Outreach

Honey Girl (R5AY) and her pup RK80 (2018)

Our Outreach Programs

We have an incredible education committee, which continues, as a major part of our new organization. This year alone the Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana has given 144 school presentations to 5,029 students/teachers.

Over the last 10+ years, our education program has reached over 25,000 students under the guidance and steadfast leadership of Kathy Brown.

We continue our outreach efforts with our resort partners, community programs, and events held all over Oahu. We are available for talks with any group (free) and offer many years of seal history and expertise to share with our long-standing partners, volunteers, visitors, community leaders, State & Federal government, and will continue to learn and work with our cultural leaders.

Our Outreach Coordinators

Dana Jones

Dana’s involvement with the Hawaiian Monk Seals began via association with the folks at NOAA in 2005 and volunteering with the yearly whale count. In April 2006 Dana was recruited for the HMS count, and attended various training programs, including NOAA’s Ocean Awareness Training. She began her response training upon the birth of a beloved pup, Hoku born in May 2008 to a seal she would get to know very well over the next decade, R5AY. Shortly after the birth of Hoku to R5AY she embarked on extensive training and rehab for monk seals working with NOAA’s PIFSC Science team and PIRO Response Team. Since that time she has honed her skills with monk seal rescue and rehab with NOAA, The Marine Mammal Center/California, Ke Kai Ola/Big Island, Waikiki Aquarium rehab program, and Sea Life Park personnel training in caring for monk seals. She had a significant role in the care and rehabilitation of KP2, Ho’ailona, who now resides at the Waikiki Aquarium. Dana acted as Island Coordinator for HMSRTO and MSF through May of 2016 training and dispatching approximately 200 volunteers for beach response, rescues, de-hooking’s, daily haul out responses, outreach events, and many programs required by NOAA as a partner. In 2015/16, she received the HERO Next Door Award from the Star Advertiser for her tireless efforts and support of the critically endangered HMS. Dana also is a member of CCH and participates in volunteering for their various programs and events. In 2017, after the dissolution of the existing organization, the Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana was created to continue the work and efforts of the previous organizations and its dedicated volunteers.

Kathy Brown

The Hawaiian monk seal numbers approximately 1400, including around 30-40 on Oahu. With increasing interactions among people, dogs, cats, and seals, a major part of saving these critically endangered animals is to teach children about safely sharing beaches and the ocean.

Our education team offers free presentations to every public and private school on Oahu.

There are three levels:

– Pre-school to 3rd grade with many facts, a fun beach scene and/or games tailored to early grades.
– Grades 4 to 7 with more content information (habitat, growth and size, pupping, molting, etc.), with pictures, videos, and sounds.
– High schools with more information including worrisome viruses and other diseases. Curriculum materials and a Seal of Approval Certificate are provided for appropriate grade level.
– Presentations last 30-45 minutes or an hour.

To schedule a presentation, contact our team at monkseal.educationohana@gmail.com

Photos courtesy of Dana Jones, Kathy Brown and Melody Bentz Photography