{"id":7290,"date":"2024-02-08T11:15:29","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T19:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coral.org\/?p=7290"},"modified":"2024-02-09T03:53:03","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T11:53:03","slug":"introducing-the-team-behind-hawaiis-reef-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/blog\/introducing-the-team-behind-hawaiis-reef-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing the Team Behind Hawai’i’s Reef Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aloha! \ud83c\udf3a As we embark on our 30th year at CORAL, we’re thrilled to spotlight the dedicated teams leading the charge in coral conservation. First up, our Hawai\u2019i team. In Hawai\u2019i, coral reefs are the heart of culture, tradition, and environmental health. These reefs are crucial for the local economy and coastal protection, hosting an incredible array of marine life. Yet, they’re under siege from climate change, overfishing, and pollution. That’s where our team steps in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For over 15 years, we’ve been all in, working tirelessly in Hawai’i<\/a> to shield the reefs from pollution and advocate for cleaner, more sustainable wastewater systems. Our team embodies the spirit of malama i ke kai<\/em> (caring for the ocean), crafting innovative solutions to protect these critical ecosystems and the communities that rely on them. So, let’s get to know the champions behind our efforts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Manuel Mejia, Regional Program Director<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Manuel is at the helm of our Hawai\u2019i conservation efforts, mixing science with local know-how to do right by the reefs. He\u2019s the proud owner of two master’s degrees\u2014one in agricultural and biosystems engineering from McGill and another in environmental science and policy from Columbia. Manuel’s conservation journey has taken him around the world, from the Philippines to New York, and even aboard Hawaii’s traditional voyaging canoe, the Hokule\u02bba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n