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Blog Etiquette

Save our Sea Life!

2/6/2017

13 Comments

 
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​Maui holds a special place in my heart.  I have been blessed to spend summers here since 2005.  The waters of this magical Hawaiian island draw me to them every day.  Swimming through schools of brightly colored tropical fish, daily meetings with my friends the Sea Turtles and diving into forests of vibrant coral, make me feel like I have arrived in Heaven while still on this earth.  My beautiful second home is being threatened, however.  The visitors sunscreen and inability to relieve themselves outside the water is killing coral and threatening sea life.
In my favorite diving spot, Honolua Bay, the water has the highest bacteria level in all of Hawaii.  This is caused by the tourists urinating (and other things) in this paradise.  The Hawaiian Department of Health regularly checks beaches for bacteria levels.  During the summer months, the bacteria level at Honolua goes drastically up. (See site link below.)  Experts believe this is from the increased tourist traffic in the summer months when the water is calm and conditions for snorkeling are perfect.  This increase in human interaction brings more urine and feces to the water.  This indiscriminate bathroom usage is causing my playground to become dangerous to sealife, coral...and ME!  My friends and I do NOT want to swim and/or live in a toilet.  
Sunscreen use is dangerous for this ecosystem as well. A recent study tells us....”the chemicals in even one drop of sunscreen are enough to damage fragile coral reef systems. Some 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions wind up in coral reefs around the world each year.” (Wagner) Oxybenzone is a chemical in some sunscreens that kills coral.  When swimmers wearing this chemical get in Honolua, it drastically endangers coral.  In the 10 years I have been visiting Honolua I have seen a frightening decline in coral health and sealife population.  Coral is the foundation of this ecosystem.  Fish feed off of it, find safety from predators and lounge in its protective shade.  With an unhealthy coral forest, wildlife no longer visit.  The huge schools of fish I used to swim with are no longer there.  The pods of dolphins that came swimming up to ME are gone.  In the past I used to see 6-10 Green Sea Turtles on every visit.  Now only 1 or 2 can be seen visiting this bay.  These are signs that this beautiful sealife haven is screaming for help.  
The efforts of ecoactivists have begun to pay off.  The state of Hawaii has responded.  As of October, the land surrounding Honolua is owned and protected by the state.  They have placed portapotties at the entrance to the parking lot.  There have been signs posted regarding safe sunscreen use.  Yet, I still see tourists slathering on dangerous brands of sunscreen and getting offended when I ask that they not use it.  This last summer I only went 1 time due to water quality warnings.  Someone must still be using the wrong toilet.  More work needs to be done.
Please help me with educating people about the danger they pose to our oceans.  Can you post 1 social media post educating people on this issue?  Can you come up with a statement that will convince citizens of our beautiful planet to make simple changes like….not using Oxybenzone containing sunscreen and relieving yourself in the restroom not the ocean when you visit ANY beach?  Share your ideas here.  Let’s all help our fellow citizens understand how to use our oceans responsibly.
Savehonolua.org
Hawaiian Department of Health
13 Comments
Daniel link
2/6/2017 11:49:47 am

I believe that many human actions damage animals and creatures across the world and i believe that there must be change.

Reply
Isaac link
2/6/2017 11:50:39 am

That was great, I could possibly tell my family to stop using spray on sunscreen.

Reply
christophe enyimo link
2/6/2017 11:50:51 am

i love what you guy's do i would love to you you have inspired me.

Reply
Adrianna Prieto link
2/6/2017 11:51:25 am

I dont understand why people would use the restroom in the ocean They are just hurting our enviorment

Reply
Gage Renfro
2/6/2017 11:51:48 am

I agree even though we don't pollute ourselves we pollute animals and that's not good. People should not do this soon there will be less animals in rivers,canals,lakes, and oceans.

Reply
Allison Keenan link
2/6/2017 11:52:43 am

We can help save our beaches by using sunscreen that does not include Oxybenzone.

Reply
natalia obregon
2/6/2017 11:53:02 am

If you have to use the bathroom and you are at the ocen you have get out of the ocen and use the bathroom don't do it in the ocen because you will kill the plant's or the fishes.

Reply
Hannah
2/6/2017 11:54:07 am

Something I think I need to work on is to stop putting on sunscreen.

Reply
Mirriah Bazilio
2/6/2017 11:55:16 am

I think that's a good idea to help the Honolua Bay i think people will help and more people will find new ways to help save the enviorment.

Reply
Anna Abrille
11/6/2017 08:36:27 pm

I don't think enough people really know what just even a bottle of sunscreen can do to our oceans. I, myself, have been to Hawaii, and there's people everywhere putting on sunscreen. Maybe starting a non-profit organization could really help if there's not already one.

Reply
Tifany
1/23/2018 12:36:32 pm

Yes i agree that we should help with this problem because many people visit this place and we should protect it so all can enjoy it.

Reply
Keilah Molina
1/23/2018 12:37:24 pm

I think a great way to to help is to not use sun screen if you plan on swimming.But you could if you plan to not swim.

Reply
josiah
1/23/2018 12:48:55 pm

going to the restroom in the sea is not good living thing it is not good people say it is just fish well it is not fine

Reply



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  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Curriculum
    • Meet Our Students
    • Counseling
  • 2022 Schedules
    • New Student August Schedule
    • 2022 Schedule
    • Zoom Class and Tutoring Schedule
    • Tier System
    • On Campus STEAM Schedule
    • District Calendar
  • 2022 New Student Orientations
  • Getting Started
    • Enrollment
    • Edgenuity Student Log In
    • Parent Portal
    • Synergy Parentvue Sign Up
    • Document Upload
    • WOOP Goal Setting
    • Jungle Tiger Mindset
    • Physical Education
    • PE Blog
  • Enrichment
    • Virtual Calming Room
    • Art Class
    • Middle School Blog
    • 8th Grade Lobby Projects
    • Adopt A Bighorn 7th Grade Project
    • Leadership
    • 8th Grade Final Project
    • My Access Writing
    • 2020 Awards and Promotion
    • Good Memories