Last day at Kamokuokamohoali’i !
Having Success as a Team!
July 13th, 2022
Diver Lauren Chamberlain assesses the damage on the reef caused by the derelict fishing net (pc: Gabriela Echeverry/PMDP)
On our final day at Kamokuokamohoaliʻi, the PMDP team woke up feeling sore, but excited for one more day swimming the current-swept reefs in search of marine debris. Shaking off our swollen hands and applying a layer of Neosporin to our various cuts, we gave one last oli towards the sunrise and took a moment to reflect on the previous week of work.
Between numerous sightings of curious wildlife, nets draping endlessly into cradles of sand, and quick-passing squalls that churn the world into a wash of gray foam, we have had our share of excitement at Kamokuokamohoaliʻi. I can’t help but feel so incredibly grateful for the team that surrounds me in this special place.
Diver Kala’i Sim, coxswain Louise Currie, and diver Max Lee pose with the day’s haul of derelict fishing net (pc: James Morioka/PMDP)
As we begin our last day at Kamokuokamohoaliʻi, my boat team’s first find of the day appears to be a mass of wire-thin net caught in the sand and reef. However, after some inspection, this mass reveals itself as a complex maze of ropes and webbing straps lodged stubbornly onto the bottom by knotted balls of rope as thick as my legs! We establish a diving rotation and begin taking turns working on the net, piece by piece.
After over an hour, the net pulls free from the bottom. Slightly winded, we hop back into the boat and continue working quickly as the net drifts defiantly towards a new section of reef. We secure various sections of the net to the boat and pull as one until the net slowly rises towards the surface.
Once there, we call for reinforcements. Two more boat teams zoom over to assist. We work as a team cutting the tangled mess into more manageable pieces, each diver sawing through the leg-sized ropes. Once broken up, we line up topside, and heave each section in; toppling backwards each team another chunk finally flops into the boat. Finally, we are able to pull the last section in, the net snaking across our deck creates a pile nearly head-high.
We take lunch sitting atop the massive net and once again I reflect on our time spent at Kamokuokamohoaliʻi. It’s been incredible to witness the coordination, patience, and innovation of our team. I know that our team can tackle whatever lies ahead.
Meet the Author
Louise Currie