Today was full of bittersweet goodbyes and warm welcomes.
Our morning began with a surprise greeting from the resident pod of spinner dolphins in the boat harbor – a rare and cherished sighting for us all that we couldn’t help but see as a sign of the good things to come. With the sun bursting bright in the sky, part of our team and partners launched a boat to survey reefs within the atoll. Kuaihelani is home to some of the world’s most unique reefs, featuring stunning neon purple rice coral, massive, brightly colored uhu (parrotfish), bold tritons, and an array of rare endemic fishes endemic. Our partners, Hauʻoli and Kenika, described it as a whimsical, Alice-in-Wonderland seascape.
In the afternoon, we gathered to make lei together. Joined with our friends from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this became a highlight of the day for most. It was a chance for us to connect more with the place and talk story with each other. James, our Executive Director, likes to remind us that we may never be together as this group, in this place again. Like the two strands of ti leaf, so we are woven together in this moment.
As we worked, the boat harbor was teeming with wildlife – resting sharks, leaping manta rays, sea turtles, and dolphins. Everyone came to say hello. The day progressed and our team tied up loose ends, preparing for the arrival of the rest of our crew. We soaked up our last moments with our beloved partners, grateful for our time together. The sun set on another fulfilling day.
Under a beaming full moon, a plane landed carrying the rest of our PMDP team and preparing to return our friends to the main Hawaiian Islands. While we exchanged heartfelt a hui hou’s to Kalani, Kenika and Hauʻoli, we also ecstatically greeted our new teammates. With the full PMDP crew on the island, we are ready to wake up before the sun tomorrow and let the work begin.
Lauren, and the PMDP Team
Day 4
The entire team is together again. Field work is a funny thing, we are so tightly bonded during our expeditions then go months without seeing each other. But, when we are reunited, it’s like we were never apart. We woke up this morning buzzing, grateful to be together and ready to get to work.
For some, it was their very first morning on the island. Biking along the dirt path as the sun approached the horizon, surrounded by millions of albatross, is the kind of experience that’s hard to put into words – surreal, humbling, and a little disorienting in the best way. Sharing that moment with fresh eyes gave those of us who’ve been here before a renewed sense of wonder. It’s easy to forget just how special this place is until you see it through someone else’s perspective.
The new teammates spent the morning getting oriented to the island. After lunch, everyone was eager to get their hands dirty. They wasted no time, heading straight to the west side of Sand Island and got moving. Everyone worked in tandem, covering long stretches of beach under a gentle, moody sky – light cloud cover and a steady breeze at their backs. In one short afternoon, they covered a lot of ground and filled 10 supersacks with plastic. There is no doubt about it: when our team gets together we are really good at this.
It was one of those days that felt immensely energizing – new beginnings, fresh momentum, and a whole team moving forward together.
Onwards,
Lauren, and the PMDP Team