^TM

DOUBLE CELEBRATION IN MAUI

Maui Ocean Center Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary
and Tiger Shark’s 1st Anniversary

As Maui Ocean Center celebrated its 2nd Anniversary (March 13) the Hawaiian Aquarium also celebrated its 1st anniversary with a juvenile tiger shark. Called “niuhi” in Hawaiian, the tiger shark was brought in from Maui's central waters in February 1999, and is doing well in the 750,000-gallon "Open Ocean" exhibit. The male juvenile shark was caught by hook and line by Maui Ocean Center's curatorial team, then blessed that day by Kahu (Rev.) Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr., one of the Aquarium’s Hawaiian cultural advisors. (Tiger sharks are considered “a`umakua,” a family or personal god, or a deified ancestor who might assume the shape of a shark or other animals by the Hawaiian people.) In a couple of days the hook fell off naturally while it was eating.

Today the tiger shark weighs approximately 300 pounds and is 8 feet long. It still has its tiger markings and is estimated to be 7 to 8 years of age. Maui Ocean Center's divers feed it a diet of oily mackerel, parrotfish, and an occasional octopus twice a day, but it does not always eat when offered food.

Tiger sharks in aquariums are rare. Only a few marine parks in the world have them in their collection. They are highly sensitive to changes and have been more difficult to keep than other shark species. Currently, there are six different species of sharks featured at the Aquarium: Gray Reef shark, Sandbar shark, Blacktip Reef shark, Scalloped Hammerhead and the Tiger.

Steve Still, Maui Ocean Center’s General Manager, Kahu (Rev.) Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr., and Education Manager Jayme Perrello sang Happy Birthday over the airwaves to Maui Ocean Center on Maxwell’s radio show. As Maui Ocean Center turned 2-years old on March 13 “The Hawaiian Aquarium” also celebrated the first anniversary of its tiger shark, which was brought in February 1999. The live broadcast featured interviews with the Aquarium’s staff members who talked about accomplishments, new animals, new projects, and sent a “big mahalo” to the community for all of its support in the past year. “Talk Story with Uncle Charlie” airs every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on KNUI 900 AM.

E komo mai! Come….

If you want to get up-close-and-personal with these awesome animals (without getting wet) visit them at Maui Ocean Center: 808-270-7000.

Edited by Kerry Cohen

Back to TravelLady Magazine