By Jean Souza
Left to right, Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery volunteers Myrnalyn Villasita of the Kauai Foster Grandparents Program, Alfonso Murillo, and Kawahine Kaui of the Kaua‘i Foster Grandparents Program staff a gyotaku fish print activity station. Photo by Jean Souza
The Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery has reopened to the public. After a two-year closure due to the pandemic, the facility at Kukui Grove Center in Līhu‘e is back again sharing the traditions and knowledge or our ocean connections and inspiring stewardship.
The facility has interactive displays, hands-on activities, videos and cultural exhibits that bring awareness and education on humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, albatrosses and other creatures residing in and around our oceans.
Located in the center of Kukui Grove – between the Food Court and the ocean-themed Keiki Korner play area — the Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery first opened in January 2020. It seemed fitting, given Kaua‘i’s location related to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and its proximity to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
When the facility originally opened back in January 2020, in its first two months this admission-free learning center generated a flurry of activity with a visiting “walk-in” humpback whale exhibit, new photographs and videos not seen on Kaua‘i before, displays on ocean critters, keiki activities and guest speakers sharing knowledge of our cultural roots and practices and our natural resources. The third annual Kauaʻi OceanFest was held in and around Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery during the humpback whale season and Hawaiian language month. The vision, with more than 10 years in the making, had come true.
Display panels from Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery have served as an inspiration for new posters produced for the 2022 Summer Reading Program at all state public libraries. Photo by Melissa Warrack
Then in March 2020, Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery closed its doors due to the pandemic, like similar ocean learning centers around the county. But on-site manager Jean Souza kept the vision alive during the pandemic and planned for its return.
“When we couldn’t open our doors, we found other ways to connect — through articles in For Kaua‘i Newspaper, “Grab-&-Go” Ocean Learning Kits for students and families to do at home together, a giant shark wall in the play area, and daily ocean programming broadcast on Hōʻike Kauaʻi Community Television Channel 54. I even studied video production at Hōʻike to find ways to share content with families,” Souza said.
As a partnership between NOAA, the State of Hawaiʻi, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Kukui Grove Center, NOAA COVID rules applied, said Souza, explaining they had to be patient until the facilities were permitted to reopen.
“With the reopening, we are offering an expanded suite of rotating outdoor outreach activities along the walkway fronting KOD. The activities, which are free and available to all, have focused on the latest voyage of the Hōkūleʻa to Tahiti (by making wooden models of the voyaging canoe and learning about wayfinding and the use of the star compass), promoting awareness of current turtle nesting and hatching season (with sea turtle jigsaw puzzles), learning about fish anatomy (by making gyotaku fish prints) and more,” Souza said.
Indoors, there is a larger touch screen with lots of ocean content contributed by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The touch screen is on loan from Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education and is a product of their collaborations with many partners on Kauaʻi, including Ke Kula Niʻihau o Kekaha and Kauaʻi Museum. New content is in the works.
The opening ceremony in January 2020 honored traditional Hawaiian protocols. Photo by Matt McIntosh/NOAA
A greater variety of videos and webinars are playing on the large screen TV within KOD.
“One positive outcome of the pandemic has been the tremendous number of fascinating webinar and web story topics that are accessible to us. We can play all of them within Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery. Also, we live stream NOAA undersea explorations,” Souza said.
A new panel on ocean careers in NOAA has been erected and another one is on order.
More indoor learning materials will be introduced in the coming months, including STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) activities. In addition, more ocean-themed puppets and stuffies will be brought for use by keiki in the popular puppet show corner. Donations have contributed to an impressive collection of quality puppets, many related to the ocean and Hawai‘i. Resumption of storytelling activities is also waiting in the wings for an appropriate time.
With the generosity of local photographers, many Kauaʻi images have been incorporated into the display panels.
“After many years of conducting outdoor workshops and one-day events around the island, it’s been great having a stable home base where the public can easily find us and where we can build upon programs with continuity, innovation and relevancy. We are all about science, service and partnerships,” Souza said.
Left to right, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Program Specialist Jean Souza, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Director John Armor, and Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami dedicated the new facility in January 2020. Photo by Matt McIntosh/NOAA
Melissa McFerrin Warrack, Kukui Grove Center Specialty Leasing and Marketing Manager, worked with Jean throughout the process and helped on the re-opening. And there is something quite special about this relationship.
“We discovered that Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery is the first learning center within the National Marine Sanctuary System located in a shopping center. That’s such an honor to be part of it. This is a great opportunity to show how we can support our community and inspire stewardship and meaningful connections every day, right here where we work, shop, eat and play,” McFerrin Warrack said.
Community volunteers are an essential part of Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery. A special group of seven Kauaʻi residents have been advising on KOD operations and direction. All have served on the advisory council for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Their input was integral to the planning and design of the facility, the first within the sanctuary system to be done completely in-house.
One of the advisors, Makaʻala Kaʻaumoana, came from Kaua‘i’s North Shore for the re-opening.
“Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery tells the story of our connections to our communities. The Hawaiian origin myth, the Kumulipo, provides a guide for discovery of these connections, and that is very important,” said Ka‘aumoana, referencing the display panel on the Kumulipo greeting guests as they enter, along with a map of the extensive Hawaiian archipelago.
Recent World Ocean Day activities focused on turtle jigsaw puzzles to promote awareness during Hawaii’s sea turtle nesting and hatching season. Photo by Jean Souza
“The number and scope of enriching activities would be much reduced without community volunteers,” said Souza, who works with volunteers each day. “Their enthusiasm inspires us. It’s great to see the kids of all ages light up when they’ve discovered something new.”
Souza said adults who are willing to learn are welcome to apply as KOD greeters, and training is provided.
“We’re here to be a resource for the people of Kauaʻi — to raise awareness, to be inspired, and to promote responsible actions. We continue to implement measures that ensure a healthy and safe learning space for the public, partners, volunteers, and staff,” Souza said.
Funding for Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery comes from donations and from the federal budget through the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Contact Souza at jean.souza@noaa.gov for more information about volunteering and supporting outreach programs. Visit Kauaʻi Ocean Discovery during its summer hours of Wednesday and Friday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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