SOS MEC

Sustainable Ocean Studies Marine Education Center

Including Shark Research

You can make a difference! Help us build this unique spot!

The SOS (Sustainable Ocean Studies) Center hosts a Living Laboratory for oceanic education, a pan-tropical plant nursery, and a state of the art auditorium hall to host a diverse group of interests.

The SOS Center generates research about developing contemporary community-based marine resource management programs, sustainable fisheries management and improved food stocks for local residents. The SOS Center creates a unique opportunity for international education, research and discovery. SOS Center Projects unite the community and local schools with state and federal agencies to preserve, protect and restore the reefs on Kaua’i and around the World through research and education.

Situated cliff side provides spectacular viewing opportunities and opportunities for a sustainable system of marine research & viewing tanks and aquaculture facilities.

The design of the SOS CENTER strives to incorporate the harmony and beauty of nature including inspiration from Phi (a mathematical ratio found in nature, art and the greatest architecture of civilization), and the hexagonal crystalline structure of water crystals.

Establishing the SOS Center enables Save Our Seas to offer significant contributions within the community of Kaua’i as well as the international marine conservation community.

Coral reefs and other pristine ocean ecosystems are disappearing faster today than at any time in the last three million years. Kaua’i, one of the most beautiful and diverse islands in the world, can be a leader and example for other island and ocean communities in  marine education and conservation.

The key to success is education and awareness!  When the people of Kaua’i and the many visitiors who visit the island understand the true value of our ocean and coral reefs, our island community can be transformed.

SOS (Sustainable Ocean Studies) Center

The SOS Center is "ideally situated" on land that has been donated to SOS by Kaua'i Residents. The ocean side of this area is ideally considered as an MPA (Marine Protected Area). The waters adjacent to the SOS Center on Kaua'i are adjacent to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The land and sea of The SOS center is a unique partnership that unites local schools, community groups, international non-profits and federal agencies.

The land is managed for the protection and recovery of native and endangered plants and animals including the nesting habitats for Nene (Hawaiian Goose), the Moli (Laysan Albatross), 'A (Red-footed Booby), 'Ua'u kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Koa'e kea (White-tailed Tropic Bird), Koa'e 'ula (Red-tailed Tropic Bird), and resting habitat for the 'A (Brown Booby) and 'Iwa (Great Frigatebird).

The nearby beach, reef, and bay provide resting habitat for the endangered 'Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua (Hawaiian Monk Seal), the threatened Honu (Green Sea turtle) and the protected Kohola (Humpbacks Whales) & Nai'a (Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin).

SOS continues work that has been done over the past 13 years educating the community and monitoring the coral reefs that surround Kaua’i. The SOS Center serves as an experiential living laboratory with unique ocean ecosystems and diverse species of native and Polynesian plants and animals. The SOS Center lets people truly understand beauty in nature creating an innovative and awe-inspiring place of harmony that fosters scientific research, education, and multiculturalism.

·         Living laboratory: SOS center serves as an educational interactive living laboratory for local and visiting students, scientists, community members, and tourists. SOS Center joins elements of the sea (aquaria and aquaculture), the land (pan tropical gardens), art, and the community.   Its’ interior is filled with interactive displays, specimens, models of marine creatures, aquariums, research tanks, a “Keiki (Children's) Discovery Pool,” cultural displays, videos, and art work made by students.  Saltwater tanks at SOS Center are home to native and indigenous marine species with particular importance being paid to invasive species that can damage Hawaiian reefs. Aquaculture is preformed by local students of all ages as well as interns from universities. Native edible Limu (algae) is grown and sold for community service projects that help support the local economy, replenish the reefs, and protect native reefs from over harvesting. Educators and students concentrate on projects that grow native or endangered species in efforts to restore degraded environments.

Not only will ocean conservation take place, but ancient Hawaiian and Polynesian plants are grown in coordination with the NTBG (National Tropical Botanical Gardens) and other local native plant specialists. All efforts are made to cultivate and promote endemic Hawaiian species of plants. The NTBG has been instrumental in protecting the genetic diversity of plant species that are crucial to the Hawaiian culture. Students are taught to grow native plants that were used during Polynesian voyages. The experiential “Seed to Sea” program reinforces cultural values and strengthens physical and mental ties between the land and the sea.

·         Auditorium: The Kahu Hale "protector house" functions as an IMAX style movie theatre and has a multimedia center to provide video and audio capabilities. SOS Center provides ocean educational movies, seminars, and workshops for locals and visitors. Funds raised at Kahu Hale go towards maintenance and upkeep of the facility. Community groups, guest speakers, musicians, and others may also rent or utilize the facility.

·         Mixed Uses: The SOS Center is an accessible gathering place with a broad mix of uses - educational, cultural, recreational, retail, and commercial - that reflect the diversity of Hawai'i and all forms of artistic creation and expression.

·         Multiculturalism and tolerance: The native Hawaiian Ahupua'a system serves as a model for innovative resource protection and conservation practices. Native plants grown are used in traditional practices and education.  Recognizing Hawai'i's commitment to diversity, the SOS Center site builds understanding between people of different ethnicities, cultures, and religions worldwide.

·         A peaceful oasis: Peaceful settings are found in a place that visibly demonstrates a greater design in its architecture, art, music and exhibits that are one with nature. The SOS Center creates the feeling of serenity, respect, and reflection.

·         A spiritual component: When people understand how much we are one with the design of nature, they also better understand that they need to care for our planet. Because Phi and the hexagonal crystalline structure of water are based on the mathematics of design found in nature, the design transcends all boundaries of religious belief, culture and time.

Design Emphasis: The SOS Center creates a site with stunning beauty and an undeniable statement about the foundation upon which life is based. Overall harmony in the design of the site is accomplished through use of the timeless and universal principle of design known as Phi (1 : 1.618…, the Golden Mean; or, as it was called by Leonardo DaVinci, the Divine Proportion), and the tetrahedral hexagonal crystal structure of water.

Architectural design includes a central hexagonal building incorporating a Phi spiral in the center as a unifying theme, and 6 smaller hexagonal buildings (internal phi pattern) that attach to the central point by corridors representing the crystalline structure of water (snowflake pattern) and includes various design elements such as spires, glass, or reflective materials. Above all else, design is innovative and awe-inspiring, incorporating 21st century technology to ensure environmental and structural soundness.

SOS (Sustainable Ocean Studies) Center

Breathtaking observation areas allow for year-round monitoring of local marine mammals like spinner dolphin and humpback whales. Valuable data is collected as well as research about developing contemporary community-based marine resource management programs, sustainable fisheries management and improved food stocks for local residents. This project unites architects, artists, engineers, scientists, and mathematicians from around the community, in a pursuit of aesthetics, nobility of intent, and spirit.

Simply put, “Eco-Tourism” is good business for our islands, and crucial to the rescue of our fragile ocean.  Successful institutions like The Waikiki Aquarium, the Maui Ocean Center, Mokupapapa Discovery Center for Hawaii's Remote Coral Reefs, and the Ocean Institute in Southern California have inspired, informed and educated thousands of residents and visitors alike.  Establishing the SOS Center will enable SOS to grow and offer significant contributions within the community of Kaua’i as well as the international marine conservation community.

The SOS MEC will generate research about developing contemporary community-based marine resource management programs, sustainable fisheries management and improved food stocks for local residents.

Management of the Sea's natural marine resources is imperative.

The key to success is education and awareness.

"SOS (Sustainable Ocean Studies) Center"

Ø                   Raising public awareness about coral reef ecology

Ø                   Helping to sustain the world's oceanic ecosystems

Ø                   Surveying the health of the reef and publicizing the results;

Ø                   Showing students, residents and visitors how our coral reefs relate & interconnect with all species of the ocean environment.

Ø                   Guiding individual communities in managing their local reefs by taking crucial steps required to preserve, protect and restore our seas for future generations.

Real Estate Donation:  All types of Real Estate donations are Tax Deductible. You can claim the full "Fair Market Value" of your property.  Residential properties are the most common, but commercial and industrial assets can be donated also. You do not have to pay capital gains on the property.

Donating your ecologically or culturally significant land to SOS ensures that your land will be protected forever. It is a gift that will continue to benefit your island community for generations to come.

The mission of SOS land trust mission is to preserve native plants, animals, and natural communities by protecting the lands and water they need to survive. SOS protects land through acquisitions, gifts of land, conservation easements, cooperation with state and local units of government, and private landowners. It is funded by memberships, grants, and contributions from individuals and corporations. Gifts can be made during your lifetime or through a bequest or pension plan.  SOS seeks not only land with critical habitat for rare and endangered species or ecosystems, but also lands that could be sold and the proceeds used to purchase or manage critical habitats.

SOS@SaveOurSeas.Org