By DAMIEN PEREZ

For The Maui News

KAHULUI–Earlier in the week, The Maui News reported Gandharva Mahina Hou Ross, a cultural immersion teacher from Moloka’i, was departing on a 26-day exploration voyage aboard The Nautilus, a 224-foot research vessel.

The Nautilus and its 31-member expedition team will use Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to explore part of a 323,000 km area of unmapped, deep-sea ecosystems proposed as a marine sanctuary, located roughly halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands.

Ross is genuinely enthusiastic and grateful for this opportunity.

Courtesy photo

The Nautilus (pictured) and its 31-member expedition team will explore part of a 323,000 km area of unmapped, deep-sea ecosystems proposed as a marine sanctuary, located roughly halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands.

“I knew that simply applying for the role would show my students that amazing opportunities were always within our reach,” Ross told the Maui News aboard the Nautilus. “Being selected has reinforced that new doors are always waiting to be opened.”

Ross is crucial to communications between the ship and the interested public in reserved 30-minute time slots, or whenever a viewer has a question come to mind.

“During the ROV operations, called dives, we will broadcast the video online, as well as the communications between the science team, on what we call the ‘Science Party Line’,” said Ross.

“My duties will be communicating with the public through the 24-hour line and the ‘Ship to Shore’ meetings,” said Ross.

The ‘Ship to Shore’ meetings can be scheduled in 30 minute increments at https://nautiluslive.org.

The focus of the expedition will be a previously uncharted area around Jarvis Island in an area the size of New Mexico, in depths most would find difficult to comprehend.

“It’s hard to believe technology has enabled us to survey depths of up to 7,000 meters. Check out some of the dives, as the technology aboard is hard to believe.”

The combination of the livestreamed ROV missions with the new exploration of this area certainly has Ross excited for this journey.

“For the students to experience something like this with me explaining it along the way, will make this memorable for both sides.”

Ross, a cultural immersion teacher with a background in science, proudly boasts of the countless blessings his Hawaiian culture has granted him.

“Teaching and learning about the vast resources of the ocean is a vital aspect of being a Hawaiian. This Jarvis Island Expedition means the Hawaiian culture never stops teaching as well,” said Ross.

The Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) may have already discovered a successful combination by making Ross the essential line of communication between the Nautilus and countless Hawaiian youths, with a bolstering interest in deep water exploration.

Check up on Ross and the crew of The Nautilus at any time via live video feeds at https//:nautiluslive.org.