Mahalo!

04 Sep Mahalo!

My Mosaics in Science internship has been an amazing opportunity. I believe a discovery of history is discovery of self. The projects I participated in allowed me to feel more connected to my ancestors by exploring what they left behind and the natural landscape they experienced. Part of me will always be connected to this land. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park contains many sacred spaces — sacred not only to native Hawaiians, but to all of us. A natural landscape filled with legacy and life. With COVID-19 there was a lot of uncertainty of how our work could be done. I felt fortunate to have opportunities to go out into the field and explore the park and experience the awe of this constantly changing environment. Hulihia is a Hawaiian word that means a complete change or to turn upside down. Currently it seems we live in a world turned upside down, but we can find hope by looking to examples in the natural world where many plants and animals have found ways to adapt. I believe we can adapt too and find our own new equilibrium.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who helped me on this project, especially the education team at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. My supervisors, coworkers, and team members were amazing collaborators and mentors throughout this whole process. I also want to express my gratitude to the staff at Environment for the Americas and Mosaics in Science for their thoughtful and generous support. I will cherish the memories of this experience for years to come. Thank you!

Mahalo nui loa!