RIMPAC impacts on agenda

KAPAA — Whale advocate Kalasara Setaysha and Dr. Katherine Muzik, coral specialist, will be talking about effects the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime event could have on coral and whales at a public discussion at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kapaa Public Library.

Setaysha will speak on the biology and behaviors of humpback whales, which return to breeding grounds in Hawaii during the winter and spring. Evidence indicates that whales are extremely intelligent with complex social relationships, culture and language. She will discuss threats and challenges to whales and their habitat, including by military activity, and what the public can do to help.

Setaysha is with the whale advocacy group Kohola Leo that promotes compassionate action from the public to protect whales and their habitat through education and public outreach, including sponsorship of free monthly movie showings about cetaceans and other ocean-related topics.

Kauai’s Muzik is a marine biologist and coral specialist. In her 50 years of research she has discovered, studied and named corals in Fiji, Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa, Barbados and New Zealand.

Her power point presentation will focus on octocoral forests that exist worldwide, and their importance as habitats for fish and other sea life. She will explain how militarization, and U.S. Navy activities specifically, both in the past and planned for the future, endanger their survival.

This event is sponsored by Oceans4Peace, Kohola Leo, Kauai Alliance for Peace and Social Justice, and Surfrider Foundation.

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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.