Benny Ron on Finding a Way for Aquaculture in Hawaii from Jay Fidell.

During Bytemarks Cafe last week (Apr. 14, 2010) we covered the story about FWW’s report and asked Bill Spencer, CEO of Hawaii Oceanic Technologies Inc. to weigh in on the report. He wrote:

A highly funded, Washington, DC lobby organization, Food and Water Watch (FWW), is mounting a frontal attack on Hawaii State policy that supports open ocean mariculture. They have rallied a motley crew of rag tag environmental groups, paid many of them to attack a growing sector of our economy that is on the verge of showing the world a way to produce seafood that is environmentally responsible. This group of activists are disseminating miss-leading information that paints a picture of Hawaii’s small ocean farming businesses as harbingers of huge factory fish farms that pollute our ocean with horrible chemicals, antibiotics and fish poop. Food and Water Watch purports a host of problems with mariculture even though the industry is in its infancy in Hawaii, and none of their claims can be proven, only imagined by creative writers and spin doctors. The opportunity for a company to grow fish in Hawaiian territorial waters has been a matter of law for ten years. It has been seen as a potential economic engine that could put fishermen back to work, create thousands of jobs and even new businesses in support of the effort.

Federal policy is also being crafted that will affect the aquaculture industry and NOAA is touring the country soliciting public feedback on the issue. They were here this week and Ben Markus from Hawaii Public Radio did this piece. Jay Fidell also wrote this article that ran in Sunday’s Honolulu Advertiser.

Hawaii could potentially offer a lot to Hawaii’s food security and the diet of fish eating public with a viable aquaculture industry. The reality is, the oceans are being fished out and novel ways need to be established to sustain this food source. Why not aquaculture and why not here in Hawaii. The steps we take at this formative stage of the industry could mean the difference between success and failure.

As I started to call around I noticed that the seriousness of this tsunami threat was considerably more than the one in Sept. Roads were being closed, businesses and shopping centers were shut down, sirens were being sounded, news coverage went into full time mode, people were making runs on gas and food and the clincher for me was that Kapiolani Community College was ceasing their operations. Without a facility, the decision to postpone the Unconferenz was a relatively easy one.

The remaining Saturday was spend watching the news coverage of the tsunami. As natural disasters go, a tsunami is like a spectator sport, at least ones like these that have a long lead time and happen in the middle of the day. For the most part its a normal day with full electrical power, Internet access and phone service. I even went for a run along Pearl Harbor around 9am. Everyone is watching and reporting what they see. As a result there are some very interesting views of the tsunami as it unfolded on the social media aware. Here are a few of my favorites;

Roxanne Darling posted this on her blog: Hawaii Tsunami Proves Social Media Power Again: Information is a Tonic. It’s a great sampling of new and traditional media views of the tsunami as a news event.

Most of us were glued to the television watching the various news casts. KGMB, the CBS affiliate had full time coverage as did the other stations. In the case of KGMB, they had a camera pointed at Hilo Bay with a great vantage point of the ocean. With a clear view you could tell when the ocean tides changed. In this series of photos taken by Ryan Ozawa, you can clearly see the current of the water as it recedes and then flows back in. If the tsunami created a flooding this would provide a perfect view of it. Luckily that didn’t happen. From this view you could see how the repetition of the tsunami waves would enter the bay then recede, an awesome sight to see.

Local blogger John Garcia created a site that streamed the hashtag #hitsunami found at http://hitsunami.info/. This was a realtime view of twitter posts aggregated in one place. Granted you could get something similar by searching the hashtag on Twitter but you would not have gotten the Ustream.tv feed or the Civil Defense updates.

During the tsunami warning, TV cameras were pointed at Waikiki beach. Everyone was cleared from the waters and the beach area. In spite of this there is always the oddball who disregards the warnings and goes into the water anyway. This guy was caught on camera wading out into the surf appearing to taunt the ocean with his arms. This has now been immortalized in a Facebook fan page called: The idiot who was swimming in Waikiki during the tsunami warning.

Obviously this is just a small sampling of the various views of the events as they occurred on Saturday. Finally, I must include this image of the energy created by the earthquake. This NOAA image captures it for me and validates the concern expressed and actions taken by the Tsunami Warning Center and the Civil Defense.

As timing would have it, the two artists responsible for this masterpiece (and one right around the corner) were just finishing up, Prime (on the right) and Estria (on the left). I half expected them to grab their spray cans and run as I approached but this was obviously a commissioned work. Prime holds classes at places like Palama Settlement to teach youth art technique and appreciation, mentoring and leadership development. The artist collective known as 808Urban works with kids in underserved areas like Kalihi. In addition to teaching art they work with communities to create mural art, the legitimized version of street graffiti. I’ve seen their work in various places like the Palama Settlement and a recent mural at Kokua Foods. Checking out Estria’s Flickr site, he’s got all kinds of work going on in Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. Most of it revolves around bringing graffiti artists together to showcase their work and to collectively work on murals like the Four Guardians in Oakland. It’s very impressive, in-your-face, vibrant, “happy to be alive” expressions of creativity.

I usually post my Top 10 memorable moments as a blog post but this year I tried something a little different. I went out to Twitter and asked others to participate using the hashtag of #2009Top10. It was fun to see others recollect the year in review and come up with their significant moments. Mahalos go out to bitershark, Melissa808, NathanKam, PHOTOluluTV and CindyBlanknship for participating. If you are interested in reading the tweet stream just do a search on #2009Top10 or click here. If over time Twitter does not archive this tweet stream I’ve saved it as a Google doc.

If you feel inspired to create your Top 10 memorable moments for 2009 please do. I encourage you to use the hashtag #2009Top10 and I will update the Google doc. Also as 2010 unfolds make every moment a special moment. The following is my reverse chronological thread of my Top 10 memorable moments in 2009. Wishing you all the best in 2010 – The Year of the Tiger!

Bytemarks What are your Top 10 memorable moments for 2009? #2009top10 1 day ago from Tweetie Bytemarks What are your Top 10 memorable moments for 2009? Seeing the Star Trek Movie was one for me. Countdown to continue… #2009Top10 about 23 hours ago from web Bytemarks Next memorable moment following a somewhat chronological order is the 2nd Annual Unconferenz held over at JAIMS back in Feb. #2009top10 about 21 hours ago from web Bytemarks # 3 in my list of Top 10 memorable moments is when my Acura Integra died this year which lead to a new Acura TSX. It’s all good. #2009Top10 about 20 hours ago from web Bytemarks Continuing the countdown # 4 is work related. It’s the formation of the Innovation Team and HMSA 2.0. I consider myself superlucky #2009Top10 about 20 hours ago from web Bytemarks Going to @SXSW for the first time is # 5. I went to a great @guykawasaki party put on by @neenz and met the inspiring @sunnibrown #2009Top10 about 19 hours ago from web Bytemarks Going out on the escort boat to watch @rozsavage continue her trans Pacific solo row was my # 6 memorable moment. #2009Top10 about 18 hours ago from web Bytemarks Spending Summer Solstice on Kaua`i in a valley called Nualolo is # 7 It was a great place to spend the longest day of the year. #2009Top10 about 17 hours ago from web Bytemarks My # 8 is an aircraft carrier. How awesome was it to go out on the @USS_Nimitz? Very awesome! That was a signature moment for my #2009Top10 about 17 hours ago from TweetDeck Bytemarks The Wayfinder Series at HPR is # 9. We had Nainoa Thompson, James Koshiba and Paul Zorner on as speakers. Great storytellers. #2009top10 about 17 hours ago from Tweetie Bytemarks During our ride on the Hokule`a we were visited by A or Hawaiian Booby is my memorable moment # 10. In every moment a connection. #2009Top10 about 16 hours ago from web

As the sun set, we were blessed with a clear sky filled with stars. The crew gave a lesson in star navigation as the northeasterly trade winds kept the Hokule`a in constant motion. Hokupa`a, the North Star was precisely 21 degrees above the horizon. You can always tell what latitude you are in by charting Hokupa`a, as long as you are in the northern hemisphere. While out on the ocean you are treated to sights not common on land. We were visited by this Hawaiian Booby or `A as it stayed with us for several minutes flying back and forth wanting to land on our sails. The amazing thing is the `A normally lives in remote areas in sea cliffs. Since we were still south of Honolulu with the lights of Waikiki in constant view this Hawaiian Booby must have come a far way, perhaps living somewhere near Diamond Head or further east near Koko Head. With the moon in the background it was an amazing sight.

The Hokule`a and it’s crew are preparing for the World Wide Voyage starting in 2011. This practice run was one of many to train new crew members. In 2010 the Hokule`a goes into dry dock for major renovation and refitting for the upcoming long voyage. As I look back on 2009, this experience will be one I will always remember. Mahalo to Mei-Jeanne Watson and Nainoa Thompson for making this possible.

Paul Zorner was our third speaker for the Wayfinder Lecture series held tonight at Hawaii Public Radio, Atherton studio. He spoke about how Hawaii’s dependence on fuel and food from out of state sources is something we cannot sustain. At some point those external producers of both fuel and food will realize they need it to service their own people. The question is when that last barrel of oil comes to Hawaii will it be because we are self sufficient or will it be because it is needed elsewhere? How prepared will Hawaii be at that point. Most places on the US Continent have other sources of energy to tap; hydro, nuclear, solar, wind, etc. Ninety percent of Hawaii’s energy needs are from external sources. Even if we had electric cars, we would still be burning oil to power our electric plants. Zorner’s company Hawaii BioEnergy may have a solution.

This is the third and last lecture in this Wayfinder series. It started with Nainoa Thompson in July, James Koshiba in August and finally with Paul Zorner. Many people asked me when will the next lecture be. We are looking at Summer 2010. We gotten a lot of positive response from attendees but always welcome your feedback. You may post your comments here and I can share them with the station. Finally, after three tries I got the webcast working. With Nainoa I have video of his talk which I need to compress and post. During James Koshiba’s talk I lost Internet access but I do have audio which I will also post. You can watch Paul’s talk in it’s entirety via Ustream.tv. Stay tune as I work through my content backlog.

While researching news items for Bytemarks Cafe I came across this story on the Discovery website about rats devastating the Native Hawaiian snail population. Interesting story but I was taken aback by this photo supposedly depicting one of our native snail species. The snail in the photo is of the specie: Achatina fulica originally from East Africa, now common in Hawaii. These varieties can grow quite large and can quickly devour a home garden. The adult female carries hundreds of eggs allowing it to proliferate in Hawaii’s tropical climate. During the wet winter season is when the African snail populations explode. Rats and African snails have coexisted in Hawaii for many generations and I don’t detect any decrease in these snail populations due to rats.

On the other hand the Native Hawaiian tree snails or Achatinella live exclusively in the native forests primarily feeding on a native fungus living on the leaves of the ohia or kopiko. This specialized diet keeps the Achatinella inexorably linked to the native forest. It takes about 7 years to reach reproductive maturity. At this point they will bear one keiki (baby) snail per year. Without any natural predators the Achatinella never adapted mechanisms against external threats as devastating as rats.

I did contact the Discovery.com web team (via email) to point out their error. I got this message in reply from Viewer-Relations:

“We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to write us and for bringing this matter to our attention.  Please know that we will take your comments under advisement.”

As you can see the site has yet to be corrected. Of course I do this with the hope that accurate information about Hawaii is portrayed, especially as it pertains to our people, places and native ecosystem. Here’s to hoping it gets fixed soon.

On the second leg of her trans-Pacific solo row which started in May 24, 2009, Roz Savage has landed on Tarawa in the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati. The 105 day voyage was initially thought to take about 70 days and land in Tuvalu. In late Aug, already low on water and food, slightly off course and dealing with uncooperative winds, Savage decided to change her target of Tuvalu and reset her sights on Tarawa. In her blog she writes:

“It seems to be my karma in this lifetime to be faced from time to time with tough decisions – and this one is up there in my Top Ten Tough Decisions Of All Time. I spent most of last night agonizing over it. The night seemed hotter than usual in my cabin, and I was – literally and metaphorically – sweating over my options.”

The decision was a sound one. And although Tuvalu has received international attention about rising sea levels and loss of land, that fact is true in any of the Pacific Islands in that region, Tarawa being no different. This Pacific atolls are so fragile and the people living there are keenly aware of balance we need to maintain to keep it healthy and life sustaining.

Roz will have a couple of weeks on Tarawa before regrouping and planning the final leg of her voyage to Australia. There must be a lot going through her mind now, relieved that this segment of the journey is complete, meeting the people of Tarawa, finding storage for her boat and equipment before her next voyage, attending the Climate Summit in Copenhagen in Dec. and finishing her book. This woman is a model for us all. Stay tuned as this journey isn’t over.

My friend Kelvin describes these experiences as gateways. These gateways could be physical, like swimming from one point to another, or hiking or entering a waterfall and then emerging from it. Gateways could also be spiritual, going from one level of consciousness to another. I’ll give you an example. I am not a water person and don’t take to the ocean as some of my friends. I have a lot of respect for the ocean and know how foreign it is to me. It could be characterized by fear but over the years I think I’ve dealt with it head on. Right now, it is more apprehension. There were sections of this trek that took us into some open waters. As I launched into the deep I could feel my body tensing up, my legs were getting tired and my breath became short. As I felt this fear welling up in me I realized there was nothing to be fearful of. I could see the spotters and the early morning swells were small. I let go and relaxed. My legs relaxed, my breath became steady and I enjoyed the moment. The beach landing was challenging as the waves crashed onto the boulders but I had already given into the moment and rode the waves in as best as I could. The less I fought the easier it got.

The swim back was 6 hours later and after a long day of hiking. The afternoon trades were blowing and waves were bigger than in the morning. Again I could feel the apprehension welling up in me. When it was my turn to time the wave, I let go and slid out into the surf, like a monk seal as Kat would say. It was rougher in the afternoon, in all honestly the waters were very accommodating. When I landed I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had made it through another gate.

The final gate was the zodiac ride from Nualolo to Port Allen. It was a solid hour on the open ocean with the zodiac going full throttle. I had one hand on the rail, one on the rope and sat on the zodiac side. It was like riding a bronco but there were times I felt like I was in 2001 – A Space Odyssey going through a votex in space. It was the wind, water and up & down ride that was so immersive. If that wasn’t a gateway I don’t know what is. As you can see there were many moments of transformation. An experience like this has helped me to understand myself, my connection to the land and to my fellow companions. I will be processing this for many days to come. More importantly, I will seek the linkages between the grounding I felt in Nualolo and daily life. It’s all a state of mind.

Once on land we follow the stream deep into the valley. I was quite taken by the fresh water pools and waterfalls. Following the stream into the valley was like tracing a lifeline. Nualolo `aina was lush in vegetation. Much of it was non-native but was the occasional native plant, like alahe`e, naio, naupaka, and the Hawaiian poppy. I was quite amazing to see fresh water springs that tasted sweeter than any bottled water that I have ever had. We took a break at a kukui nut grove with six inches of kukui nuts on the ground. In ancient times, the kukui nut symbolized enlightenment. As I laid there I could feel a heightened level of energy even though outwardly it was very serene. We hiked all the way to the back of the valley that stopped at a sheer wall of rock. It was an awesome feeling to bare witness to the nature of the place.