBA with University of Hawaii.

Sarah Wilson

Hometown – grew up in San Diego County, California, now lives in Washington DC

Occupation – Ocean Education Manager at the National Geographic Society

You should know - Sarah has an MA in Science Education from San Diego State University, she has worked as a Naturalist on ships all over the world, and actually spent 6 months working on a vessel in Hawaii teaching marine science and snorkeling to Hawaiian school children.

Facilitators

Linda Schubert

Hometown – Originally from Chicago, now lives in Volcano, Hawaii

Occupation – Manager of NOAA’s Mokupapapa Discovery Center

You should know – Linda has a BS in Communications and Sociology; she has worked in museum education for approximately 20 years, with breaks for running a theater company and working for the National Park Service; and she lives in the rain forest with her husband and enjoys dancing hula, hiking and loves to cook.

Dani Carter

Hometown – Originally from Maine, now lives in Kailua, Hawaii

Occupation – Monument Permit Coordinator for the State of Hawaii

You should know – Dani holds a M.S. in Marine Resource Management; considers the time spent conducting hydrographic surveys in Alaska among her favorite jobs; and enjoys hiking, crafting, and playing at the beach with her husband and dog.

Tracy Ammerman

Hometown – originally from northeastern Pennsylvania, now living on Midway Atoll

Occupation – Visitor Services Manager at Midway Atoll for the US Fish and Wildlife Service

You should know – Tracy holds a B.S. in Biology – Marine Science emphasis and an M.S. in Resource Interpretation; she spent 18 years with the National Park Service as a supervisory park ranger (at Assateague Island National Seashore, Cape Cod National Seashore, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve); and her personal interests include birding, wildlife observation, photography, biking, and snorkeling, as well as mountain biking and down-hill skiing (which she doesn’t get to do much of at her current location!).

Naia Watson

Hometown – Maunalua on the island of Oahu

Occupation –

You should know –

Papahānaumokuākea `Ahahui Alaka`i (PAA)

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Sunday, July 5, 2009

Reflections: Ron Hirschi

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