Earth Day and Ocean Conservation

Beginning April 18 and running through May 27, the Waimea Arts Council presents an art exhibition on Earth Day and Ocean Conservation at their Firehouse Gallery in Waimea. This special art and fine craft show is timed to coincide with Earth Day on April 22, and gives island artists an opportunity to promote ocean conservation through all mediums of art and fine craft, including photography and sculpture. It will feature endangered marine animals, such as sea turtles, monk seals, and humpback whales, as well as scenes showing the beauty of the ocean, both above and below the water.

Our ocean faces many threats, including coral bleaching, floating trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. “The ocean is at the center of who we are. Even if you’ve never seen the ocean, you’re touched by it every single day. It produces half the air you and I breathe every day, the food we eat and the water we drink. You can’t help but be inspired by the ocean. From majestic whales to jaw-dropping waves, colorful coral reefs to graceful sea turtles, the ocean can capture your heart and soul like nothing else on earth.” ~Ocean Conservancy Website

What more appropriate place to honor the ocean than in Hawaii, where we are completely surrounded by water and most people rely on it for recreation and/or food. The sea turtles use our beaches to lay their eggs and the humpback whales visit us every winter and use our waters to give birth to the next generation. Since 2014, Kailua-Kona has had a dedicated monk seal hospital, Ke Kai Ola, where they care for sick and injured animals and prepare them to return to the wild.