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Kalakaua Marine Education CenterName The Center was named after Hawaii's King David Kalakaua who loved and respected the sea, and was considered by scientists on the British Challenger Expedition (1872-1876) to be an excellent marine natural historian. The Center is located on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus. Statement of PurposeThe mission of the Center is to coordinate marine activities and programs on the UH Hilo campus, including the Marine Option Program, the Marine Science Summer Program, the Marine Science Degree Program, as well as the future Kalakaua Marine Laboratory at Puako, on the west Hawaii coast. The mission of that laboratory will be to study the well-developed coral reefs at Puako and other aspects of Hawaii's marine environment. The laboratory will serve as a cooperative marine education and research center, dedicated equally to undergraduate education, advanced research activities by scientists from Hawaii and the world, and fostering of marine education through on-site teacher education and training programs. Location and EnvironmentA variety of marine habitats can be found within a 30-minute drive from the UH Hilo campus on the east Hawaii coast including coral reefs, mangrove, estuaries, sheltered bays, and open ocean (the 1000-fathom contour is within 4 miles of the Hilo coastline). The coral reefs near the future Puako laboratory site are probably the best-developed in Hawaii, exhibiting a classic coral reef profile: reef-flat, reef-crest, fore-reef slope, and deep-water sand flats. In addition to abundant coral growth, the Puako reefs support a diverse fish and invertebrate fauna. Because these reefs lie in the lee of the Big Island, calm wind and sea conditions prevail, making the Puako reefs accessible to study almost 365 days a year. Deep ocean waters are just a few miles offshore, so that blue-water oceanography can also be supported from the planned facility. Research ProgramThe Center's faculty have a wide range of research expertise and interests including: the study of the paleoecology of marine systems via oxygen isotope distribution in occolithophorids, tsunami generation, tide and surf phenomena, deep ocean diffusion, ecology and behavior of fishes, and the ecology and evolution of invertebrates with an emphasis on gastropods. The Center also supports a wide array of undergraduate marine research projects in chemical, physical and biological disciplines. Research and Academic FacilitiesAt present the Center operates a 53 foot catamaran, and an 18-foot Larson motorboat used as nearshore research vessels andsu capable of deploying current meters, drogues, sediment coring apparatus and plankton tows. Inflatables are available for use in SCUBA diving operations. The Center maintains an inventory of SCUBA equipment for research diver training. Underwater video systems and an editing station are available. The Center also maintains a computer graphics facility for preparing publication and presentation graphics. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes are available through the Biology and Marine Science degree programs. Academic ProgramsThe Center supports the academic activities of the Marine Option Program and the Marine Sciences Department. FacultyMarine Science Faculty: Dr. Jim Beets, Associate Professor, Marine Science. Ecology of fishes, fisheries, and tropical environments Dr. Marta deMaintenon, Associate Professor, Marine Science. Marine invertebrate zoologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Walter Dudley,* Professor Marine Geology/Oceanography, Co-coordinator, Marine Option Program. Geology Oceanography, Sedimentology & Tsunamis Dr. Karla McDermid, Professor of Marine Science, Biology of marine plants Dr. Misaki Takabayashi, Assistant Professor, Marine Sciences. Dr. Jason Turner, Assistant Professor, Marine Sciences. Dr. Tracy Wiegner, Assistant Professor, Marine Sciences. Biogeochemistry of streams and estuaries Instructors: Captain Michael L. Childers, Captain of the R/V Four Winds, Instructor of Marine Science. Lisa B. Parr, Master of Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia, Marine biology and oceanography Affiliate Faculty: Jean Curtis, Teacher education in marine science Dr. Brent Gallagher* Physical Oceanography, diffusion studies in the deep ocean, environmental impact studies, and the study of ocean structure and circulation in harbors. Dr. Frank Gonzales Dr. Leon Hallacher,* Professor Biology, Co-coordinator Marine Option Program. Biology of Fishes, Marine Biology and Ecology, Zoology Dr. Fred T. Mackenzie, Oceanography Sharon Ziegler-Chong, M.S., Universtiy of South Carolina, Human and natural resource management Staff: John Coney, Educational Specialist, Computer applications, NAUI SCUBA instructor, Sailing, Scanning Electron Microscopy & field safety, Marine Option Program (MOP), APT. Randi Schneider, Marine Science Lab Manager, APT Chelsie Settlemier, Research associate. Anthropogenic Impact Assessment Specialist *Recipients of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching.
Contact Dr. Walter Dudley, Jr., Director |
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