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BIG ISLAND CORAL REEF ECOLOGY
AND HAWAIIAN CULTURE PROGRAM

Hawaii • Apr 3 - 15, 2026 (12 days)

Day 1: Arrive on Apr 3

Welcome; safety & kuleana.
Night sky orientation.
Storytelling Workshop.

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Day 2: Coral Reef Biology

  • Snorkel safety skills.

  • Coral reef ID.

  • Nature Photography Intro.

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Day 3: Coral Reef Ecology

  • Cauliflower coral transects.

  • Belt & point intercept transects.

  • Film: Chasing Coral (excerpt).

  • Astronomy: Einstein’s Relativity.

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Day 4: Invertebrate Ecology

  • Tidepool sampling & quadrat methods.

  • Data analysis & presentations.

  • Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies.

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Day 5: Coral Reef Ecology II

  • Coral abundance transects.

  • Visit: ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Reef Restoration Program.

  • Astronomy: The Cosmos Is My Canvas.

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Day 6: Native Forest and Birds

  • Native forest hike

  • Endemic species, invasive threats, aloha ʻāina.

  • Evening documentary.

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Day 7: Napuʻu Conservation Project and Whale Watching Tour

  • Restoration ethics & hands on activity.

  • Forest ecology

  • Humpback whale watching tour.

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  • Fish surveys & tidepool studies.

  • Hawaiian ahupua‘a system.

  • Beach cleanup.

  • Workshop: Economics of Nature & Ocean-Based Solutions.

Day 8: Coral Reef Fish Ecology 

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Day 9: Sea Turtle Ecology 

  • Snorkel with turtles; cleanup stations.

  • Oceanography

  • Art: Greeting Cards with Soft Carve Stamps.

  • Storytelling and journaling.

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Day 10:  Shark Biology & Ecology 

  • Reef fish transects & tide studies.

  • Shark biology workshop 

  • NOAA tide/current data analysis.

  • Final project preparation.

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Day 11: Marine Mammals & Hawaiian Perspectives 

  • Humpback migration, laws, & ethics.

  • Debate / podcast creation.

  • Art: Hawaiian Wildlife Watercolor & Mural.

  • Final project presentation.

Day 12

Snorkel & final reflections.
Depart back home

Ready for your next adventure?

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