HAWAII MARITIME CENTER This replica of a Northwestern Hawaiian Island seacoast is part of the interactive exhibit "Navigating Change," that opens Saturday at the Hawaii Maritime Center.

For the birds

The Hawaii Maritime Center takes
visitors on a virtual trip of the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

What would it be like to visit the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a voyager in a Polynesian sailing canoe or as a modern research scientist?

A Hawaii Maritime Center exhibit that opens Saturday gives kids and adults a chance to role-play as either in an interactive exhibit called "Navigating Change: The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands."

Museum visitors can explore replicas of a modern research vessel and an atoll. They can identify and analyze marine debris and map currents that carry the junk across the ocean. They can study sand quality or how non-native species of plants and animals can hurt the Hawaiian ecosystem.

"'Navigating Change' was developed to teach both Hawaii visitors and residents alike the importance of managing and caring for our pristine and fragile ecosystem," said Bob Moore, Hawaii Maritime Center director.

"Using the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as an example, we can apply the lessons we're learning there to foster change for a better future not only here in Hawaii, but across the globe."

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are the uninhabited islands and atolls that stretch 1,200 miles northwest from Kauai. They are surrounded by some of the most pristine reef environments in the country, home to most of the state's green sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals.

Yet the Northwestern islands have problems, such as marine debris that can ensnare wildlife and growing pressure to allow ecotourism, which could harm the fragile ecosystem.

Elementary school classes have been visiting the exhibit for several weeks now and seem to love it, said a museum staffer.

The Hawaii Maritime Center, at Pier 7 at Honolulu Harbor, is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $5.95 for youths 6 to 17, $6 for seniors and military, and free for members and children under 5.

For more information, call 536-6373 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.

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