Speaker Series Resumes with “Coral Gardener”

Photo courtesy of Paul Hanley

The Global Citizenship Speaker Series will resume at the Molokai Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m. with special guest Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby from Fiji speaking on coral reef conservation and regeneration. Sustaining coral reefs is an important issue for Molokai, which is dependent on its reef for food security.

This is the fifth iteration in the speaker series presented by the Molokai Bahá’í Community in collaboration with the Molokai Public Library. First running in January 2024, the goal of the series is to encourage conversations around global issues that are also of importance to people on Molokai.

In 2024, the talks ranged from food sovereignty, with Karen Mapusua from Fiji, President of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, to Hawaiian sovereignty, with well-known political scientist Keanu Sai. Presentations occurred in person and via Zoom, with up to fifty people participating.

Resuming on Jan. 15, this year’s series will focus on the theme “Sustainability: Mauka to Makai.” Tentative speakers include Lilinoe Kawaehau, on the “Social-Psychological Benefits of the Ahupua’a System,” and Dr. Mona Kiani, CEO of Education with Purpose, speaking on “Education for Social Action.” Dates are being finalized.

Bowden-Kerby, speaking in the upcoming talk, works with Pacific Island communities and governments to prevent the collapse of coral reefs in the face of climate change and associated mass coral death due to bleaching. He incorporates the gardening of bleaching-resistant corals into community managed reefs. He is currently creating a coral restoration ecology manual and action strategy that merges decades of observations from field sites in twelve nations, coupled with relevant published literature.

Bowden-Kerby is the founder of Corals4Conservation and the UNESCO endorsed “Reefs of Hope” Decade Action. Raised in the South Pacific and USA, he is a pioneer in the field of coral reef restoration, having worked in both the Pacific and Caribbean for over 35 years. Bowden-Kerby will join by Zoom.

Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served.