New Marine Science Learning Center is opened at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology

Students and  faculty gathered for the grand opening of the new  Marine Science Research Learning Center and honored 2011 awardees of the Carol Ann and Myron K. Hayashida Fund and the Alan Church Environmental Steward Scholarship.

On Thursday, January 13th, honored invitees, students and faculty gathered at the Hawai„i Institute of Marine Biology‟s (HIMB) Marine Science Research Learning Center to celebrate  the opening of the new building, and  recognize several students who received awards from the Carol Ann and Myron K. Hayashida HIMB Student Support Fund and Alan Church Environmental Steward SOEST Scholarship.  HIMB, located on Moku o Lo„e (Coconut Island) in Kāne„ohe Bay, is an organized research unit that is part of the University of Hawai„i at Mānoa‟s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

With Senator Daniel K. Inouye‟s support,  HIMB worked with NOAA‟s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Island Region to develop a place for hands-on and inquiry-based marine science education for Hawai„i‟s K-12 students.  Planning began in 2007, and the HIMB Education Program wrote successful grants to obtain the additional funds needed to complete the facility.   The new facility boasts  a sophisticated audio-visual system with integrated  digital  microscopes and  laptops, and supplies to conduct investigative marine science labs.

The center‟s opening ceremony welcomed nearly 60 attendees including staff from Senator Daniel K. Akaka‟s Office,  and  Representative Cynthia Thielen‟s Office. The  scholarship awardees were also honored at a luncheon hosted at the new facility. The scholarship and award funds are used to support local undergraduate and graduate students pursing studies in marine science  at  HIMB and SOEST. The 2011 awardees include Veronica Gibson, Bethany Kimokeo, Darin Hayakawa, and Kaipo Perez III.All four recipients  are graduates of Hawai„i high schools, and  showed high academic merit while pursuing their studies at the HIMB and SOEST.

Dr. Jo-Ann Leong, director of HIMB stated “We are just so proud of the amazing work that our students accomplish. We are grateful to be able to offer these prestigious awards.” Dr. Malia Rivera, principal investigator of the HIMB Education Program stated “This new building will afford more opportunities to our local high-school students, and help provide pathways to careers for our future marine scientists. We are pleased to be able to offer this state of the art facility to Hawai„i‟s schools.”

HIMB would also like to acknowledge  the funders who made the building of the Marine Science Research Learning Center possible: Senator Daniel K. Inouye, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Island Region, the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation and the Emmett R. Quady Foundation, University of Hawaii Honolulu Community College, and Brett Hill Construction.

Photos available in the full press release located here:Rivera Marine Science Learning Center and Hayashida Awards Press Release