Waikiki Aquarium To Host Second Annual Underwater And Ocean-Related Photo Contest

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Waikiki Aquarium To Host Second Annual Underwater And Ocean-Related Photo Contest
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WAIKIKI AQUARIUM TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL

UNDERWATER AND OCEAN-RELATED PHOTO CONTEST

The Waikiki Aquarium once again invites ocean enthusiasts to capture the beauty of Hawai‘i's ocean resources in its underwater and ocean-related photo contest. Amateur and professional photographers ages 18 and over are invited to compete for a chance to be featured in the 2015 Aquarium Calendar and win up to $500 in ocean sporting gear prizes provided by American Underwater Products. The underwater and ocean-related photography contest will be hosted on the Aquarium's Facebook page.

"We are thrilled to announce the return of our photo contest and to offer this opportunity for ocean and marine-life enthusiasts to share their passion with us through photography," said Andy Rossiter, Ph.D., Waikiki Aquarium director. "Last year we received more than 700 entries, and we hope to see even more talented photographers participate this year."

Entries will be accepted through the Aquarium's Facebook page through May 31, 2014. Public voting on Facebook will take place from May 26 to June 13 to select 20 finalists for the 12-month calendar. Judges will then select 12 winners from these finalists including one judges' choice grand prize winner to be featured on the cover. Winners will receive a prize pack filled with diving gear and other ocean equipment valued at $200, provided by American Underwater Products, as well as copies of the finished

calendar. The grand-prize winner will receive an additional $500 prize. Winners will be announced in late June.

Participants must "Like" the Aquarium's Facebook page to enter. There is no limit to the number of photo entries one can submit. Photos must be taken in the Hawaiian Island Chain (including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands) between September 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014. Participants must be U.S. residents.

All participants must include the following information upon initial entry: full name, email address, zip code, title of photo, camera used, date photo was taken, location of photo taken, and any additional details about the photo. Entries must be at least 300 dpi in resolution and nine inches by 12 inches in size.

For complete details on the Waikiki Aquarium photo contest, visit www.waikikiaquarium.org. For more information on American Underwater Products, visit http://americanunderwaterproducts.com.

LISTEN TO GREAT INTERVIEW

Interview with Hawaii Public Radio Business of the Arts
Listen to a great interview about Waikiki Aquarium's history, staff, causes and much more.

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 -- second 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 second 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
Sea Visions 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 asanemone fishes 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 butterfly fish
Ocean Drifters Gallery features a1,000-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 exhibits 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; raredeep-reef butterflyfish; bearded armorheads; masked angelfish; and diversenative 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 marineaquarium specimens
Husbandry and propagation of chamberednautilus
Spawning behavior, larval rearing, and propagationpotential of selected reef fishes
Identification & treatment of diseases, parasiteinfections and other ailments of aquarium marine life
Coral husbandry, propagation and conservation
Hawaiian monk seal metabolic and bacteriologicalresearch
Giant clam husbandry and propagation
Sea jelly husbandry and propagation
Deep reef coral research
Coral Ark: archiving and husbandry of rare Hawaiiancorare deep-reefrals

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 field trips, 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/PublicRelations/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.

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