NOAA's Adopt a Drifter Program

Students from Leilehua High School participate in NOAA's Adopt a Drifter Program. Credit: NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

On Tuesday November 8, 2011, students from Leilehua High School, in partnership with Waikīkī Aquarium and Marshall Islands, participate in NOAA's Adopt a Drifter Program. NOAA invites a school, aquarium, museum, or other educational institution from the U.S. to partner with a school or educational institution abroad to mutually adopt a drifting buoy to be launched from a ship at sea.

Papahānaumokuākea Staff members Daniel Wagner, Jasmine Cousins and Brian Hauk took students and a teacher from Leilehua High School aboard Humpback Whales Sanctuary's Research Vessel Kohola to launch a floating buoy that will be used to collect oceanic data. PMNM staff members operated the vessel and educated the students on global positioning systems, navigation and ocean currents.

Learn More about NOAA's Adopt a Drifter Program.