Hawaii Girl Scout Troop 401 Make a Big Wave for World Oceans Day

Hawaii is now the first state to officially recognize and celebrate World Oceans Day, and it all started with the efforts of a handful of Cadettes in Honolulu's Girl Scout Troop 401.

Actions

Nika and Sabina get signatures of support on the World Oceans Day petition at a Holiday Fair.

At the suggestion of a well-known Hawaiian ocean paddler, Donna Kahakui, three Cadettes from Troop 401 -- Chanel Gemini, Nika Kashyap, and Sabina Van Tilburg -- decided to try to get the state to officially recognize World Oceans Day as their Silver Award project. The Silver Award is the highest award available to Cadette Girl Scouts.

Using the petition and letter templates on The Ocean Project website, the girls collected signatures from the public for several months and reached out to state Representative Lyla Berg and Senator Clarence Nishihara.

Results

Girl Scout Cadettes Sabina, Chanel, and Nika with Hawaii Senator Clayton Hee after the hearing on March 24, 2008.

Representative Berg and Senator Nishihara introduced a resolution to the Hawaii State House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, to officially recognize and celebrate World Oceans Day.

Thanks to support from the Committee on Water and Land, chaired by Senator Hee, the 2008 Hawaii Legislature passed the Resolution recognizing World Oceans Day for the calendar year. At the request of the legislators and with the support of Kai Makana, The Nature Conservancy, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and individuals in the community, the girls of Troop 401 contacted Senator Hee and Representative Berg again in November 2008 to request that they file an amendment to the state statute in the first week of the new 2009 Legislature. The amendment, which passed unanimously in the House and Senate, officially changed the old state holiday of Ocean Day to World Oceans Day on June 8th every year, making Hawaii the first state in the USA to officially recognize World Oceans Day. Hawaii Girl Scout Troop 401 is so excited to see their efforts come to a positive result.

World Oceans Day resolution group: Donna Kahakui, Chanel Gemini, Sabina Van Tilburg, Nika Kashyap, Lorna Woo, and Jennifer Ishii at the Hawaii State Senate.

The Ocean Project extends an ocean of thanks to Chanel, Nika, and Sabina, their troop leader, Teri Skillman, and the inspiration behind it all, Donna Kahakui.

Make Your Own Wave

You too can create a big wave for World Oceans Day. Check out the Media and Resources kit for a copy of the World Oceans Day petition to collect signatures in your community, the World Oceans Day poster, a sample letter to your editor and representative, and much more!

Repreinted with permission: The Ocean Project