LIHU‘E — Free marine wildlife identification posters given out Saturday are part of the statewide celebration, Hoi Kohola, that welcomes back the whales.
It is only appropriate that kohola, or the humpback whale, is featured on the heavy-stock, two-sided poster that identifies a lot of the marine wildlife found in Hawaiian waters.
The posters were distributed at four sites around the island were made available for families and individuals, despite the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery remaining closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Posters were handed out to Kukui Grove Center shoppers as long as volunteers were available outside the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery. Once closed, posters were passed on to Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i for continued distribution.
Additionally, two public libraries — the Princeville Public Library and the Hanapepe Public Library — that have Saturday hours had posters available for their patrons Saturday.
For those who missed the initial giveaway, the posters will be available at all public libraries starting today, while supplies last.
“What makes this poster valuable is that wildlife illustrator Roger Hall has included all three names of each of the identified creatures,” said a spokesperson for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Sanctuary that is coordinating the poster distribution. “Previous versions of the poster included some of the creatures with Hawaiian names, some with the common names, and all with the scientific names. This new version has all of the creatures with three names, the scientific name, the common name, and the Hawaiian name.”
The feature also benefits the partnering public libraries.
“The state library system is making a push on ‘olelo Hawai‘i,” said Hanapepe Public Library branch manager Mindy Gipson. “Eventually, a lot of the library offering will be available in Hawaiian.”
Jean Souza, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Sanctuary education specialist, said the Hawaiian Archipelago provides important breeding, calving, and nursery habitat for humpback whales in the North Pacific during the winter and spring months.
Kaua‘i tour operators have already reported sightings in Kaua‘i waters, and the Sanctuary encourages people to become familiar with the rules and regulations available to protect these marine mammals while they are here in the Hawaiian waters.
