Submitted by Julia Kausel on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
Aloha!
This first week in Hawaii has been beautiful and such a shock. We spent the first week visiting museums, snorkeling, and hiking various trails all over the mountain. Not only is the island breathtaking, but it is full of kind and warm people. Everywhere we have travelled we have been met with locals who go out of their way to share their wisdom about the island.
One of our stops was to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. This site was beautiful and contained such a diverse ecosystem within it. We were able to identify many different species of fish living in the bay ourselves, but the staff members on site provided us with information about the interesting origins and history of the location. The staff members also told us about the history of the preservation and conservation efforts within the area and how they came to be. The focus on teaching visitors about conservation and preservation amplified the experience and respect we had for the bay significantly. It is something that I hope to see in any future visits we have to areas like this.
Going into the second week, I am very excited to continue seeing and experiencing everything the island has to offer while learning about what I can do at home to keep Hawaii and its ecosystems as beautiful and healthy as they are now.
