VNR: Hawaiʻi Sea Grant's Voice of the Sea TV series wins record 10 Telly Awards

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Link to video: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/iyX9UXP8d5

TheVoice of the Sea television series, produced by the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), took home 10 Telly Awards, the world's largest honor for video and television across all screens, including a gold Telly for Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP). This year, the Telly Awards received more than 13,000 entries from across the globe.

The 47th annual Telly Awards Judging Council, who select the winning entries, features more than 250 expert judges from Google, HBO, BBC, Netflix and more.

"Papahānaumokuākea is more than a protected area, it is a living ancestral and ecological system, connecting people, species, and place across the paeʻāina," said James Morioka, executive director of PMDP. "Partnering with the Voice of the Sea team on this special episode, sharing our work with the viewers, and being recognized with a Gold Telly helps us continue supporting vulnerable wildlife, restoring sensitive habitats, and perpetuating Hawaiian culture."

"The level of competition is so high, I'm incredibly excited to win a Gold Telly Awards with our partners and show off the amazing footage PMDP collected," said Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, Voice of the Sea host and co-producer. "Winning nine more awards is just spectacular!"

Gold and silver winner

PMDP shares what it is like to remove massive amounts of plastic pollution from Papahānaumokuākea, the 582,570 square miles of coral reefs, atolls, and aquatic habitat of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The episode was awarded a gold Telly in the not-for-profit category, and a silver Telly in nature & wildlife.

"Working as a storyteller in Papahānaumokuākea means being trusted to share places and stories that most people will never experience firsthand," said Andrew Sullivan-Haskins, Emmy-award winning conservation expedition photographer with PMDP. "It's not just about doing the work, it's about helping people understand why these environments matter."

Silver and bronze winner

Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas musically celebrates Hawaiʻi's seas that combines science, art, culture and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. It was awarded a Silver Telly in the Culture & Lifestyle category, and a bronze Telly in music, dance & performance.

Multiple bronze winner

Oral Histories of Waialeʻe visits the north shore of Oʻahu, where oral histories inform the revitalization of this rich community resource; the episode also visits the Center for Oral History at UH Mānoa to learn about cataloging Hawaiʻi's past. The episode took home bronze Tellys in the educational institution and history categories.

Silver winners

Ciguatera Poisoning shares information about ciguatera poisoning, the seafood illness that comes from toxins produced by microscopic algae in warm, nearshore waters, and the research that aims to help people eat safe seafood. It was awarded a silver Telly in public interest & awareness.

Innovative Aquaculture looks at the future of aquaculture at the Hawaiʻi Ocean Science and Technology Park at Keāhole Point, on Hawaiʻi Island-where unique seawater facilities support more than 50 cutting-edge tenants, including Blue Ocean Mariculture, Symbrosia and Cyanotech. The episode was awarded a silver Telly in sustainability.

Bronze winners

Aquaculture Internships reviews aquaculture jobs and internships, from innovative fish mariculture and traditional fishponds in Hawaiʻi, to village-level aquaponics in American Samoa. The episode was awarded a bronze Telly in education & training.

Estuary Team shares information on the different types of estuary systems in Hawaiʻi, how the Division of Aquatic Resources Estuary Team monitors estuaries, the importance of estuaries for protecting critical fisheries habitat, and why Waimea River on the west side of Kauaʻi is such a special place. The episode was awarded a bronze Telly in sustainability.

For more information, visit: https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/news-and-events/in-the-news/