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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Helped protect a reef lately?

Advertiser Staff

The Coral Reef Outreach Network is accepting entries for its third annual Hawaii Living Reef Awards, which honor businesses, organizations and community leaders who have demonstrated significant care toward protecting and nurturing Hawai'i's coral reef ecosystem.

Friday is the deadline for entries.

"The reef ecosystem feeds, shelters, and provides habitats for fish, protects the shoreline from wave and sand erosion and creates Hawai'i's famous white sand beaches and underwater paradise," said spokesperson Petra MacGowan.

"With so much riding on the healthy existence of Hawai'i's reefs, we feel it is important to honor individuals and organizations who also recognize this and are making positive strides in preserving one of Hawai'i's most precious resources."

Nominations are being accepted in the following categories:

Commercial Division:

  • Ocean recreation business (businesses that specialize in diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or other ocean-related activities)

  • Travel/tourism business (businesses that offer services to tourists, such as hotels, destination attractions, transport).

  • Commercial/retail business (all other commercial organizations).

    Non-Commercial Division:

  • Government agency (all federal, state, and local government agencies other than those focused on education).

  • Education institutions (organizations or individuals whose primary function is to offer educational services).

  • Non-governmental organizations (non-commercial organizations or individuals representing such organizations).

    Lifetime Achievement:

  • An individual who has devoted his/her lifetime to coral reef conservation.

    Awards, to be presented in the fall, are open to Hawai'i-based organizations that have implemented programs or activities to conserve coral reefs between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31. For a nomination form and more details, visit www.hawaiireef.org or call MacGowan at 587-0098.

    The Coral Reef Outreach Network is a division of the Malama Kai Foundation, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, dedicated to ocean stewardship through community service and public education.

    For more information, visit www.hawaiireef.org.