The Hawaiian islands are home to many special plants and animals, many of which are endemic. Being endemic means restricted or peculiar to a locality or region. Through my time at the park, I’ve witnessed many plants that are endemic to Hawai‘i. I will share a few...
Trail post for various hikes. Many hikes are closed due to damages from volcanic activity. Photo by MyLynn Phan. Being a Science Communication Assistant in Hawai‘i Volcanoes usually means that I’m sitting inside an office, researching and developing programs on a computer. Although it’s rewarding and fascinating material...
Beautifully prepared poi. Photo by A Taste of Hawaii. If you’ve ever been to Hawai‘i, you’ve probably heard about poi. Poi is a thick paste of pounded taro root, a traditional staple of Hawaiian cuisine. Traditional poi is produced by mashing the cooked corm (baked or steamed) on...
An exploration into Hawaiian culture. You’ve probably read words that seem unfamiliar from my blogs by now. They aren’t advanced scientific terms or even typical volcanic terms, but rather are from Hawaiian language. Here at Hawai‘i, one of the most exciting things I’ve wanted to...
Exploring and teaching the impacts of the 2018 Kīlauea Volcanic Eruption This summer, as the Science Communication Assistant at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO), my main task is to create and develop a curriculum for K-12 schools across the islands of Hawai‘i. The curriculum will address...
I’m Bananas for Hawaiian Bananas Today, I am here to discuss an important topic: apple bananas. Apple bananas are a type of banana that’s grown in Hawai‘i, a variety of which I have fallen completely in love and will forever have in my heart. Apple...
The spirit of aloha embodies kindness, welcoming, and generosity. Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau is a Natural Historic Park on the Big Island, located a couple hours from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO NP). It was a place of refuge in the past for those who had...
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park participates in the local town’s 4th of July Parade, which entails the Park Rangers dressing up as the endemic plants and animals. It’s a hoot and the town absolutely loves it, which makes every second worth it. The parade was definitely...
Kīlauea Volcano erupting. Photo by USA Today News. Volcanic life is exciting. It’s grandiose and spectacular. Every morning, I feel grateful to walk outside and witness a true phenomenon, seeing how these islands that I am walking on have been born of fire, born of...
