Thousands Expected At Ocean Day Festival

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo’s 7th annual Ocean Day Mālama Kanaloa Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at Hilo’s Bayfront Park.

Since its debut as Ocean Day in 2007, the festival has become a popular community event, drawing crowds in excess of 2,000 participants, said a media release.

Volunteer Coordinator Amelie Sterling says the event also serves as an important learning resource for students.

“Ocean Day is a great volunteer opportunity for students to gain a service learning experience as well as enhance their resumes and build skills for the future,” Sterling said. “Some faculty members even offer it as an opportunity for students to gain extra credit or fulfill a community service requirement within their course.”

The Ocean Day Mālama Kanaloa Festival is focused on increasing awareness of ocean and coastal issues such as conservation, sustainable use of resources and ocean safety through interactive displays, activities and booths, said a media release.

Activities include fishing games, marine critter touch tanks, craft-making, makahiki games, face painting, poi-pounding, seed planting and marine debris displays.

This free, public event is hosted by UH-Hilo’s Pacific Island Programs for Exploring Science in partnership with the County of Hawai`i, EPSCoR Hawai`i IMUA III, UH-Hilo Student Activities Council, UH-Hilo Student Association, Board of Media Broadcasting, Board of Student Publications, and the University of Hawai’i Sea Grant.

For more information, call Sterling at 933-0707.