Submitted by Claire Danberg on the 2017 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
When I tell people I’m studying abroad in Hawaii, their first reaction is that I’m not really studying abroad. Although factually that may be true, the 50th state could not feel more far away. From the eleven hour flight, to the five hour time difference and its complete geographic isolation, Hawaii is a place of its own. Hawaii is the most remote archipelago in the world. The islands are actually closer in proximity to Japan than the United States and it shows. The population consists largely of people of Asian ethnicity, restaurants are filled with raw fish and Vietnamese food, and the exotic plant life makes me feel as though I’m in the midst of a South Korean rain forest.
The best part of this program so far is that studying biology in Hawaii allows for a very hands on experience. I got to snorkel in Hanauma Bay and Kaneohe Bay this week. With my body fully submerged in the crystal blue water all I could hear was the sound of my own breathing as schools of tropical fish floated underneath me. I saw Hawaiian green sea turtles burrow themselves under the sand in an ecosystem of coral reefs. During my free time, I walked along the beach and saw an endangered Hawaiian monk seal sunbathing on the sea. There are only about 30 monk seals left in Oahu and one was lying right next to my towel. Hawaii is interesting because it formed after Pangaea broke apart and is completely isolated. For this reason, the only plant and animal life on the island had to travel through air, sea or be brought here by people. To this day, twenty-five percent of the plant and animal life is endemic, meaning it is only found in Hawaii. It has been incredible to learn about Biology here, seeing the adaptations living things go through to survive while experiencing creatures that are not found in the rest of the United States. It is refreshing to see Hawaiian natives care so much about their islands. Before I even exited the plane, I had to sign a contract stating I would not bring anything onto the island that could disturb their isolated and native environment. These first couple days have been so breathtaking, I cannot wait to see what the rest of Hawaii has in store for me!