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University of Hawai‘i marine educators to be featured at screening of 2026 Prada Re-Nylon campaign

Blue Schools students help to install a mākāhā sluice gate at Waikalua Loko Iʻa. Photo by Nat Geo

Students from the Blue Schools Hui learn about some of the creatures in Kāneʻohe Bay from Titouan Be

Joanna Philippoff, PhD

Anuschka Faucci, PhD

To celebrate the work of Hawai‘i Blue Schools, the Pacific American Foundation (PAF) is hosting a free public screening and event at Waikalua Loko Iʻa on May 9.

On May 9 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm the public is invited to a free public screening and celebration of the second episode of the 2026 Prada Re-Nylon campaign called “” created by National Geographic CreativeWorks that links ancient Hawaiian marine practices with global sustainability goals.

The campaign highlights the impact of the education activities of SEA BEYOND, a project by Prada Group conducted in partnership with UNESCO since 2019. “Stewards of the Ocean: Hawai‘i” showcases how the supports teachers in integrating ocean learning into their curriculum and connects preK–12 students with local community partners. The Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui is a regional group of the and the Blue School Global Network, which is coordinated by UNESCO. The Hawai′i Blue Schools Hui aims to build students’ ocean literacy through place-based action projects that celebrate Hawai′i’s unique biodiversity and rich cultural legacy. This learning path was made possible by SEA BEYOND.

The Hawaiʻi Blue School Hui is led by the University of Hawaiʻi and , the local

chapter of the (NMEA)—an organization whose goal is to advance the understanding and protection of marine and aquatic ecosystems—with additional support from . The Hui is facilitated by Joanna Philippoff, PhD, director of the in UH Mānoa’s School of Life Sciences and Anuschka Faucci, PhD, Leeward Community College instructor. They lead monthly teacher workshops that showcase curricular resources and highlight current ocean science issues to support schools in creating curricula grounded in place-based learning and mālama ʻāina. 

The (PAF) is a Blue School partner of . The campaign features elementary students and teachers from this school at PAF’s fishpond in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. PAF’s CEO, Kapono Ciotti, describes this site as an ‘āina-based community classroom where students learn to live in harmony with the land and sea.

This event celebrates the importance of integrating ocean education in school curriculum—so our keiki can learn to love, steward, and take action on behalf of our ocean planet. 

WHAT:  Evening of Film, Food, and Community

WHEN:   Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:   Waikalua Loko I'a, 45-233 Kulauli Street, Kaneohe, HI 96744  

Media coverage is invited and encouraged

Photo captions: 

Blue Schools students help to install a mākāhā sluice gate at Waikalua Loko Iʻa. Photo by National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale. 

Students from the Blue Schools Hui learn about some of the creatures in Kāneʻohe Bay from Titouan Bernicot, a Prada Group SEA BEYONDer featured in the campaign. Photo by National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale. 

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