Waihe'e Limu Restoration

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Lu'u i ke kai
(Snorkeling on the reef) View

Learning the Hawaiian Culture is as simple as learning to swim.  Why?  Native Hawaiian children, born and raised in Hawaii, are taught to swim at an early age.  For this reason its not uncommon to see people heading to the beach on a beautiful sunny day--whether its in the summer or winter season. Mothers retreat to the beach as a means to relax, bask in the sun, dive into the cool blue ocean water, visit with friends, or just to spend the day with their little toddlers. For whatever, the reason  it is certain their children are becoming accustomed to being at the beach. This is how native Hawaiian children learned to swim.  This is where boys and girls learned to be fishermen and gathers from the sea. 

A Mother sits at the waters edge with her little one in her arms; slowly inching their way into the cool crystal blue waters.  The gentle surf creeps up the sandy shores than disappears. In the safety of his mother’s arm he is relaxed as he becomes accustom to the gentle surf. In time, he will be splashing around in the waters while his Mom looks on at a safe distance away.  A classroom without walls. An instructor (the mother) with years of experience--she carries on the practices her mother where she was once a student she is now teacher. Instructions flows from mother to child non-choreographed--its second nature.  For this little keiki (child) learning has already begun.

July 20 2009

Our young snorkelers are learning to identify the different fish species.  Here are a few fish species: Convict Tang, Saddle Wrasse, Bird Wrasse, Christmas Wrasse, Manybar Goatfish.  With each activity the children has increased their knowledge of fish species and invertebrates.  The goal is to participate in the R.E.E.F program.  A Nationally known organization designed to study the fish species and abundance throughout the world.

Eel!  Did she say, eel?  Today’s hot topic was sighting an eel. With a few tugs and pulls and turning around in the water; “I want to go back and take a photo of the eel” cried a young ten year old girl, attending Waihe’e School. As she gave me, her instructor,  a signal "thumbs up!" This meant to pop our heads out of the water. We need to talk.  Kristyn was flabbergasted! I saw an eel. It was just lying there on the botton, as she grasped for air.  A school of juvenile fishes were swimming above the eel.  We wouldn't have known it was there until we approached the school of fishes.  Incidentally, the school of fishes was not frighten as we approach them too.    And, that my friends is another story.

Today, our young snorkelers are discovering what marine life are found on our near shore reef. Our coral comes in an array of colors  such as green, brown, purple, and pink. A glowing white coral head is like a beacon on the reef.   A  bleached coral.  What is a bleached coral? An inquisitive mind asked. A dead coral, was the reply. A flood gate opened with questions after questions pouring out from my small group of snorkelers.  Why are they dead?  What caused it to die? Why? Why? Why? A comment was given. This is why you are here.  You are learning to “malama i ke kai” take care of our reef.  And, that is my friends is another story.
July
13 2006

Some of the boys are learning from their fathers, brothers, and other family members to snorkel and dive.  Today, the topic was the “Buddy System.”  One of the boys replied, “yea, it’s always a good practice to have a friend or family member to dive with.”  In unison, a chorus, in perfect harmony sounded out “yea” was the word sounding out from everyone. They understood the importance of staying safe while snorkeling.

The girls were excited as they met up with Lahela M. and her dad pouncing upon a he’e (octopus) in it’s hole.  Wow!  Although, this was Kristyn second dive, it was Leah’s first dive.  To see a he’e in it’s hole is fantastic.  Our snorkelers learning to use an underwater camera.  Kristyn couldn’t wait to take a snap shot of the he’e.  In their excitement, they lead me back to see the he’e, which was still there. Wow! Our youths were talking with the local fisherman and his daughter and learning from them, too. He had let the he’e go because it was too small.  Every trip brought something new and left our snorkelers eager and wanting for more.

Our young men was also excited for they found their he’e in it’s hole too, and on their own.  Great job, boys!.  Imua! Imua! Imua!  Congratulations, to their fathers, brothers, and family members in whom are teaching these skills to their children.  They are our next generations of fishermen.    Let’s teach them  good fishing practices but also how to take care of our reef.  In so doing, they will be living their Hawaiian culture.  Waihe'e Limu Restoration is teaching our youths to live their Hawaiian Culture. WLR has collaborated with Liz Foote of the Coral Alliance organization to learn the R.E.E.F. program.
July 6 2009
 One of our boys is using the R.E.E.F chart to identify and count fish species and their abundance.  After our youth are comfortable using the mask and snorkel they are than ready to do the R.E.E.F program.  Our young snorkelers increased their knowledge of fish species each time they went snorkeling.  Learning the common name is cool.  Get ready to learn the  Hawaiian and scientific names next.  WLR stress the importance of learning the Hawaiian Culture, which means, learning the Hawaiian names too.

Everyone was into finding the sea cucumber (loli).  Who could find the: smallest, biggest, the most, and the unusual ones.    “Malama i ke kai” take care of the reef also refers to taking care of the marine life on the reef.  Our snorkelers were quick learners.  They are learning to take care of the reef the Hawaiian style.  On site training.


There were some who were experience and others who were not.  Leaders worked with both groups and provided them the training and experience they needed.  The young men were eager to go out on the reef, but refrained themselves and stayed closer to shore.  “Buddy System, they replied”  The boys were quickly distracted and entertained with identifying fish species and their abundance.

 This strange looking fish is suspended motionlessly below the surface of the water, almost unnoticed. Our local fishermen and their leader brought it to the attention of our snorkelers.  Stunned, they could hardly believe their eyes, " it's not a fish? Are you sure its a fish? Wow.

This sea cucumber’s feelers on the right of this photo is searching for food.  Our youths were able to observe another habit of this beautiful creature.  Prior they thought only that it squirts water. They stopped to observe this fantastic creature's  habits.

Our newest R.E.E.F. recorders are fascinated with the array of fish species as they recorded their sightings. Descriptions ranged from sizes, colors, shapes, to behavior, and habitat they observed. They were persistent to find a match--they found their match. Their learning was stimulated by their eagerness and energy.
July 3 2009
The first snorkeling class consisted of boys 7 years of age to 11. Learning to be comfortable using a mask and snorkel was the first step. The youth didn’t have to be a great swimmer.  This class was design to introduce the mask and snorkel to our young beach goers.  They usually swam at the waters edge and explored what was there. To see underwater is exciting already.  To breath underwater is amazing. For some it took time to get use to using both the mask and snorkel.

Place the mask on your face and breath in with your nose.  If your mask stays on your face it fits. If it falls, it to big for you. Checked! Put your mask on and adjust your straps. Checked!
Snorkel, on the left side of mask. Checked! Leaf to defog your mask. Checked! Defog your mask.  Checked! Great!


Waihe'e Limu Restoration, encourages parents and or family members participation in all water classes.  Mom is encouraging her son to learn how to snorkel.  A typical scene as parents were usually the first ones to teach their children these practical skills.  A typical Hawaiian culture practice continues to live on when we are the teachers for our children.

 Encouragingly, there are more people getting involved in taking care of our Waihe'e and Wai'ehu reefs.  A mom  brings her son to the beach in a very unrestrained setting.  He learns to be ma'a (comfortable ) while playing at the beach. Her son has learned his limitations as he watched the gentle waves creep up the sandy shores.  He remains confident and plays near the waters edge.  There is more in store for this little keiki (child) each time he returns to the beach.

Mom and son are enjoying a day at the beach.  Waihe’e Beach is a great place for mothers and little ones to become accustom to the ocean.  Our reef is and will always be a nursery for juvenile fishes and other marine life.  The same applies to our children.  This is the classroom for our children to learn to swim, identify marine life, tides, surf, current, and weather. The women and children were the gathers on the reef .

Identifying the native limu (algae) on the reef is another way we can take care of our reef.  Gathering limu fragments washed up along the water's edge is the best practice for gathering limu. Pulling limu off from it's holdfast promotes the decreasing of our native limu.  There  are a few  native limu on our reef. Replanting native limu encourages more fishes. More fishes means more limu needs to stay on the reef.  Let's do the right thing.