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...
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death or ROD is a fungal disease that is killing the ʻŌhiʻa tree, a species that is endemic to Hawaiʻi. The ʻŌhiʻa tree is commonly known for its beautiful red, yellow, and orange lehua blossoms and is important not only a pioneer species...
As a part of my project I am helping to develop curriculum for an archeological site in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park called Puʻuloa Petroglyphs. Puʻuloa means “long hill” in Hawaiian and it is a place where Native Hawaiians carved over 23,000 petroglyphs into hardened lava...
The Hawaiian word kīpuka is often used to refer to an “island” of forest surrounded by newer lava flows. An example of a kīpuka here in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is Kīpukapuaulu where an island of native plants and animals has survived not only the...
The clouds begin to break as the wind moves them up the slopes of the mountain. Peeking from behind the clouds is one of the world's largest volcanoes, Mauna Loa. At the foot of that mountain is its younger volcanic sibling, Kīlauea. Its large volcanic...
I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts Studies in December of 2017. After graduation I moved to the “Big Island” of Hawaii to be near family and I started volunteering at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as a park interpreter. Initially,...
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...
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...