Teacher Aboard

Ni hao (Knee how). That's Chinese for "hello." As ambassadors we want to make a good first impression. It is always well appreciated by new friends to hear at least a greeting and a thank you in their native language. In my free time between logs, I will be researching our Asian destinations to ensure that you and I will appreciate the special places we will visit. If you only had four days in each of the ports, what would you want to see? What do you know about the people, food, religions, climate, animals, homes, or the landscape?

Although it will be great fun for me to share with you the details of my personal experiences, you will enjoy the stories more if you are already well informed about these countries and their cultures. The on-line Learning Adventure, Ports of Call, has some great Internet sites about each of the places Pride II is going to visit. If you haven't done that lesson, you might want to check out the first part that gives a sample site from each city. Then you'll be ready! Remember, education is a process not a product. Too often we simply look to others to provide the answers. However, if you discover how to find out for yourself, then you become your own teacher - and that's the best. So go for it!

Sometimes there are days in your life that you will treasure forever. Days when you wish time would stand still so you could spend just a few more moments having this incredible experience. Today was one of those days. Today I spent some quiet time alone with a whale. We chanced to meet while I was touring the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Dr. Paul Nachtigall introduced us to the whales and dolphins which are part of his research on their ability to locate or recognize objects using the sounds they produce (acoustical echolocation). Typically they make these sounds to "read" the returning echoes as a means of finding food, to navigate, or to avoid obstacles or predators. As a result of all this attention related to the research, the Institute has some very friendly whales and dolphins. They are so inquisitive that the researchers had to put sunscreen on the whale's head because they knew she would spend so much time on the surface looking at us.

There is something very special about looking into the eyes of a whale or dolphin. As you talk to them, they float with their heads out of the water and turn to get a better look. There is magic in knowing an intelligent animal is interested in "interacting" with you. You touch them, talk to them, and try to read the expressions in their eyes. Suddenly you are overwhelmed with this huge feeling of frustration over your inability to communicate with real words. Like us, they are intelligent air breathing mammals, and at that moment you would give anything to read their thoughts.

WYLAND FOR WHALES

I knew I would like this guy, Wyland, when I read the theme on his brochure, "One person can make a difference." As I walked through his gallery of art in Hawaii, I could feel the love he has for the residents of the sea. Like Wyland, whales and dolphins are foremost in my mind right now. After my experiences on the ocean and at the Hawaii Institute, I can't help but believe that we are only separated by the course of evolution that left us adapted to land and marine mammals adapted to water. I feel a special responsibility to our intelligent friends in the sea. With this in mind, let me share with you an exciting opportunity to "make a difference".

The Wyland Foundation is offering an Ocean Challenge Mission in which kids are asked to create life size murals, art, poems, songs, and research projects depicting oceanic studies. I invite you to investigate the possibilities of how you can "make a difference" by checking Wyland's Web site. In the words of Wyland, "Given the opportunity, 67 million students will save our ocean planet."

FOOD FOR OUR FUTURE

Whales and dolphins may steal the show, but the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology is researching another topic that is critical to the future food supply of our planet. As the Earth's population explodes and crop land grows scarce, we are looking to the oceans for food. Dr. Gordon Graul is investigating the possibility of farm raising (in ponds) a freshwater fish called Nils Tilapia.

It is a good source of food because it grows fast and is an herbivore (eats plants). By contrast, when we eat beef, crop land is used to raise grain to feed the cattle. This grain could have been used to make bread to feed many more people. When we eat beef, we are eating "high on the food chain." If you had to grow/raise food for a small crowded planet, how would you use limited crop land, pastures, and unpolluted bodies of water? Try making a menu for the year 2050! You could also plan a class lunch that is low on the food chain - beans & rice, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole wheat bread, cookies, and muffins. Don't forget the Tilapia!

The Oceanic Institute Center for Applied Aquaculture is researching the raising of shrimp and fish, such as striped mullet, as food resources. Anyone who has kept an aquarium appreciates how difficult it is to maintain a healthy, happy environment for your swimming pets. Researchers at the Institute examine topics such as viruses, stress, and water quality and their effects on fish .

Check out the Oceanic Institute's Web site to find what's happening. This is an excellent area to investigate as a science project of your own!

BISHOP MUSEUM - the Smithsonian of the Pacific

The Bishop Museum is such an exciting place (I spent the full day soaking up the beautifully displayed exhibits on the natural and cultural history of Hawaii). By dusk the guards were politely saying, "We're sorry ma'am, but we're closed now. You really are going to have to leave." Needless to say, it was a fascinating place. My first impression was one of an overwhelming sense of history. The spirit of the many immigrants from all over the world that followed their dreams to this island in the Pacific was displayed in bits and pieces under glass. Hawaii is a state born from the melting pot of people who arrived as laborers from every corner of the world: Portugal, Spain, China, Japan, Korea, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Germany. It was sugar that brought them to plantations in need of laborers. Perhaps it was this intense mixture of people on small isolated islands that taught them tolerance and appreciation for the differences of others. I couldn't help but wonder if these were the roots of the "aloha spirit."

As I peered into the display of lures, I was fascinated by the collection. I never thought about how to catch an octopus. Apparently what's needed is a piece of line, a rock, a hook and an octopus munchy -- a seashell. It seems to me that the bottom line here is that fishing is merely a matter of dangling or towing the right munchy. But wow, what a lure! And the huge hooks - they're made of bone. Sinker and John would love to have these big daddies on board Pride II.

There were several other exhibits that caught my interest. Two other favorites were the feathered capes and head dress worn by ancient Hawaiians, and the ukulele which was a modified (changed) guitar introduced by the Portuguese. There were also the reminders of the sad plight of whales from an earlier time when whale oil and bone were highly prized for trade.

Among its notable assets, the museum has an incredible collection of 37,000 shells or mollusks. The striped cone shell is especially interesting because this mollusk has poison which it uses to paralyze fish, its favorite food. But don't touch. It can be deadly to people as well!

Often we think of museums as fixed displays featuring memorable artifacts (old stuff) "frozen" in history. Ironically one of the most exciting facets of the Bishop Museum is its collection of shells, insects, plants, fish, birds, and mammals that scientists routinely come to study.

While touring the insect collection (which boasts 12 million specimens), I met David Rider from North Dakota University's Department of Entomology (study of bugs) who was researching beetles from the tropical country of New Guinea. When I asked why he was viewing the collection, he said he was looking at newly discovered species (types) of beetles. New beetles! Now there's a thought. It just proves that science is still discovering new critters and will continue to do so as long there are wild places to explore. Maybe we shouldn't be in such a hurry to cut down the rain forests which are home to such a wide variety of unknown creatures. What can you DO to help? You could choose not to purchase products made from tropical woods - like hardwood picture frames or furniture. You'd be amazed at the power of the consumer!

Now that we have met some of the ocean creatures that live in Hawaii, next time we will investigate the reefs more closely and find what inhabits (lives on) the land.

Zai jian (Zi gee end). That's Chinese for "good bye."
Leslie Bridgett

YOUR THOUGHTS

1. Where can you find answers on your own?
2. Describe a day that you never wanted to end.
3. If the whale in my story could talk, what do you believe she would say?
4. Draw a wild animal that you enjoy and tell why this animal is special to you.
5. How are whales and dolphins different from fish?
6. Why is Dr. Graul's research on fish farming important to future generations of people?
7. Plan a mini-menu that is low on the food chain. What foods would it include?
8. Why is touching cone shells risky business?
9. How can your decisions while shopping affect the rain forest?

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