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T. `Aulani Wilhelm
Public Information Officer
Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 130 Honolulu, HI 96813
808/587-0330 (phone)
808/361-0650 (pager)
dlnrpio@aloha.net
News Release
10-17-00
24
EXPEDITION PROVIDES YOUNG SCIENTISTS WITH MAJOR JUMPSTART IN CAREER EXPERIENCE
For four twenty-somethings aboard the research vessel Rapture, the expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands has provided them with an immeasurable wealth of real-world science experience. Each up-and-coming scientist got involved in the expedition for different reasons and all have walked away from the trip with more than they bargained for.
"I feel very fortunate to have been able to be part of this expedition," said 28-year old Ryan Okano. "It has been an incredible experience for me to be a part of a research team of so many different scientists, looking at the marine environment from various points of view. My job was to collect and begin to identify algae (limu) species in the northwestern waters.
"When looking at the ocean it's important to look at all components from coral to fish to algae. On this trip we were able to do that and learn from each other. I really learned a lot and have all kinds of new experience and first-hand knowledge to bring back home and apply to my work in the main islands," said Okano.
Although it will take several months to analyze the algae samples he collected, Okano estimates he collected about 150 different species of algae across the northwestern chain.
Okano served as the lead algae scientist on board and is pursuing his graduate degree in botany studying under Drs. Isabella Abbott and Celia Smith from the University of Hawaii. Okano was born and raised at Pepeekeo on the Big Island and graduated from Hilo High School. He grew up fishing, surfing and diving. For him the trip and his choice of careers offers him a way to say thanks.
"All my life I grew up taking from the ocean, not exploiting it, but eating from it and using it. My contribution on this trip and my work in marine botany allows me to give back to the ocean and help to protect and preserve the resource for future generations. After this trip, I'm more committed than ever," explained Okano.
Ryan Okano is surrounded by ulua
Okano was offered the opportunity to join the expedition by Dr. Smith mainly because of his comfort level in the water. Before this expedition he had done work as a diver off nearly all the main Hawaiian Islands, except Lanai, and had already been exposed to a variety of marine ecosystems. Ironically, although he's been a free diver since he was a small kid, he's only been a certified scuba diver for two years.
For another local boy, 29-year old Jason Leonard, the expedition was an eye-opener as well. Leonard grew up in Waipahu and went to Waipahu High School. Like Okano, Leonard got into marine science because he grew up fishing and diving and wanted to work in a field that was similar to the things he likes to do in his spare time.
Leonard graduated with a degree in zoology this past May from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has been working at the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for the past 3 years, 2 of which as a full-time fisheries technician with the Division of Aquatic Resources.
"I was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to come on this expedition as part of my job," said Leonard. "All the old timers at the department have always told me that if I ever have the opportunity to go to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, I should go. They told me about all the fish and abundance I'd see up here and how I wouldn't believe my eyes. They were right.
"The past 28 days have provided me with at very good learning experience," Leonard continued. "For me, in some ways the experience was sad, because I saw what Hawaii is supposed to look like underwater. It's probably what the main Hawaiian Islands looked like 150 years ago. If it wasn't for overfishing, Hawaii would still look like the NWHI. Now, back home, people go out fishing for their families and catch nothing.
"This place needs to be protected. We need to put a big fence around these islands and atolls up here where no recreational and no commercial fishing is allowed," Leonard stressed.
"I agree," said Okano. 'But the experience for me was the opposite. I was happy to see that places like these still exist. That's why they need to be protected, because they are so unreal. We need to draw the line someplace and the line should be around the entire northwestern chain. It's like a giant Hanauma bay up here, but way bigger and way better."
According to Okano, "this trip gave me the opportunity to meet other local people with the same mana'o (perspective). People like Jason who are also interested in the same goal of protecting and preserving our homeland. It gives me hope that 'we still get chance' to save our special places in Hawaii. Hopefully this trip is just the beginning of our interactions and chance to work together. We're the future of conservation in Hawaii."
"I think it's important to emphasize that we both were born and raised in Hawaii and got our education in the State of Hawaii. We both went to public schools and the University of Hawaii," said Okano. "We never had to go away to learn what we are learning and didn't have to put our families under heavy financial burden to receive our education. I'm not criticizing anyone who chooses to go away, I'm just trying to break the myth that if you want to pursue a worthwhile career, whatever it is, you have to be educated elsewhere."
Okano and Leonard both agree that local people have a hard time listening to scientists from outside when it comes to conservation. That's part of the reason why they are committed to what they do. "We can relate better to the local community. We're both users of the resource so we can see both sides of conservation issues, and part of our job is to help be the messengers for the resource," concluded Okano.
For 21 year-old Lisa Wedding, her route to being able to join the expedition was much different. A native of Ventura, California, Wedding spent two years studying marine science at Humbolt State University in northern California. "Humbolt was great," said Wedding, "but I wanted more field experience than I was able to get there so I did an exchange to the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Once I got there, I stayed because I was able to learn so much and be involved directly in field work."
Wedding has served as a student research assistant and scientific diver for the West Hawaii Aquarium Project (WHAP) under the direction of Dr. Bill Walsh of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). WHAP is a joint project of DLNR and the University.
Lisa Wedding
Wedding grew up next to the ocean and was always interested in marine science. "The expedition has given me the opportunity to gain experience working in the field instead of just reading about it in a book," said Wedding.
Wedding was given the opportunity to join the expedition through her work on WHAP. During the expedition she has served on one of the fish survey teams along with Jason Leonard. They've traded places conducting transect surveys and videotaping the surveys for documentation purposes.
"The expedition has enabled me to really see first-hand the difference between the fish communities in the main Hawaiian Islands and those in the Northwestern islands," said Wedding. "Off the Kona Coast we rarely see the big predatory fish we've seen up here. We usually see small reef fish but never large schools of ulua (trevally). The chance to see these ecosystems up close has been an amazing experience.
"The best part of the trip for me is simply the opportunity to work with and meet new people in such an amazing setting. The trip definitely confirms for me that working in fish ecology is what I want to do as my career," Wedding concluded.
Another out-of-state University of Hawaii student and recent graduate, Erica Klohn had similar thoughts about the trip. The 23-year old Canadian majored in Geology and Geophysics and was drawn to scientific diving through her love of swimming and the ocean.
Erica Klohn freediving after
a long day of wearing a scuba tank
"I'm more of an ocean lover than a scientist," Klohn admitted. "When I work in the field it means I get to travel, be in the ocean and actually get paid for it. I figured, 'might as well.' Scientific diving for me is more about fun than work."
Klohn became a scientific diver during her freshman year at UH. Her strong swimming skills earned her a scholarship and made her a natural choice as a diver for the northwestern expedition. To train for the trip, Klohn spent one month in Florida as a scientific diver, collecting algae.
"What's cool is that I now have something tangible to put on my resume," said Klohn. Up until now all I've been able to say is, 'straight out of college, no experience.'"
Continuing to work odd jobs as a scientific diver over the next few years will help her put herself through flight school. Four days after she arrives back in Honolulu, Klohn will start ground school and begin fulfilling her childhood dream of being a pilot. Whether in the ocean or in the air, Klohn will no doubt continue her path as an adventurer.
"The best part of the trip for me, aside from the incredible experience of simply being part of it and seeing the underwater marine world up here, has been the opportunity to work with the caliber of scientists on board. They are the cream of the crop when it comes to marine scientists in Hawaii. I've really learned a lot," Klohn expressed. "HmmmŠ 30 days at sea with random specialists working together at remote islands and atollsŠ As far as marine science and coral reef ecology goes, it doesn't get any better."