11. Public Awareness and Education
Coastal and marine environments are greatly influenced by the activities of humankind. Increasing public awareness of the sensitivity of these environments would sharply decrease human impacts. Policy makers and agency personnel should be provided with guidance for more effective beach management practices. Equally important is increasing awareness and education of general public. Although Maui has many well-informed individuals with stewardship attitudes, both the private sector and the public need to become more aware of coastal and marine resource issues.
Policy makers and agency personnel need to be better informed so that their decisions are environmentally and economically responsible. The same applies to developers and contractors, especially those working at shoreline properties. A better informed public will support decisions that need to be made.
Hawaii Sea Grant and Maui Community College should develop a public awareness and education program on coastal and marine resource issues. Sea Grant should team up with local scientists and environmental groups to sponsor K-12 teacher training workshops. Maui Community College can support post-secondary education and research by continuing to offer marine science courses through its Marine Option Program. Offering a bachelor's degree program in Marine Science should be a longer-term goal at Maui Community College.
Public awareness can also be increased through educational presentations to various groups (e.g., community associations, neighborhood boards, rotary clubs, ocean activity owners and County commissions). Other ways to increase awareness include creating a web site on coastal processes and development guidelines, issuing press releases, publishing information in booklets, and giving presentations at conferences and symposiums similar to the Coral Reef Symposium and the Coastal Zone Management Conference, both of which took place on Maui in September 1997.
Objective
11.1) To increase public and private sector awareness and education on coastal and marine resource protection
Recommendations
11.1a) Identify key target audiences (e.g., schools, community associations, neighborhood boards, rotary clubs, developers and contractors, ocean activity owners, county commissions, etc.)
11.1b) Continue disseminating information by issuing press releases, publishing booklets and posters, and giving presentations at conferences and to key user groups
11.1c) Sponsor the creation of a web site on coastal processes, development guidelines, and beach management
11.1d) Partner with local scientists and environmental groups to sponsor K-12 teacher training workshops
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