Bishop Museum Announces Lalo: Science and Conservation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

# Bishop Museum Announces Lalo: Science and Conservation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Ongoing exhibit in the Museum's Science Adventure Center showcases the natural and cultural history, and importance, of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum announces a new exhibit in its Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, Lalo: Science and Conservation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Funded by and in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Lalo," also known as French Frigate Shoals, showcases the natural and cultural history, and importance, of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

"Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) is one of the largest fully protected marine conservation areas in the world, covering more than 580,000 square miles in the Pacific Ocean," said Richard Pyle, Ph.D., Bishop Museum senior curator of Ichthyology and director of XCoRE, and co-curator of the exhibit. "For nearly a century, Bishop Museum researchers have explored this UNESCO World Heritage Site and conducted studies on biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability. Our 'Lalo' exhibit highlights the stories, findings, people, and equipment involved in this important work."

Located underneath the volcano in the Science Adventure Center, features of the "Lalo" exhibit include:

"The Ongoing Legacy of Coral Reef Exploration"

Bishop Museum researchers have been at the cutting-edge of diving and undersea exploration technology for more than half a century. On display are some of the original equipment used by these scientists in their quest to explore coral reef ecosystems, from the surface down to depths of 500 feet or more. From the state-of-the-art original double-hose SCUBA system of the 1950s and 60s, to the early mixed-gas SCUBA gear of the 80s, and two generations of advanced mixed-gas rebreathers used from the 1990s through the first decade of the 2000s, this equipment showcases the evolution of technology as Bishop Museum researchers pushed the frontiers of coral reef exploration.

"The Lalo Plastic Story"

A great amount of plastic ends up dumped in our oceans, and accumulates in many remote areas such as Lalo, impacting the life living within them. In Lalo, plastic fishing gear and netting cause entanglement of many fish species and significant damage to the environment. Understanding plastics and their impacts and highlighting the work currently underway to address this are the first steps needed to remedy this vital issue.

This area of the exhibit features a plastic sorting interactive that explores the current plastic recycling systems in Hawaiʻi, to raise awareness of the systems change needed to waste management across the islands.

The latest phase of the exhibit features rich 2D and 3D digital media that provides guests with the opportunity to not only view terrestrial and underwater scenes, but also experience them as a series of immersive storylines about PMNM. Highlights include 17 hours of crittercam shark footage condensed into a four-minute "day in the life" video; a videogame where players can tag fish with a laser to determine ocean biodiversity health; a reef zoom experience that allows visitors to explore the rich and diverse world of the reef; and several underwater videos of Museum researchers conducting ocean exploration, projected to a dome.

The exhibit tells the cultural story of PMNM as the kūpuna islands of Hawaiʻi. Lalo is a partially submerged atoll 500 miles northwest of Honolulu in PMNM. Lalo is also known as Kānemilohaʻi (the name also given to Pele's brother) and Mokupāpapa ("islets with low-lying reefs"); Lalo means "downward or leeward." It is closely associated with the direction of Pō, the primordial realm of darkness from which all life was created and returns to after death.

"Lalo" also celebrates scientists who have done groundbreaking work in the PMNM. From the exhibit:

Dr. Joshua "Josh" Copus started working on his graduate studies at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology in 2011. In his short career, Josh proved himself to be much more than a marine biologist. He was a cutting-edge researcher combining the use of advanced diving technology with advanced laboratory techniques for genetic analysis. Josh played an active and important role in reshaping the future of research as a curator at Bishop Museum. A genuine pioneer and explorer, Josh conducted the kind of true exploration emblematic of the great scientists of centuries ago.

In the history of exploration and discovery of coral-reef fishes, one name stands out above all others: John Ernst Randall. Known to his friends and colleagues simply as "Jack," he is literally a living legend in the field of ichthyology. The list of awards and accolades he has received in recognition of his work is extensive; he has authored over 860 scientific books and articles (more than any other ichthyologist in history), and has discovered and named nearly 700 valid species of coral-reef fishes – more than anyone else in history!

"As the closest atoll to the main Hawaiian Islands, Lalo has had a unique and varied history that spans Hawaiian voyages to military use to conservation and research today," said Eric Roberts, NOAA deputy superintendent for Papahānaumokuākea. "This exhibit captures some of this history and the role we may play in the future of this ecological gem."

Lalo: Science and Conservation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is currently on view in the lower level of the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center at Bishop Museum. The exhibit is included with Museum admission. For more information, please visit BishopMuseum.org and follow @BishopMuseum.

Bishop Museum Admission, Parking, and Hours

Timed General Admissions can be booked for arrivals between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., or for arrivals between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Once a timed admission is booked, guests may arrive at any time during their check-in window. All admissions, once checked in, are welcome to stay until 5 p.m.

Timed General Admissions can be booked on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at BishopMuseum.org/Tickets. Tickets for Bishop Museum After Hours events can be purchased via this same webpage.

Bishop Museum is a participant in the Museums for All program, which provides free regular admission for up to four people with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Guests will also receive free parking for one vehicle, and are asked to bypass parking payment and check in at the Museum's ticket counter in Shop Pacifica.

The safety and health of our visitors and employees remain our highest priorities. Face masks are optional but strongly encouraged. Learn more on our Health & Safety page.

General Admission

| | Weekdays | Weekends | |---|---|---| | Adults: | $26.95 | $28.95 | | Seniors (65+): | $23.95 | $25.95 | | Youth (4-7): | $18.95 | $20.95 | | Children (3 and under): | Free | Free |

Hawaiʻi Residents, Hawaiʻi College Students, and Military with ID

Adults: $14.95 Seniors (65+): $12.95 Youth (4-17): $10.95 Children (3 and under): Free

Children age 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Bishop Museum Annual Membership levels include free general admission and parking for 12 months. Learn more at BishopMuseum.org/Membership.

J. Watumull Planetarium tickets can be purchased at the Box Office after admission to the Museum; shows are free for Bishop Museum Members, but must be obtained at the Box Office in person on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking Rates

Daytime Rate: 6 a.m.–5 p.m. $5.00 Evening Rate: 5 p.m.–10 p.m. $3.00

Hours

Open every day from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving and on Christmas Day.

Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn offers a limited menu of bowls, sandwiches, and snacks from 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. daily. Bishop Museum Members receive a 10% discount with their membership card.