Trisha Kehaulani Watson of Honolulu, a volunteer for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, was one of the 14 volunteers honored at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s 11th annual Leadership Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., last week.
Watson serves as the Native Hawaiian representative on the whale sanctuary’s advisory council and also serves as chairwoman of the sanctuary’s first Native Hawaiian subcommittee. Last year Watson was responsible for bringing together a diverse group of experts to discuss ways to effectively incorporate Native Hawaiian cultural management practices and Western scientific knowledge into the sanctuary’s management approach, the foundation said.
"Dr. Watson has been a proactive volunteer, serving the sanctuary through her efforts to protect cultural and marine resources while ensuring that Native Hawaiian management practices are considered," said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent. "The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is proud to recognize Trisha Kehaulani Watson as our volunteer of the year."
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that assists national marine sanctuaries with education and outreach programs designed to preserve, protect and promote opportunities for public interaction with marine environments.
The sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the state of Hawaii through the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The sanctuary works to protect humpback whales through research, education, conservation and stewardship.
Other Awards:
» Rachel Capinpin, a 2013 graduate of Campbell High School, has been selected to represent Hawaii as a delegate to the 2013 National Youth Science Camp at Camp Pocahontas near Bartow, W.Va., from Wednesday to July 20.
Capinpin joins 121 other top science students from across the nation and around the world for this honors science leadership program.
Delegates will be engaged in science lectures and hands-on directed studies led by scientists and professors from around the world. They will also participate in outdoor activities such as climbing, camping, caving and mountain biking.
Capinpin plans to study nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland this fall.
» The Department of Land and Natural Resources recently announced that six trees native to Hawaii are national champions in the American Forests’ Big Tree Program.
Hawaii’s six new champion trees are coconut (Cocos nucifera) in Hawaii Kai; kolea (Myrsine lessertiana) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve, Hawaii island; wiliwili (Eryrthrina sandwicensis) at Pu‘u Lani Ranch, Hawaii island; olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve; papalakepau (Pisonia brunoniana) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve; and mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve.
The Big Tree Program is a nationwide competition to find the largest trees in the United States that are recognized as "champions" of their species. According to American Forests, the goal of the Big Tree Program is "to preserve and promote the iconic stature of these living monarchs and to educate people about the key role that these remarkable trees and forests play in sustaining a healthy environment."
In 2012 Hawaii had six champions, including a koa, two coconuts, an aalii, a manele and a hau. With the six new champions, including a 112-foot coconut tree that knocked out the two previous coconut co-champions, Hawaii is now home to 10 nationally recognized champion trees.
