Hawaii State Rep. Nicole Lowen talks about how laws get made and why ocean conservation policy moves so slowly. From regulating ocean recreation to renewable energy, this is what it takes to turn environmental concerns into action.

Why do environmental regulations take so long, even when there's public support? In this episode, Hawaii State Representative Nicole Lowen pulls back the curtain on the legislative process and shares what happens behind the scenes when we try to protect our oceans.

Rep. Lowen chairs the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee and has spent over a decade working on renewable energy, ocean conservation, and waste management policy. She walks us through what a state representative does, how committee assignments work, and the departments like DLNR and DOBOR that oversee our natural resources.

The conversation discusses the long process of ocean recreation regulation in Hawaii. Despite a 2014 resolution calling for mandatory industry regulation, a tragic death in 2022, and widespread concern about overcrowding at popular manta ray dive locations, rules still haven't been implemented - and Rep. Lowen explains why.

We also explore Hawaii's renewable energy: the 100% clean energy goal by 2045, the closure of the last coal plant, the expansion of solar farms, and the potential for geothermal. Rep. Lowen discusses where Hawaii is ahead of schedule and where we're struggling, as well as ongoing challenges with cesspools, waste management, and invasive species.

This episode is for anyone who's frustrated by the slow pace of environmental progress and wants to understand how the system actually works. If you care about ocean conservation and want to move beyond individual action to influence policy, this conversation will help you understand how each of us can engage with the process.

KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) Intro

(01:38) What does a lawmaker actually do? The four buckets of the job

(04:10) How Rep. Lowen "fell into" politics after working at the legislature

(08:29) The committee system: how you get appointed and who has power

(10:23) Conservation as the heart of the work—ocean, land, and everything connected

(13:40) Hawaii's renewable energy progress: where we're ahead and where we're behind

(17:50) Why ocean recreation still isn't regulated after 11+ years

(22:30) The tragedy that reopened the conversation in 2022

(24:35) The surf lesson lottery disaster and why fair regulation is so hard

(27:51) The decade of decisions: why this moment matters

RESOURCES

• Episode page and resources: oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/rep-nicole-lowen

• Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter

• More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com  

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At age 12, Ashley Jacob knew she wanted to work with marine mammals. Her path there took her through elephant seal fieldwork, challenging funding landscapes, and an unplanned move across the Pacific. Today, she's a marine scientist guiding manta ray swims in Hawaii. Her story shows how persistence and a clear sense of purpose often matter more than any perfect plan.

• How Ashley’s early love of the ocean and animals evolved into a career in conservation and manta ray advocacy
• Choosing research, outreach, and education over aquarium work, and why following your values can get you further than a perfect plan
• How a single wildlife encounter can shift perspective in lasting ways
• Why you don’t need to be a large company to make a meaningful impact in conservation
• Practical advice for anyone who wants to build a career in marine science 

Key moments:

(00:00) Introduction 

(03:25) How a childhood film sparked Ashley's marine mammal career 

(07:00) Marine biology at Humboldt 

(11:34) Scientific diving and choosing conservation education over aquarium work

(16:05) Elephant seal fieldwork on California's Lost Coast 

(20:34) Elephant seal migration patterns 

(23:25) Florida shark and ray tagging 

(26:21) Moving to Hawaii for work 

(30:47) Finding Manta Ray Advocates and aligning work with personal values

(35:43) What makes manta ray encounters so transformative 

(38:20) Ashley's advice for building a career in marine science

Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/ashley-marine-biologist

Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter

More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com 

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Marine biologist Dawn Murray sits down with Martina Wing for two hours of conversation about manta rays. Martina shares 27 years of experience with Hawaii's reef manta rays, from identifying individuals by their belly patterns to navigating the current challenges of sustainable manta tourism. Dawn asks the questions a marine educator wants answered, and Martina provides insights from nearly three decades above and below.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• What we know (and don't know) about manta ray reproduction
• Manta rays movement ranges and individual behaviors
• The gracious and acrobatic manta ray feeding patterns
• Martina’s mission to make manta tours safer and more sustainable
• The "superpower" of manta rays: pushing trauma forward for healing

You’ll get to know the individual mantas Martina’s gotten to know and love, hear about civilians and scientists who’ve helped uncover some of the mysteries surrounding the gentle giants of the ocean, along with some manta ray mythbusting. 

Key moments:

(1:46) Martina's origin story: from deep grief to manta rays
(8:13) Evolution from underwater videographer to shore-based tour operator
(13:48) How do we identify and track individual manta rays?
(28:22) The birth and early development of manta rays
(46:15) Manta ray filter-feeding behavior and patterns
(52:57) Dangers and threats to manta rays in Hawaii and globally
(59:14) Why is manta ray tourism such a controversial topic right now?
(01:05:00) Stories of manta ray courtship and pregnancy
(01:10:55) Mythbusting: manta rays don’t turn off their brains to swim
(01:11:13) Manta ray predators and why mantas are hard to catch
(01:14:16) Movement range and the Pavlov effect, continued at (1:25:53)
(01:20:12) Does the moon affect manta ray movement patterns? Continued at (01:21:32)
(01:20:30) The third species of manta rays, officially recognized last summer (2025) 
(01:23:47) Do manta rays eat jellyfish?
(01:29:41) The partnership with Jim, speaking up about safety and manta tour regulations
(01:51:48) Sharing the magical experience of swimming with manta rays

This episode is for anyone who wants to understand manta ray behavior and cares about sustainable ocean tourism and conservation. 

Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/dawn-martina-manta-deep-dive

Get Martina’s emails: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter

More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com 

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Ocean Wings is a podcast about conservation, civic courage and the ripple effect of nature. Tune in weekly for real stories of how manta ray magic leads to positive action, personal healing and meaningful change.

At 16, Abraham Hickson is already using his voice to fight for the future he’ll inherit. A repeat guest on Martina’s manta ray night swim, he watched tourists ignore the rules and harass the animals, and something shifted: anger turned into responsibility.

In this conversation, Martina and Abraham explore how a single ocean encounter can ignite a lifelong commitment to advocacy, how speech & debate can sharpen a young person’s voice, and why learning to spot misinformation is now a survival skill.

In this episode:

• Anger can fuel productive change: That moment of frustration in the water encouraged Abraham to build the communication skills he’d need to advocate for issues he cares about.
• Why Gen Z's voice matters: This generation inherited massive environmental and political challenges, and they're the ones who'll live with the consequences, making their engagement and leadership critical right now.
• Direct experience drives responsibility: A single, powerful wildlife experience can shift someone’s understanding of what’s worth protecting.
• Critical thinking is non-negotiable: With misinformation everywhere, building a reliable BS radar is essential for anyone trying to make sense of the world.

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro: Why Gen Z voices matter right now

(03:21) A moment in the water that changed Abraham’s perspective

(08:27) Martina's path from engineering to ocean advocacy

(12:01) Building a small, ethical ocean recreation business

(16:22) The transformative power of manta ray experiences

(20:46) Speaking up, confrontation, and cultural differences

(24:31) Finding his voice through advocacy and debate

(29:23) What competitive debate actually teaches you

(35:56) Connecting values to policy and civic action

(43:46) Spotting misinformation and building a “BS radar”

(49:29) From manta ray magic to meaningful change

Episode page and resources:

https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/abraham-gen-z

Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter

More about manta rays on https://mantarayadvocates.com/

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A chance conversation between meditation teacher Amanda Weber and underwater filmmaker Martina Wing grew into Manta Ray Meditations, a guided video meditation series with underwater manta footage. 

This episode explores how the project came together during the 2020 lockdown and why the meditations still resonate today.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Amanda’s journey from 20 years in corporate marketing to teaching meditation
• What it's like to swim with manta rays at night (and why it sticks with you)
• How two people with different skills used their creativity to help the world heal 
• Why visual meditation works better for our distracted minds

This episode is for anyone looking for calm, creativity, or a reminder that unlikely collaborations can create something powerful.

Key moments: 

(00:00) Intro

(01:35) From corporate marketing to meditation teacher

(06:22) Amanda’s manta ray experience - the process of letting go

(13:01) COVID lockdown and dealing with trauma through creativity

(19:17) Manta Ray Meditations - calm amidst chaos, relaxation in uncertain times

(21:26) How visual meditation works to help with focus

(25:51) Corporate stress management and other healing modalities, dream work

(29:03) Lessons from the manta rays - life is long, keep swimming forward

Episode page and resources: oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/amanda-meditation  

Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter

More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com 

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Two sisters went swimming with manta rays in Hawaii. One quit competitive triathlon; the other redirected her career to hold local government accountable.

When Amy Spring and Heidi Maldonado joined a manta ray swim after Heidi's Ironman World Championship in 2023, they didn't expect that 90-minute experience to reshape their entire approach to living in alignment with their values. From career pivots to vegan living, this conversation explores how connecting with nature can lead to real, lasting change in how we show up in the world.

This episode covers the following topics: 

🐋Transformational experiences often wait on the other side of fear and discomfort
🐋 Everyone can contribute to the world we’re building. You don’t need a national platform to create change.
🐋 Start local, think long-term: getting involved in political and environmental causes within your own community
🐋 Finding balance: staying informed about global challenges, while focusing energy on what you can do right now, right here. 

Key moments: 

• (0:37) Amy & Heidi’s manta ray experience, and the emotional journey of snorkeling in the dark with giant fish
• (06:32) Prerequisites for snorkeling with manta rays, and #CommonSense
• (07:55) Connecting through shared values and political engagement
• (11:49) Personal transformation through wildlife encounters
• (13:19) Veganism and environmental awareness
• (17:45) Heidi’s decision to quit triathlon and the environmental impact of Ironman
• (23:58) Amy’s career change toward local government transparency
• (28:05) Finding balance between staying informed and maintaining hope
  

Episode page and resources: oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/amy-spring-heidi-maldonado-life-changes 

Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter

More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com 

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