Hanauma Bay Park Is 40 Years Old

Del.icio.us

Cheryl Tsutsumi

Author Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi and photographers Larry Winnik and Veronica Carmona spent more than year collaborating on the book Hanauma Bay: Hawaii’s Coastal Treasure - and they’ll present a free talk on their favorite subject at 6:30 p.m.Aug. 30 at the nature preserve’s visitors center theater.

“The message we want to promote is that Hanauma Bay is beautiful, it’s a rare resource, it’s something we should cherish,” said Tsutsumi, who spent her teen years sun-bathing with friends at Hanauma.“And working on this book really made all of us - I think I speak for Larry and Veronica, too - appreciate just what we have so close to where we live.”(All three are Hawaii Kai residents.)

“It was an honor for us to produce this book, and to share a little bit of what we learned about while working on this project.”

Larry Winnik

Folks will learn how many species of fish inhabit Hanauma Bay, why the quarter-mile road leading down to the bay was paved with concrete instead of the much-cheaper asphalt, and how the bay has enchanted everyone from Hollywood - Elvis Presley filmed two movies there - to Queen Kaahumanu, the favorite wife of King Kamehameha I.

The talk comes as the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve celebrates its 40th year of designation as Hawaii’s first marine life conservation district, in 1967.

Published in 2005 by Island Heritage, Hanauma Bay has a conservation message and explores the bay’s history, its formation and its plant, bird and marine life.“It’s not just a fish guide,“Tsutsumi said.“It’s a tribute to the bay, and I see it as our gift to future generations because we’re not going to be around forever. But by reading this book I hope our kids will be inspired to visit the bay and also do their part to preserve it forever.”

Veronica Carmona

All Hanauma Bay Outreach Education events are free and open to the public, and parking is free after 5:30 p.m. Thursday events begin at 6:30 p.m. in the visitor center theater.

Also in the August lineup are the following events:

Aug. 2 - “Global Warming, Hawaii and the New Global Warming Solutions Act” with Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii chapter.

Aug. 9 - “Naturally Hawaiian: Inspired by Nature"with artist and Naturally Hawaiian Arts owner Patrick Ching.

Aug. 11 - “Exploring Hanauma Bay’s Night Life” featuring presentations at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., guided beach walks at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., and keiki craft activity, at the preserve.

Aug. 16 - “Nature’s Beauty and the Desire to Share"with children’s book author Tammy Yee-Custodio.

Aug. 23 - “Limu/Edible Seaweeds: What You Eat May Help You,” a book signing and presentation by UH botany professors Isabella Abbott and Celia Smith and phycologist John Huisman of Western Australia Herbarium.

For more information, call the park education office at 397-5840 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)