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A brief look at the conservation efforts, community involvement and company training of Kailua Sailboards &

Kayaks, Inc. (KSK) -May 2012

Offshore Islet Restoration Committee (OIRC) relishes support from small business in Kailua. In 2008 KSK donated $5,000.00 to the Hawaii Chapter of the Wildlife Society and presented a check during a public ceremony held in the KSK Eco-lounge. Company employees Designed and produced laminated cards as a test program for the oirc that included wildlife preservation information to distribute to visitors of na Mokulua and Popoia islets. One of ksk’s managers became a committee member, helping the oirc work with the recreational users And Dedicated many hours to devise management practices for the offshore islets.

DLNR gains assistance from Kayak Company to restore the Mokulua and Popoia islands. KSK Organized over 400 man hours to remove invasive plant species from Popo’ia and Moku’Iki. Volunteers included many of its staff and local service groups such as Ocean Devotion, Lanikai elementary pta, local businesses and clubs like kailua masters swim team • Donated use of kayaks, SUP, and equipment to access the offshore islets for work. • Purchased Gloves, loppers, and trash bags for the DLNR for service projects. • Provided a lunch to every volunteer member. • Provided a safety kayaker to ensure that volunteers accessed the islets safely. • In 2012, helped to remove over ½ of the Haole Koa from Moku’iki.

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Assisting DLNR Enforcement branch spread awareness and compliance of its rules. KSK guides have been asked by wildlife biologists and dlnr enforcement officers to help be the eyes and ears for this underfunded department. They help by reminding users to stay out of restricted areas, educating dog owners about the laws and risks to ground nesting sea-birds and by calling DLNR enforcement when any protected animal is being harassed or put in danger.

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KSK opens a one-of-a-kind Eco-lounge to promote safety and teach best preservation practices to users prior to accessing Kailua Bay.

• Designed to provide intensively detailed information about the bay, its people and its wildlife and teach best practices to malama the aina. • Features multi-media displays such as a movie theater style safety video, similar to Hanauma Bay, this captures the full attention of participants in a closed environment, away from distractions. • The eco-lounge has been made available to educate school groups and non-profits such as the Hawaiian monk seal response team and hui waa Kaukahi kayak club.

Exhibits in the Eco-Lounge such as this Ocean Debris Awareness Display (Above) have been constructed in an effort to spread Kokua for Kailua Bay. Debris is collected by guides and their customers on daily tours to create a strong visual message of how carelessness impacts our environment.

The Eco-Lounge opened it’s doors in 2008 with over 40 Kailua residents in

attendance

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Every customer that rents a kayak from KSK must watch a 10 minute safety and educational video, No Exceptions!

Malama the beach! Ksk HAS PARTICIPATED IN 5-10 BEACH CLEANUPS PER YEAR FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS including partnering with: • Plastic Free Kailua and Kokua Foundation • Sustainable coastlines • Surfrider Foundation • Ocean Devotion

KSK Teams with Kailua Masters Swim Club to provide safety Kayakers

• Established and ongoing partnership, Providing Safety Kayakers at Popoia and moku nui for weekly swim practice and events. • KSK has pledged to Donate 4 Safety Kayakers and $200 worth of gift certificates for upcoming the Annual Popo’ia Swim event.

KSK Staff Volunteered at a beach clean up at Kailua Beach Park and used the opportunity to sign-up volunteers for upcoming DLNR restoration projects.

After dealing with tragedy during last years race, Kailua Master’s president reached out to KSK to ensure that the safety of participants would not be jeopardized again.

HMSRTO: Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oahu KSK began working with HMSRTO directly in 2010 for the benefit of Kailua’s most solitary and ENDANGERED marine Mammals. The

organization REGULARLY holds its board meetings in the KSK-lounge and attends KSK meetings to train guides on monk seal reportingS and interaction techniques. • KSK has helped HMSRTO to compete for Federal Grants by writing letters to support the cause. • KSK management reports all Monk Seal sighting and forwards photos and information collected by guides for research • Ksk Donates kayaks to volunteers to respond to haul outs and donates gift certificates for fundraisers. • KSK was recognized at the HMRSTO awards ceremony in 2012 for their dedication and charity towards the club. • Information to educate kayakers about rules and best practices when encountering a monk seal is displayed in the KSK Eco-lounge.

NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

• KSK’s Guides additionally Report all Monk Seal sightings, photos, behavior to NOAA for tracking. Guides put in an immediate call to the Manager of the Day for relay. • Communicate Monk Seal awareness and updates to customers and community. For instance, warnings for individual seals seen frequently. • When sighting a seal at Moku’nui, guides communicate procedures to all humans in the vicinity.

Ensuring that clean water is everyone’s first priority KSK has been reporting to the City’s clean water branch with on the scene, real time updates from Kailua beach. This helps expedite response time to pollution or contaminates entering Kailua bay and may prevent serious health hazards to visitors and the community.

KSK fronted the cost and labor to produce HMRSTO t-shirts that sell in KSK’s retail shop. 100% of profits benefit HMRSTO.

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Celebrating victory over all Oahu surf teams with a slide-show, awards ceremony

and BBQ in the Eco-Lounge.

Wounded Warriors/Lanikai Surf Festival KSK Donated 4 new Stand Up paddles to raise money for the Wounded Warriors film festival fundraiser in the Lanikai Park

KSK Helps Lanikai School PTA Concert Under the Stars May 2012 • Allowed a booth to be setup at our shop for ticket sales • Donated gift certificates for the auction fundraiser • Donated a $40 watersports pass to ticket purchasers who bought at the KSK location to encourage ticket sales.

Kalaheo surf team awards ceremony, hosted in KSK Eco-

lounge

Membership in Plastic Free Kailua • Several stages have been enacted to

phase out or reduce plastic in key areas of our work place • KSK will no longer offer plastic shopping bags. A Fee for our remaining plastic shopping bags is being collected, that will then be donated to non-profit organizations. • KSK no longer carries plastic sodas and juices bottles but

have changed to aluminum cans, a more environmentally friendly material. KSK has implemented the use of reusable water bottles instead of the terribly wasteful plastic water bottles that accumulate in our oceans.

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Make a wish Children fulfill their dreams OF THE OCEAN Children with terminally ill diseases and conditions may not always get to live out their dreams of adventure. KSK is trying to make sure that for kids who want to pLAY in kailua bay, that no barriers stand in their way. KSK has sponsored several children and have more scheduled for this summer.

Pu’uhonua Workshop: for visitor industry professionals Reps from NOAA, Malama na Honu, Coral Reef Alliance, and UH taught ecology and sustainability in relation to tourism.

Armed with knowledge, staff provide Intensive Pre-trip Education for All Customers • Assess customer experience and ability to swim. • direct customers to the proper activity and location based on their abilities. • Review conditions verbally with customer. • Sign waivers explaining inherent risks of the ocean • Watch a 10 minute safety/preservation video • Review up-to-the-minute weather board • Checkout table, last minute review of conditions • KSK provides a Shore break attendant to ensure safety of users and all beach users

KSK’ Lead Guide Trainer join’s this Pu’uhonua workshop with NOAA, biologists and community representatives In Waikiki.

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Training that goes Leagues Above industry standards • Employees are trained yearly by the HMSRTO and NOAA on monk seal interaction and

reporting

• DLNR wildlife Biologist provided training to KSK guides about Invasive plants on the

offshore islets.

ACA instructor level II and III certifications

• The American

Canoe Association is a non profit organization that is nationally

recognized as the leading authority for paddle sports instruction, safety and stewardship.

• KSK employees current ACA certified instructors and is conducting yearly training courses for senior level guides, completing open water kayaker instructor level ii and iii courses.

• Guides spread the ACA’s teachings of safe paddling through our community by offering instruction based on aca’s standards.

CPR First/Aid All guides must possess ARC or AHA prior to passing guide training program, and maintain these certifications, No exceptions. KSK HIRES ONE OF ITS FORMER GUIDES TO TEACH COURSES AND Customize CONTENT TO BE Relevant TO KAILUA WATERS.

Ocean Safety Training Hawaii Ocean Safety Operations Chief, Jim Howe was a guest speaker at KSK’s staff meeting on May 1st 2012. HE presented techniques for profiling and managing different user types in order to prevent accidents versus conduct rescues.

Professional Guide training program KSK has created the most detailed and intensive kayak instructional guide training manual specific to Kailua Bay. No other exists to this detail. This acts as the guides bible that they must know cover to cover to become a lead guide in kailua. KSK uses a kayak guide training program specifically tailored to Kailua Bay:

o Guides Must have prior kayaking and watersports experience

o Must pass through shorebreak training program o Must participate in at least 3-6 orientation trips

on the 2-hour tour. o Must pass water safety course for rescues, group

management, etc. o Approval to “Assist” the lead guide on actual kayak tours, will then gain more

experience over a few months as an assistant.

o Assistant will eventually act as the “lead” guide, while supervised by the lead on actual tours. Director will shadow the assistant on actual tours in various conditions prior to approval to become a Lead guide.

o This same process continues at a higher level to become a 4-Hour Tour Lead Guide.

o This same process is used for SUP and Windsurfing Instructors.

• KSK has designed an “Eco-tour” training manual that describes the unique qualities of Kailua Bay.

• hand picked guides with a variety of knowledge include backgrounds in:

o Marine Biology and natural science Degrees

o ‘Leave No Trace’ Training o National Outdoor Leadership Training o Nurses or medical professionals o High School Science

Teachers o Lifeguards o Canoe club members

Long-standing offer to City and County Lifeguards, recently added all emergency response employees. KSK provides free equipment rentals to emergency first responders, such as firemen, police officers, coast guard, and lifeguards to better ensure safety on the water and to say thanks for invaluable service that they provide for Hawaii.

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Guides perfect rescue techniques to cover all possible scenarios while in the field

Kayak guide assists in attempted rescue and resuscitation of legendary shaper, Harold Iggy. Having experienced watermen geared with first-aid kits, cell phones and top-tier training has proven a valuable asset on the water, time and time again.

University Interns develop recreation and sustainability projects KSK has employed interns from local and mainland universities with related degrees, such as recreation resource management, and environmental sciences to develop for-credit projects.

Monetary and Gift Certificate Donations to non-profits and community groups over the years have included: Aikahi Elementary Boys and Girls Club WCC Hoolaulea Kailua Shore break Classic/ Peter Miller Foundation 4th of july fireworks fundraising American Cancer Society Boys and Girls Club Chinatown Chase Fundraiser- Hawaii Theaters Christmas Wish Program Trinity Christian Schools Kailua Canoe Club Kalaheo High School Intern/Employee doing sustainability thesis Kindred Hearts Koolau District Boy Scouts Lanikai Canoe Club Lanikai Elementary Hanahau’oli school Jessica- fundraiser for dying friend Surf Aloha Contest Giddyup Volleyball Club Team - Waimanalo Sunshine School Waimanalo Canoe Club YMCA Camp Erdman, counselor training course for kayaking Habilitat Blitz Football Club – 3 years of donations for children’s soccer trip

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