Students from three Maui schools this morning toured an NCL America cruise ship to learn about the ship's operations, along with getting a close-up look at green sea turtles, plankton and water quality testing at Kahului Harbor.

The 75 students were from Kalama Intermediate School, Kihei Charter School and the Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus.

They were participating in the Science Day at Sea program, which is sponsored by the cruise line, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

Other sponsors include Sea Life Park, Hawai'i Preparatory Academy and the Maui Ocean Center.

The program also will take place on NCL America's ports of call in Hilo, Kailua, Kona, and Nawiliwili.

The event is in advance of the scheduled release on Friday of six Hawaiian green sea turtles that were captive bred at Sea Life Park.

The turtles will be released off the coast of Kaua'i on Friday as part of NOAA's research project to learn more about the life and travel patterns of sea turtles in the open ocean.