Waikiki Aquarium director resigns for post in Georgia

HONOLULU - Waikiki Aquarium Director Bruce Carlson has resigned his post to take a new position at the new Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the University of Hawaii announced Tuesday. <br> <br> Carlson, whose resignation becomes effective April 30, will become the vice president for life sciences at the Georgia Aquarium. <br> <br> The 250,000-square-foot aquarium, which will hold more than 5 million gallons of water, is scheduled to open in 2005. <br> <br> Carlson was appointed director in 1990 and is credited with doubling the aquarium&#39;s annual budget to $2 million in state appropriations and admission fees. <br> <br> He also succeeded in bringing to Hawaii several unique marine life species such as living corals, chambered nautilus, giant clams and cuttlefish that never before had been seen at U.S. aquariums, the university said in a news release. <br> <br> ``His management of the Waikiki Aquarium over the past 15 years has seen us through a number of challenging times for the facility and left us with a strong vision of how the university may proceed in the development of a public-focused ocean research center,&#39;&#39; said UH Interim Chancellor Deane Neubauer. <br> <br> Carlson joined the aquarium in 1976 under the university&#39;s student employment program. He become acting director in 1986 following the resignation of his predecessor, Leighton Taylor. <br> <br> Cynthia Hunter, the aquarium&#39;s curator, will serve as acting director until a permanent successor can be found, the university said.

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