Hawaii Preparatory Academy

ASSIST NOAA (NMFS) IN NEARSHORE SURVEYS AND STRANDING RESPONSE INCLUDING I-WATER CAPTURE, BIOPSY SAMPLES AND INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT OF MARINE TURTLES

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) IS PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE HAWAII PREPATORY ACADEMY (HPA) FOR THE PROJECT ENTITLED "HAWAII MARINE WILDLIFE RESPONSE AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH". THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY OF SEA TURTLES IN HAWAII BY OPERATING A STRANDING PROGRAM THAT COVERS THE COAST FROM UPOLU POINT TO HONOKOHAU HARBOR ON HAWAII ISLAND. HPA WILL RECEIVE, VET AND DOCUMENT PUBLIC REPORTS AND RESPOND AS APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE FIELD RESPONSE AND ACTION TO MEDIATE THE PROBLEM. HPA WILL FACILITATE AND DELIVER RAPID AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO REPORTED TURTLE STRANDINGS, INJURIES AND OTHER SITUATIONS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR SEA TURTLES WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, VISITORS, AND RESIDENTS ALIKE.

THE HAWAI'I PREPARATORY ACADEMY (HPA) SEA TURTLE STRANDING RESPONSE AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROJECT ADDRESSES SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION ON HAWAI'I ISLAND THROUGH AN INTEGRATED APPROACH. THE STRANDING PROGRAM RESCUES AND PROVIDES INITIAL CARE FOR STRANDED SEA TURTLES, COLLABORATING WITH VARIOUS PARTNERS FOR ADVANCED TREATMENT AND NECROPSIES. COMPLEMENTING THIS, THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT SEA TURTLE BIOLOGY, THREATS, AND CONSERVATION THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, AND INITIATIVES LIKE COASTAL CLEANUPS AND A FISHING LINE RECYCLING PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF HAWAI'I'S SEA TURTLES.