Building an Education Program to Support Positive Relationships between Visitors, Kama'aina, and the Environment in Hawai'i
Saved in:
| Title: | Building an Education Program to Support Positive Relationships between Visitors, Kama'aina, and the Environment in Hawai'i |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sarah Woo, Madeleine Sherman, Maile Villablanca, Hayley Luke, Crawford Drury, Kira Hughes |
| Source: | Journal of STEM Outreach. 2025 8(1). |
| Availability: | Journal of STEM Outreach. PMB 0367, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203. e-mail: jstemoutreach@vanderbilt.edu; Web site: https://www.jstemoutreach.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Partnerships in Education, Environmental Education, College Science, Marine Biology, Housing, Tourism, Nonprofit Organizations, Place Based Education, Active Learning, Hands on Science, Seminars |
| Geographic Terms: | Hawaii |
| ISSN: | 2576-6767 |
| Abstract: | Collaborative programs are essential to fully engage and educate all who interact with the environment. Existing place-based programs targeting the care of Hawai'i's land and oceans rarely simultaneously engage the tourism industry and local communities. To address this gap, researchers from the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology developed a program with the Kahala Hotel & Resort (KHR) and regional non-profits that participated and provided further guidance. The main objective for "Encouraging Visitors to Malama I Ke Kai" (take care of the ocean) was to help visitors better understand how to tread lightly on Hawai'i's environment while also building a bridge with "kama'aina" (residents). Activities were focused on place-based education and active learning. The program included four main components: 1) Touch Tank and Coral Education events, 2) "Keiki" (child) Art, 3) Sunset Seminar Series, and 4) Introductory Place-Based Educational Video. The program successfully engaged over 3,000 participants from a full range of ages, but some divergence in the activities attended by visitors and "kama'aina" was observed. The most attended activity had high visibility with no reservation requirements. Our results showed substantial interest in this type of program and can provide a framework for other collaborative educational programs that target "kama'aina," visitors, and the environment. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1462776 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Collaborative programs are essential to fully engage and educate all who interact with the environment. Existing place-based programs targeting the care of Hawai'i's land and oceans rarely simultaneously engage the tourism industry and local communities. To address this gap, researchers from the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology developed a program with the Kahala Hotel & Resort (KHR) and regional non-profits that participated and provided further guidance. The main objective for "Encouraging Visitors to Malama I Ke Kai" (take care of the ocean) was to help visitors better understand how to tread lightly on Hawai'i's environment while also building a bridge with "kama'aina" (residents). Activities were focused on place-based education and active learning. The program included four main components: 1) Touch Tank and Coral Education events, 2) "Keiki" (child) Art, 3) Sunset Seminar Series, and 4) Introductory Place-Based Educational Video. The program successfully engaged over 3,000 participants from a full range of ages, but some divergence in the activities attended by visitors and "kama'aina" was observed. The most attended activity had high visibility with no reservation requirements. Our results showed substantial interest in this type of program and can provide a framework for other collaborative educational programs that target "kama'aina," visitors, and the environment. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2576-6767 |
