Lt. Governor Opens Ocean Day Conference
Lt. Governor Aiona opened a conference of the world's leading experts on oceans and rivers last week to promote international efforts to protect marine life along coastlines.
Lt. Governor talks with Dr. Michael Crosby (left), Interim Vice Chancellor for Research at UH Hilo, and Dr. Lorenz Magaard, Director of the International Center for Climate and Society at UH Mānoa.
“The ocean is home to our coral reefs and an abundance of life that must be seen in person to be truly appreciated,” Lt. Governor Aiona told international scholars, scientists, engineers and administrators who attended Ocean Day 2008 in Honolulu. “We owe it to our residents and future generations to protect these natural resources with continued vigilance.”
To help move Hawai‘i in that direction, the Administration declared 2008 as the “International Year of the Reef,” Lt. Governor Aiona told the group, representing such countries as Australia, China, Korea, India, Russia and Japan. “Everyone has a part to play in the conservation of our precious coral reefs.”
The Lt. Governor added that the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has worked with Malama Hawai‘i, the Coral Reef Outreach Network, counties and countless organizations and others throughout the state to increase understanding of coral reefs and energize the public to become active stewards of marine life in Hawai‘i.
“We want our children to have a cleaner, healthier ocean than the one we have today,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “More specifically, we want to increase the abundance and diversity of life in our ocean.”
