Crew
Elisha Witt, better known as Eli, was born in 1979 in Norfolk. He moved to Hawai‘i at the age of three, where he was raised in Niu Valley on O‘ahu. Eli currently teaches Oceanography and coordinates Marine Education at the Myron B. Thompson Academy, an online public charter school.
“Sailing to Palmyra aboard Hōkūle’a will allow students enrolled at Thompson Academy virtual access to the atoll. During the week long stay at Palmyra, a real-time marine science curriculum will augment an accelerated oceanography course, which explores reef biodiversity and other threats to the marine environment, both of which are key issues. Field exercises performed on Coconut Island at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology on O‘ahu will be performed on Palmyra, empowering students to compare and contrast the two ecosystems, and reflect on the ecological balance of the two environments.”
“This pilot educational program on Palmyra will probe whether similar activities can be effectively incorporated into the upcoming worldwide voyage. Since educational transformation is a clear goal of the Hōkūle’a sail, it is important that Hawai‘i’s youth are invested in the voyage. Teaching marine biology from remote global locations is one way to connect to classrooms throughout Hawai‘i.”