Abstract (from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10745-016-9822-0): Complex systems, such as ocean currents, occur at multiple temporal and physical scales require simultaneous analysis across a range of geographic scales. Presently, there are few available nearshore current maps or models accessible to managers or the public in Hawai'i despite the fact that predicting nearshore currents and processes is important for understanding many other social-ecological interactions. Maps of coastal ocean currents are difficult to create because of constant change and the limited availability of nearshore data. Maps are symbols of our collective knowledge frameworks, representing various geographic areas and features that humans utilize. [...]