Wrap up & Mahalos for the 2019 Ridge to Reef Rendezvous and Keiki & 'Ohana Catch & Release Fishing Tournament

Below are just a few of the photos from this year's event; for more, check out this album on Facebook

Mahalo to the team from AKAKU for covering the event; here is a video produced by AKAKU Youth Exchange Reporters Alax & Zariah

 Mahalos!
The event was coordinated by partners within the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative (R2R) and funded by the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. Additional event support and funding provided by the Coral Reef Alliance, Maui Diving - Scuba & Snorkel Center, and Kohola Brewery.

Lunch was generously donated by CJ's Deli & Diner Comfort Zone Restaurant and the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas. The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas also provided recycling containers for the event.

Prizes for the scavenger hunt and fishing tournament were generously donated by local Maui businesses, including: All About Fish Maui, Atlantis Submarines Maui, Captain Steve's Rafting Adventures, Down the Hatch, DUO @ The Four Seasons Resort, Duke's Beach House, Honu Seafood & Pizza, Island Press Coffee, Kapalua Ziplines, Ko Restaurant at Fairmont Kea Lani, Leilani's On The Beach, Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop, Mahina Boutique, Mala Ocean Tavern, Merriman's Kapalua, Malolo Molokini Snorkeling Tour, Maui Sporting Goods, New Maui Fishing Supply, Sea House Restaurant, Star Noodle, The Snorkel Store, Trilogy Excursions, UFO Parasail & Adventures, West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply, and Whale Trust

Mahalo to the Ridge to Reef Hui Tent partners: Hawai‘i DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) - Division of Aquatic Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, Marine 30x30 Initiative; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; Hui o ka Wai Ola; NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Protected Resources Division; Mauna Kahālāwai Watershed Partnership; Whale Trust; The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research, Inc.; Sharkastics; Hawaiian Hawksbill Conservation; Trilogy Excursions Blue'Aina; Maui Nui Marine Resource Council; Coral Reef Alliance; and West Maui Kumuwai

Mahalo to Adam Wong and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources for coordinating the Keiki & 'Ohana Catch & Release Fishing Tournament

Mahalo to marine scientist Darla White for leading the reef tour

Mahalo to the Kaanapali North Beach Masters Association which manages the privately-owned park where the Ridge to Reef Rendezvous took place

Mahalo to the Wednesday evening lecture series speakers: Dr. Ivor Williams, Darla White, Donna Brown, and Ekolu Lindsey

Mahalo to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, led by Patty Miller & Amy Eldredge, for coordinating the K-12 student art contest and hosting the Wednesday evening lecture series

Mahalo to Maui Diving - Scuba & Snorkel Center for coordinating a fantastic ridge to reef cleanup with over 100 people

Mahalo to Kohola Brewery for hosting Science Night, brewing Reef Geeks Hazy IPA in support of the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative, and throwing a beer release party after the cleanup

Mahalo to the University of Hawaii Maui College Marine Option Program for all the help developing and deploying the "Haunted Reef"
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Mahalo to the Lahaina News for publishing a series of articles linked to the event, and to Maui Now and Malika Dudley for a great video feature

Mahalo to event photographer Ananda Stone of Splash Productions for capturing the day so beautifully

And finally, mahalo to all the fantastic volunteers who made the event possible: Charley Dofa, Karen & John Seebart, Linda Tesar-Amimoto, Eileen Robb, Jeep Dunning, Lisa Davis, TaylorRose Stone, Sanoma Boynton, Stephanie Pettee, Makayla Richmond, Caroline Sabharwal, Carrie DeMott, ​Robyn Walters, Joseph deLoache, Lynne Masters, Nancy & John Norman, Larry Boysen, Deborah Johnson, Grover Hatch, Nanette Bowan, Teje , Jim & Cathy Maxwell, and Sheila Murphy