Free talk on the status of Maui’s streams, estuaries and native freshwater species by Aquatic Biologist Skippy Hau

The status of Maui’s streams, estuaries and the native freshwater species that live there will be the subject of a free presentation by Skippy Hau, Aquatic Biologist with the State of Hawaii Department Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources, at the Wednesday, November 7 meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. The meeting will take place at Pacific Whale Foundation’s classrooms at the Ma‘alaea Harbor Shops at 300 Ma‘alaea Road. Hau will also be discussing his work with Maui’s sea turtles, including nesting sea turtles, hatchlings and the removal of an 8-pound tumor from a turtle.

The public is invited and refreshments will be served starting at 5:00 pm when the doors open. The presentation by Skippy Hau will begin at 5:30 pm. The meeting will conclude at 7:30 pm.

According to Hau, Hawai‘i’s streams were once prime habitats for an abundance of native freshwater species including five native species of fishes, two species of crustacean and three species of mollusk.

Hau will discuss his research about Maui’s streams and estuaries and will present information on what happened to them and the animals that once inhabited them in great numbers. He will also be presenting information on the impact of recent moves to restore water flow to Maui’s streams.

“We are delighted that Skippy Hau will be our featured presenter at our November meeting of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council,” says Amy Hodges, Programs Manager at Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. “He is a wealth of knowledge about Maui’s streams and estuaries, and is passionate about sharing his findings about these aquatic resources with the public.”

“The health of our streams, estuaries and watersheds has a direct impact on the health of our coral reefs and the quality of our nearshore ocean water,” says Hodges. “We are especially curious about how stream health has improved since the recent restoration of freshwater to our streams and look forward to Skippy’s observations on this topic.”

Skippy Hau has served as the Aquatic Biologist with the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources on Maui for 33 years.

He grew up in Kaneohe (Oahu) and attended public schools (Benjamin Parker Elementary, Samuel Wilder King Intermediate, and James B. Castle High School.) He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Marine Option Program Certificate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

After graduating from University of Hawaii in 1979, Hau worked his way up to Aquatic Biologist at the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources and worked on projects including the Waikiki-Diamond Head Fisheries Management Project; Topminnow Baitfish Project; and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Surveys Project before moving to Maui in 1985.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, the host of the meeting, is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by marine biologist Robin Newbold and the late Hawaiian activist/kupuna Edwin Lindsey. The organization works for clean ocean water, healthy coral reefs and an abundance of native fish for the islands of Maui County. To learn more, visit www.mauireefs.org.