(c) Jennifer Long
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Hawai'i Uncharted strives to provide education about Whale Sharks and other marine organisms to promote a basic understanding of their biology, behavior and potential threats in their environment to inspire conservation efforts.
Stop by and meet our team at upcoming community events state-wide. Stay tuned for future activities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
Malama Kai Foundation
Date: April 26, 2024
Location: Ridge to Reef Restoration Center - OTEC, Kona, HI
Event Information: HURC presented to a great group of community members at the Ridge to Reef Restoration Center in April 2024. Thanks to Malama Kai Foundation and all the guests who came out to hear about whale sharks in Hawaii, on-going projects, publications, and more. See a video of the presentation here.
Under Sea Adventures Dive Club
Date: October 5, 2023
Location: Private Event
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be talking story with members of the USA Dive Club about Hawaii's whale sharks during their monthly meeting.
West Hawaii Explorations Academy
Date: August 29th, 2022
Location: WHEA Campus
Event Information: Stacia of the Hawai'i Uncharted team talked about Hawaii's whale sharks and STEM opportunities with WHEA students. This 'talk story' outreach event allowed the students to interact with one of our scientists and bounce ideas off the HURC team.
Sanctuary Sea Chats
Date: April 20, 2023
Location: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kihei, Maui.
Event Information: HURC director Maria Harvey presented to the local community at the HIHWNMS in Kihei, Maui. This free event had roughly 40 participants with a great passion for and questions regarding whale sharks in Hawai'i.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Date: August 3, 2022
Location: Zoom presentation
Event Information: Maria of the Hawai'i Uncharted team presented for the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council "Know Your Ocean" series. The presentation entitled, "A Look at Whale Sharks in Hawaii: A research effort for the conservation of an endangered species" brought in 170 webinar participants with great questions.
To watch the presentation, click here.
Lanai High School
Date: March 11, 2022
Location: Lanai High School (virtual presentation)
Event Information: Stacia of the Hawai'i Uncharted team talked about Hawaii's whale sharks on Zoom with Mr. Brilliande's class. We loved sharing our findings and conservation information with Lanai's high school students.
The Rotary Club: Kona Mauka
Date: March 8, 2022
Location: Private Event (virtual presentation)
Event Information: Maria of the Hawai'i Uncharted team talked story with members of the Kona Mauka Rotary Club about Hawaii's whale sharks during their weekly luncheon.
OneNOAA Science Seminar Series
Date: April 21, 2021
Location: Virtual
Event Information: HURC will be participating in the 2021 OneNOAA Science Seminar Series. Join over 1000 already registered participants to learn more about whale sharks in Hawaii, project updates, and our most recent research findings.
UPDATE: A video recording of this webinar can we seen here, https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/whale-sharks.html
2020 Science Expo
Date: February 28, 2020
Location: HAAS Charter School, Pahoa, HI
Event Information: HURC will be participating in the 2020 student science expo at HAAS Charter school in Pahoa. There will be a short presentation regarding Hawaii's whale sharks, our research and findings. The main event is from 11am - 1 pm.
Onizuka Science Day
Date: January 25, 2020
Location: University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Event Information: HURC is thrilled to be participating in the 40th Onizuka Science Day. This annual event honors Onizuka's memory and is dedicated to his dream of inspiring the youth of America to strive for and achieve their career goals. This day is designed for serious-minded science students in grades 5-12. Reservations are required to attend this free event.
The Rotary Club: Kona Mauka
Date: January 14, 2020
Location: Private Event
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be talking story with members of the Kona Mauka Rotary Club about Hawaii's whale sharks during their weekly luncheon.
GEMS: Girls Exploring Math and Science
Date: December 10, 2019
Location: Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: HURC is proud to take part in this full day event teaching our youth about whale shark science. GEMS (Girls Exploring Math and Science) is an annual event where girls around the Big Island spend the day learning about various aspects of the Science and Math world. Whale shark biology, natural history, and photo identification science will be explored during this all-day program.
UH-Hilo American Cetacean Society
Date: November 19, 2019
Location: University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be traveling to Hilo to speak with students involved in the American Cetacean Society UHH Chapter. This event is private for group members only.
3rd Annual Hawai'i Explorations Expo
Date: October 27, 2019
Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, Hilo, HI
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team traveled to Hilo to take part in the 3rd annual Hawai'i Explorations Expo, put on by the Hawai'i Science and Technology Museum. The HURC team talked story with dozens of community members and students interested in whale sharks during the day-long booth event.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
Date: October 17, 2019 - 5:30PM
Location: Mokupapapa Discovery Center, Hilo, HI
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be traveling to Hilo to speak with community members and visitors about Hawaii's whale sharks. Come meet our scientists, talk story, and learn more about whale sharks in our waters and our preliminary findings.
West Hawaii Explorations Academy
Date: August 13, 2019
Location: West Hawaii Explorations Academy
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team spoke with students of the West Hawaii Explorations Academy, during their Mentor Inspirations Days series. The event was geared towards inspiring students, and informing them of possible career pathways that they can take.
Jiaxiang Summer Marine Biology Program
Date: August 6, 2019
Location: Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, Waimea, HI
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team traveled to Waimea to speak with students involved in the Jiaxiang Summer Marine Biology Program. This presentation was private and for students only.
Texas State Aquarium: STEM Cafe
Date: July 23, 2019
Location: Texas State Aquarium Summer Camp
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be teaming up with the Texas State Aquarium for a 2nd year in a row to offer a STEM Cafe "Talk Story" about HURC's background and research for local teenagers and students.
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26th Annual Hawai'i Conservation Conference
He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani au: Resilience in the Face of Change
Date: July 10, 2019
Location: Hawai'i Convention Center, Honolulu
Event Information: The Hawaii Uncharted team will be traveling to Honolulu this July to attend the 26th annual Hawai'i Conservation Conference. We have been selected to present our current findings at this event. Our presentation will be part of the round top table discussions.
5th International Whale Shark Conference
Date: May 28-31, 2019
Location: Exmouth, Western Australia
Event Information: The Hawaii Uncharted team will be traveling to Exmouth, Western Australia this May to attend the 5th annual International Whale Shark Conference. We have been selected to present our current findings at this event. We are thrilled to share information on Hawaii’s whale sharks with the international scientific community.
Hawaii Uncharted Presents: An evening with MMF whale shark researcher, Alexandra Watts
Date: May 2, 2019
Location: Kona Honu Divers, Kona, HI
Event Information: Come join HURC for an evening with Marine Megafauna Foundation whale shark researcher and PhD Candidate Alexandra Watts. Alexandra will be presenting an overview of whale shark research in association with the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), a not-for-profit research and conservation group founded in Mozambique. Co-founders Andrea Marshall and Simon Pierce are both members of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and Simons' recent research lead to the classification of whale sharks as an 'endangered' species on the IUCN Redlist. Alexandra would like to give you an overview of these magnificant animals and the work they are doing towards their conservation around the world, with salty tales along the way!
2019 Ocean Fair Presentation & Booth Event
Date: April 13, 2019
Location: Jack's Diving Locker, Kona, HI
Event Information: Ocean Fair, sponsored by Jack’s Diving Locker, is a celebration of our marine environment for the community. Ocean Fair promotes ocean awareness through educational and fun activities as well in-water snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. The HURC team will be presenting our latest findings, including up to date numbers of individual whale sharks and top sighting locations.
Hawaii Brewery Running Series
Date: March 31, 2019
Location: Lanikai Brewing Company, Kailua, O'ahu, HI
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be having a information booth at the Brewery Running Series event at Lanikai Brewing Company. The HBRS donates portions of all ticket sales to local non-profits and HURC will be the recipient of this donation. Come meet our scientists, get a sticker, and Run for Beer!
Hawaii Brewery Running Series
Date: March 30, 2019
Location: Honolulu Beerworks, Honolulu, HI
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be having a information booth at the Brewery Running Series event at Honolulu Beerworks. The HBRS donates portions of all ticket sales to local non-profits and HURC will be the recipient of this donation. Come meet our scientists, get a sticker, and Run for Beer!
Hawaii Brewery Running Series
Date: March 23, 2019
Location: Ola Brew, Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be having a information booth at the Brewery Running Series event at Ola Brew. The HBRS donates portions of all ticket sales to local non-profits and HURC will be the recipient of this donation. Come meet our scientists, get a sticker, and Run for Beer!
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UH-Hilo American Cetacean Society
Date: February 5, 2019
Location: University of Hawaii - Hilo
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be traveling to Hilo to speak with students involved in the American Cetacean Society UHH Chapter. This event is private for group members only.
Hawaii Science Museum
Date: January 17, 2019
Location: Hilo Intermediate School
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be traveling to Hilo to speak with community members and visitors about Hawaii's whale sharks. Come meet our scientists, talk story, and learn more about whale sharks in our waters and our preliminary findings.
GEMS: Girls Exploring Math and Science
Date: December 4, 2018
Location: Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: HURC is proud to have taken part in the full day event teaching our youth about whale shark science. GEMS (Girls Exploring Math and Science) is an annual event where girls around the Big Island spend the day learning about various aspects of the Science and Math world. Whale shark biology, natural history, and photo identification science was explored during this all-day program.
Lāna'i Culture and Heritage Center
Date: October 15, 2018
Location: Lāna'i Culture and Heritage Center
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be traveling to Lanai City to speak with community members about Hawaii's whale sharks. Come meet our scientists, talk story, and learn more about whale sharks in our waters.
Maui Ocean Center: Sea Talk Series
Date: October 14, 2018
Location: Maui Ocean Center, Wailuku, HI
Event Information: HURC is creating a database of information that includes unique individuals found in waters statewide. This database is being used to answer many questions concerning population dynamics, demographics, and oceanic movements for these charismatic sharks - which have yet to be studied in this area of the world's oceans. This presentation will A) provide an overview of the biology of whale sharks and their global conservation status, and B) highlight the preliminary findings from this citizen science project.
Big Island Divers: Crew Training
Date: July 23 - 24, 2018
Location: Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: Hawai'i Uncharted teamed up with Big Island Divers to offer a comprehensive 2-day presentation on whale sharks in our islands, appropriate viewing and swimming conduct, as well as talking points. Big Island Divers crew attended the presentations to better convey whale shark knowledge to their guests.
The Rotary Club: Kona Mauka
Date: May 8, 2018
Location: Private Event
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be talking story with members of the Kona Mauka Rotary Club about Hawaii's whale sharks during their weekly luncheon.
Texas State Aquarium: STEM Cafe
Date: April 30, 2018
Location: Texas State Aquarium Summer Camp
Event Information: The Hawai'i Uncharted team will be teaming up with the Texas State Aqurium to offer a STEM Cafe "Talk Story" about HURC's background and research for local teenagers.
2018 Ocean Fair Presentation & Booth Event
Date: April 28, 2018
Location: Jack's Diving Locker, Kona, HI
Event Information: Ocean Fair, sponsored by Jack’s Diving Locker, is a celebration of our marine environment for the community. Ocean Fair promotes ocean awareness through educational and fun activities as well in-water snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. The HURC team will be presenting our latest findings, including up to date numbers of individual whale sharks and top sighting locations.
Kona Science Cafe
Date: March 19, 2018
Location: NELHA, Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: Come join the Hawai'i Uncharted team as we present our up-to-date findings for our community members and learn a little bit about this fairly-unknown species.
Ke Kai Ola: The Marine Mammal Center
Date: February 12, 2018
Location: Ke Kai Ola, Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: Come join the Hawai'i Uncharted team as we present our up-to-date findings and learn a little bit about this fairly-unknown species. This event is BYOC, Bring Your Own Chair. Some seating will be available however it is first come, first sit.
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Kona Honu Divers: Presentation Series
Date: January 15, 2018
Location: Ola Brew, Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: Come join the Hawai'i Uncharted team as we present our up-to-date findings and learn a little bit about this fairly-unknown species.
2017 West Hawaii Science Symposium
Date: December 5, 2017
Location: King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona, HI
Event Information: The focus of this two-day event is to provide a forum for scientists, community organizations, and resource managers to present and discuss scientific information pertaining to the marine ecosystem of West Hawai‘i.
