Sign-up now to learn more about the marine species that call Hawai‘i home and how you can become more involved in supporting local marine conservation and stewardship efforts!
What to expect
- Training topics include marine ecology of the Hawaiian Islands, protected species, threats to coastal and marine environments, marine life identification and more!
- Instructors include university scientists, government agency staff, environmental educators, and conservation practitioners
- The program is open to the public–no prior experience is required
Training program schedule
For the first time, we’ll be hosting OAT as an online learning experience. This will make is easier for participants across the state to attend and also allow us to record the sessions and make them available to attendees who miss a session due to work, school, or other schedule conflicts*
Virtual Meeting Schedule (all sessions will be conducted online):
- Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
* meetings will be recorded and available to registered participants, however, those who join live will be able to ask questions, interact with other participants, and get more out of their experience
Certification opportunity
Participants who complete all training program components are eligible to receive a C.O.R.A.L. certification card (Care of our Culture, Oceans, Reefs and Animal Life).
Training program components include:
- Virtual meetings – attend live or watch recordings afterwards
- Field activity – a variety of opportunities will be provided at wide-ranging dates, times, and locations—including virtual options to accommodate participants of different abilities
- Certification test – a brief online and ‘open-book’ quiz that helps participants test their knowledge and reflect on their OAT experience
Registration fee
A modest registration fee of $25 grants participants access to the Fall 2022 OAT class plus a whole year to revisit the class recordings and other resources shared in the online learning hub.
If you’d like access to future OAT classes and NEW training opportunities added during 2023, you can opt to join as an Ocean Aware Hawai‘i member for the founding member rate of $47/year. You’ll retain access to the Fall 2022 OAT materials and all future online educational experiences for as long as you continue to renew your annual membership.
The O‘ahu Ocean Awareness Training (OAT) program is currently coordinated by Jennifer Barrett Fajardo of Ocean Aware Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Nature Hui in partnership with various community businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. We are grateful to Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawai‘i for sponsorship support enabling us to offer the first OAT training program on O‘ahu since 2014.