Born in the Philippines and long-time resident of Hawai\u2018i, Manuel Mejia, our Hawai\u2018i Regional Program Director, harvests a deep passion for coral reefs and our need to protect them. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with him and dive in to this passion a little more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q:<\/strong> Where does your passion for the ocean come from? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A: I\u2019ve loved the ocean since my childhood. I grew up in the Philippines, a beautiful archipelago, and the island communities there depend a lot on marine resources and the ocean. Growing up, my family would go to the ocean for peace and relaxation and that has stayed with me throughout my life. As a teenager, I learned to sail in the Chesapeake Bay. And as an adult, I was fortunate enough to sail on Hokule\u2018a as crew and science specialist for the Polynesian Voyaging Society\u2019s Worldwide Voyage. When I\u2019m in the ocean, I feel calm and really connected with life and all its wonders. I just find the ocean to be a source of life and inspiration, and I count myself very lucky to have built a meaningful career based on conservation and getting to work with communities to protect our oceans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q:<\/strong> Why do you care so much about protecting coral reefs? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A: My parents taught me how to care for coral reefs and respect people and nature. They introduced me to the wonders of this world. For all their importance and beauty, however, coral reefs are often unseen and undervalued even though they are immensely important to humanity. A lot of our food, medicines and recreation come from the ocean. Working across the Pacific with many communities, from Fiji to the Philippines and Indonesia, and here in Hawai\u2018i, I\u2019ve really learned how important coral reefs are to people\u2019s wellbeing\u2014not just for physical sustenance, but for cultural and spiritual wellbeing, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n