Waikiki Aquarium Volunteer Training Begins May 6

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Waikiki Aquarium Volunteer Training Begins May 6
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WAIKIKI AQUARIUM VOLUNTEER TRAINING BEGINS MAY 6

Do you have an interest in Hawai‘i marine life and conservation? Do you enjoy interacting with and teaching others? Become a Waikiki Aquarium volunteer! Free marine life interpreter training sessions will be held from May 6 to 22, 2014 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30- 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Interpreters share natural history information on the Waikiki Aquarium's outdoor reef exhibit, guide visitor observations and answer questions about Hawai‘i's marine environment. The training course covers interpretation and hospitality skills, information on exhibit operations, and various marine sciences. Interpreters work one two-hour shift per week for a minimum period of six months.

"Our training at the Aquarium offers volunteers of all ages the opportunity to learn about and gain an appreciation for marine life and conservation from our expert Waikiki Aquarium staff," said Dr. Andy Rossiter, Aquarium Director.

"We have such a passionate group of volunteers here, including individuals who have been with us for more than decade, and new faces who just joined the team this year. We value the knowledge our volunteers provide, as their assistance throughout our exhibits can enhance a guest's entire experience at our facility."

Each trainee must attend the eight sessions prior to acceptance to the program. Deadline for registration is May 3. Interested parties can call 440-9020 or e-mail volunteer@waikikiquarium.org for more information or to schedule a meeting and reserve space in the class.

ABOUT WAIKIKI AQUARIUM

Founded in 1904 and administered by the University of Hawai'i at Manoa since 1919, the Waikiki Aquarium is located on the shoreline of Waikiki Beach next to a living reef and across from Kapiolani Park. The Aquarium -- third oldest in the U.S. -- showcases more than 500 marine species, and maintains more than 3,500 marine specimens. Public exhibits, education programs and research focus on the unique aquatic life of Hawai'i and the tropical Pacific.

The Aquarium welcomes more than 320,000 visitors annually, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Honolulu Marathon Sunday and Christmas Day. Admission is $12 for visitors; $8 for local residents and active duty military with ID, $5 for senior citizens and juniors ages four to 12; and free for children three and under and Friends of Waikiki Aquarium (FOWA) members.

MISSION:
To inspire and promote understanding, appreciation
and conservation of Pacific marine life.

DESCRIPTION:

Founded in 1904, the Waikiki Aquarium is the third
oldest public aquarium in the United States. A part of the University of
Hawai`i at Manoa since 1919, it is located next to a living reef on the Waikiki
shoreline. Exhibits, programs, and research focus on the aquatic life of
Hawai`i and the tropical Pacific, with roughly 320,000 people visiting the
Aquarium each year. Over 3,500 organisms are on exhibit representing more than
500 species of aquatic animals and plants.

EXHIBITS:
Waikiki Aquarium exhibits focus on the diversity of
aquatic, shoreline and coral reef habitats and living communities of Hawai`i and
the tropical Pacific. Among the highlights:

Corals Are Alive! interactive exhibits
showcasing corals, their biology and conservation

SeaVisions Theatre shows videos that
illustrate shoreline conservation and how you can be a responsible reef
visitor

South Pacific Marine Communities features
South Pacific habitats and species, including colorful reef corals and fishes,
giant clams, groupers and snappers and intriguing partnerships such as
anemonefishes and their host sea anemones

Hawaiian Marine Communities recreates
Hawaiian habitats from wave-swept surge zone to deep reef slopes, and from young
to ancient reefs; celebrates distinctive reef life, including the longnose
butterflyfish

Ocean Drifters Gallery features a
1,000-gallon moon jelly tank and a seasonally changing jelly wall that may
contain white-spotted jellies, blue blubbers, sea nettles, box jellies and
ctenophores

Hunters on the Reef 35,000-gallon exhibit
is home to Hawaiian sharks and jacks; shark interpretive panels introduce shark
biology, research, conservation and safety. New Spyball camera provides up close
shark encounters in real time on a television screen

Edge of the Reef naturalistic shoreline
exhibit offering opportunities for supervised observation and hands-on
interactions with selected marine life

The Coral Farm exhibit and working research
facility for propagation of reef corals

Giant Clams exhibit and working research
facility for propagation of clams

Hawaiian Monk Seal Habitat features the
endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal found only in the Hawaiian Islands

Aquaculture features moi, a popular food
fish, whose numbers have declined in the wild

Coastal Gardens with native Hawaiian plants
adapted for life close to the sea

ENDANGERED SPECIES:

Hawaiian monk seals; ‘öhai (endemic
Hawaiian coastal plant)

UNIQUE SPECIES:
Pacific giant clams; Hawaiian stream gobies; rare
deep-reef butterflyfish; bearded armorheads; masked angelfish; and diverse
native coastal plants

CONSERVATION & RESEARCH:
The Waikiki Aquarium is a working research facility,
conducting numerous conservation and research programs, including:

Husbandry, nutrition and behavior of aquatic and marine
aquarium specimens

Husbandry and propagation of chambered
nautilus

Spawning behavior, larval rearing, and propagation
potential of selected reef fishes

Identification & treatment of diseases, parasite
infections and other ailments of aquarium marine life

Coral husbandry, propagation and conservation

Hawaiian monk seal metabolic and bacteriological
research

Giant clam husbandry and propagation

Sea jelly husbandry and propagation

Deep reef coral research

Coral Ark: archiving and husbandry of rare Hawaiian
corals

EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
The Waikiki Aquarium offers numerous education programs,
including:

Interpretive services: staff or volunteers enrich
the visitor experience with explanations of the exhibits, demonstrations, and
hands-on experiences

Self-tour opportunities for individuals and
groups: interpretive graphics & exhibits, handouts are
available.

School Program: presentations and docent-assisted
tours for school groups, grades K - 6

Outreach and special request presentations for
schools and community groups

Community Enrichment Program: year-round natural
history fieldtrips, classes, and workshops for children, families, and
adults

Information services: staff answer questions from
visitors & community on marine and aquarium-science related
topics

OPPORTUNITIES:

The Waikiki Aquarium affords a number of opportunities
to get involved through:

Membership: Join the Friends of the
Waikïkï Aquarium (FOWA) to enjoy the annual benefits of free
admission, 20% discount at the Natural Selections gift shop, quarterly mailings
of our beautiful and informative magazine Kilo i’a, free salt water
pick-up, and facility rental privileges at “Family” and
“Family Plus” levels. To select the membership level right for you,
please see the Visitor Services staff or contact Events and Membership Manager
Raina Fujitani at (808) 440-9008 for more information.

Volunteerism: When you donate your time and
curiosity to the Waikiki Aquarium, you are rewarded with diverse and challenging
opportunities to help make a difference!
- Education
  – Docents provide on-site presentations and tours to elementary school
  groups and provide outreach programs for school and community groups.
  Interpreters at the Edge of the Reef exhibit assist visitors and provide
  up-close observations of Hawaiian marine life.
- Live
  Exhibits – Assist with husbandry, tank maintenance and
  feeding.
- Natural
  Selection Shop – Assist with stocking inventory and sales.
- Membership/Public
  Relations/Special Events - Assist with bulk mail outs & communications
  with Aquarium members, public relations surveys, record-keeping and special
  events.

AWARDS:
The Waikiki Aquarium has received several awards for its
research and conservation efforts, including:

2008 Keep It Hawai`i Award

2003 Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibit (M.A.C.E.) Award
from the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) for South Pacific Marine
Communities exhibit

2003 Edward H. Bean Award from AZA for Long Term Tropical
Pacific Coral Propagation Program

DIRECTOR: Dr. Andrew
Rossiter

EMPLOYEES: 35 full-time, 36 part-time, 33
affiliate staff

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (except
Honolulu Marathon Sunday and Christmas Day)

ADMISSION: $12 for visitors; $8 for local residents and active duty military with ID, $5 for senior citizens and juniors ages four to 12; and free for children three and under and Friends of Waikiki Aquarium (FOWA) members.

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

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Waikiki Aquarium Volunteer Training Begins May 6

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