Hokule'a, The Hawaiian Voyaging Society's outrigger canoe, escorts the Ocean Futures Society expedition vessel Searcher out of Honolulu Harbor on July 6, 2003. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED
Expeditions:Voyage to Kure Gallery
The Ocean Futures Society Team traveled over 1,200 miles on expedition for Voyage to Kure. Please click on the thumbnails to begin the slide show and be sure to visit all six galleries!
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During the traditional farewell blessing and "Awa Ceremony" led by Kumu John Lake, Halau dancers performed special dances specific to the time-honored cultural traditions of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Jean-Michel Cousteau dives the coral reef "desert" off Wakiki, damaged by pollution and other human impacts. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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The dive team, including Jean-Michel (foreground) and Holly Lohuis (center) explore the "coral desert" off Wakiki. Prior to leaving Honolulu, the team dove and filmed off Waikiki - what a shock! Although the visibility was about 50’ with little surge in an area that has all the perfect ingredients for a healthy reef ecosystem - the right substrate, clear and warm water for coral growth – it was in fact, a barren coral desert. Waikiki’s land-based pollution from run-off and other human stresses on the reef has resulted in few hard corals. The main Hawaiian Islands are virtually void of large predatory fishes, whereas the NWHI Islands have one of the highest abundance of apex predators that still exists in the world because of a lack of human influences. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Although for many team members, this is the first time they've working together with each other, they have bonded together and are working as a cohesiveness unit. This is critical for successfully executing the different logistics required for diving and filming in remote conditions. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Matt Ferraro, expedition team diver, operates underwater lights, as a film team cinematographer shoots footage, using a high definition camera. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Expedition Leader Don Santee prepares customized force fins for the expedition dive team. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Chief Diver Blair Mott, conducts safety procedures on the six-person recompression chamber aboard the expedition vessel Searcher. The chamber is a safeguard for the expedition's deep dives. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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The expedition film team diving off La Perouse Pinnacle, French Frigate Shoals: Yves Lefevre, cameraman, Holly Lohuis and Jean-Michel, and Ed Cassano, with underwater lights. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Jean-Michel Cousteau and expedition team member Holly Lohuis, dive over the pristine reefs of French Frigate Shoals. Note the large size of the Giant Table Coral. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Ronda Friend, the galley cook, and Holly Lohuis, retrieve food and supplies from the dry center bilge, aboard the Searcher. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals basking on the beach at Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Endangered Monk Seals fight for territory on the beach at French Frigate Shoals, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Endangered Green Sea Turtles basked in the sun on the beach at French Frigate Shoals. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Endangered Green Sea Turtles basked in the sun on the beach at French Frigate Shoals. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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The Ocean Futures Society film expedition team found healthy giant tabletop coral in the waters off French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Jean-Michel Cousteau and expedition team diver Holly Lohuis, examine coral growth off French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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A pair of terns on French Frigate Shoals. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Red-footed Boobies roost near the beach. Bird life abounds on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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Red-footed Boobies roost near the beach. Bird life abounds on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals. ©Tom Ordway, Ocean Futures Society/KQED 
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