Kailua Bay is focus
of festival

Hands-on learning about Kailua Bay is the theme of a family festival tomorrow at Kailua Beach Park that will feature a visit from the voyaging canoe Hokule'a.

The Malama Kailua Festival honors the work of four Kailua schools that have spent the school year on science projects that ask, How can we restore the ecosystem of Kailua Bay?

Malama Kailua Parking for Malama Kailua Festival: At Kailua Elementary, Intermediate and High schools, Kainalu Elementary and the public parking structure behind Longs, with free shuttle service to the beach all day. Web site: www.SaveKailuaBay.com Schedule: » 8 a.m.: Hokule'a anchors in Kailua Bay » 9 a.m.: Welcome ceremony for Hokule'a crew » 10 a.m.: Festival booths open » 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Entertainment including hula and music

The day-long event will include a formal Hawaiian welcoming ceremony for the Hokule'a crew, learning activities for children and adults, hula and musical entertainment, canoe rides, and food and craft booths.

Laura Thompson, a member of the Polynesian Voyaging Society board, called the event "a huge collaborative effort" to "take care of ourselves and our islands because they're so special."

More than 600 students from Le Jardin Academy, Keolu Elementary, Lanikai Public Charter School and Ke Kula o Samuel Kamakau School have learned about different aspects of the Kailua Bay ecosystem and will share their knowledge with everyone on their new Web site, www.SaveKailuaBay.com, said Lauren Apiki Ellsworth, executive director of the Learning Education Technology Academy.

Ellsworth's academy has provided technical and curriculum support for the effort, which emphasizes having kids make a difference in their community. She previously supported students who created a Web site about Hamakua Marsh in Kailua, www.hamakuamarsh.com.

Different classes at different schools took on particular projects, then wrote about them for the Web site, Ellsworth said.

Tomorrow, all children at the festival can learn about coral reefs, plants and animals of the area at dozens of education booths staffed by biologists, researchers and volunteers, Ellsworth said.

"Kids can look through a microscope at microscopic organisms in the bay, do water-quality testing and fun stuff like put on costumes of coral reef animals," said Terry George, executive director of the Harold Castle Foundation, a major sponsor of the educational projects and the festival. "We hope this will light a fire under children and families, to build greater appreciation for our bay."

Ellsworth recalled that when she presented the Save Kailua Bay project to the Polynesian Voyaging Society board last fall, navigator Nainoa Thompson said, "When can I bring Hokule'a into the bay to honor what these kids are doing?"

It will be the first time the 30-year-old sailing vessel has entered the waters of Kailua Bay. Weather conditions permitting, children will be allowed aboard the Hokule'a, Laura Thompson said.