I am currently serving as a co-crew lead for the volunteers and first came to Kuaihelani in 2021 as a seven-month volunteer. The position I am co-leading was cut from the Midway Atoll Refuge staffing chart when a previous 4-year term Volunteer Coordinator position ended in Spring. I am therefore very excited and tremendously grateful to be able to return to directly support this critical program through the summer of 2025.
Growing up in Washington State with access to the outdoors, I was deeply influenced by the beauty and diversity of the wildlife, which shaped my passion and goals to work in conservation. I attended the University of Washington, where I majored in Wildlife Conservation and minored in American Indian Studies, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, and Quantitative Science. I began my career mainly working with mesocarnivores and plants before coming to Kuaihelani.
My experience as a volunteer on Kuaihelani was incredibly rewarding and very formative for my career in conservation. I fell completely in love with remote places and seabirds (mōlī or Laysan albatross being my absolute favorite) and the skills and training I received greatly expanded the career options available to me moving forward. I continued to work with seabirds for Audubon’s Project Puffin before returning to work with mesocarnivores (foxes, bobcats, and coyotes) and large predators (black bears, and killer whales!). Recently, I completed another seabird season with Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on the Aleutian Islands.
My love and desire to return to Kuaihelani and work with wildlife in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument never faded. Now, as a crew lead, I aim to create a similarly positive and career-boosting experience for new volunteers, and I am beyond excited to experience Kuaihelani with them for their first time.
Living among the seabirds of Kuaihelani is an unforgettable and extraordinary experience – and I am eternally grateful to the Friends of Midway Atoll (FOMA) for funding my position that allows me to contribute to vital conservation efforts here once again. I am also grateful to FOMA for supporting the volunteers who are absolutely essential to wildlife's ability to thrive through our conservation work in the field.
Finally, I am forever thankful for our wonderful volunteers! We are having an incredible season with an exceptional crew and during my off hours, I look forward to continuing to share with you the beauty of the life here through my photos and videos!