Manta Week - Kona, Hawaii

The Manta Learning Center in Kona, Hawaii is celebrating it's first year with a week of festivities and fun. In 2014, Keller and Wendy Laros, co-founders of Manta Pacific Research Foundation, worked with marine life photographer Bo Pardau and the Cultural Director of Sheraton Kona, Lily Dudiot, to bring a vision to life - The Manta Learning Center. This center is located at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa in Keauhou on the island of Hawaii and features large manta images, educational plaques, and captivating manta video playing on a very large screen. Visitors can walk through the center on their way to Rays on the Bay restuarant and head to Pa'akai Point lanai that overlooks a very popular manta dive and snorkel site.

Malama Hahalua Manta Week will include festivities with award-winning artist Patrick Ching, a cultural manta plaque dedication, and manta educational activities. Wendy and Keller Laros will be conducting MPRF activities and presentations on Thursday, August 20th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. that focus on the Manta Rays of Kona, Hawaii. The Manta Identification Project will be explained and Keller will tell stories of Kona manta legends such as Lefty, Big Bertha, and Koie. Participants that want to make their own manta puppet can join Wendy to do this special craft.

On Saturday, Keller will give another presentation focused on manta research and conservation. A silent auction will take place during this time, and proceeds will go to Manta Pacific Research Foundation.

To learn more about this event, visit: http://www.sheratonkona.com/resort-experiences/manta-ray-week