Donating in Their Honor

One way to honor lifelong friends, and those who dedicate their lives to conservation efforts, is by donating in their honor. One such example was gifted by Mary Harbold, who honored Laura Kalaukapu Low Lucas Thompson with a generous donation to Friends of Midway Atoll.

Laura Thompson, a founding member of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve.

Born 100 years ago on May 7, 1925, Laura is no longer with us, physically that is, but her spirit continues as an often tapped source of inspiration. And her legacy remains alive and well as a caring force for the people and all forms of plants and wildlife.

Laura Thompson counts for every nest in her assigned sector on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by USFWS/Beth Flint.

Laura had an intense love affair with Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) and of course Wisdom, the oldest known banded bird in the wild and she is the eldest to date to have participated in the annual bird nest count. While on Kuaihelani, Laura was a catalyst for bringing the entire community together and she found incredible joy being surrounded around albatross that outnumbered humans.

A new alga, Croisettea kalaukapuae, found in PMNM, carries Laura's namesake Kalaukapu, translated to “the sacred leaf,” a middle name given to Laura Kalaukapu Lucas Thompson by her Grandmother.

She was also a founding member of the Northwestern Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecosystem Advisory Council and instrumental in securing Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. Recently, in her honor a new alga, Croisettea kalaukapuae, located in PMNM now carries her middle name Kalaukapu, translated to “the sacred leaf.”

“There was always this soft spoken but very clear self-induced kind of accountability she somehow instilled in you and she was stellar at ensuring the appropriate people or organizations were at the table to contribute to developing conservation and cultural based projects, “ noted FOMA board member Ann Bell. “I will never forget her ‘can do' support she gifted to the Polynesian Voyaging Society project called Navigating Change. She was a motivating force behind Navigating Change, a message carried by the traditional voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a as she sailed through the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to highlight the native wildlife and cultural values to ultimately inspire individuals and organizations back home to take better care of their place.”

We hope her legacy inspires you too!

While on Kuaihelani, Laura Thompson was a catalyst for bringing people together as exemplified in 2005 with this gathering she sponsored for the entire community at the former restored WWII residence for the Naval Air Station Midway's Commanding Officer. The all hands gathering included the Chugach, Inc. staff, visiting native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and musicians, *Papahānaumokuākea* Marine National Monument NOAA staff, bird counters and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff.

Hau'oli la Hanau, Laura!

Article by Ann Bell. Photos courtesy of Beth Flint, USFWS and NOAA.

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