Mikayla was from Manchester, Connecticut. Her professional internship was with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), where she helped develop a place-based pilot coral restoration program in West Hawaiʻi. Her work included participating in community meetings, drafting project plans, assisting with experimental design, and contributing language for permit applications. She also assisted in baseline monitoring and coral nursery setup. Hawaiian corals grow slowly—about 1–2 cm per year—so restoration efforts are vital for propagating corals and replanting reefs. Her favorite part of the internship was experiencing each step in the planning process. The most challenging aspect was navigating the complex and time-consuming permitting process, which required highly specific information.

Alejandro was from Berkeley, California. His professional internship was with Blue Ocean Mariculture, the first ASC-certified fish cultivation facility. He assisted in hatchery operations by formulating live feeds, rearing larval and juvenile Almaco Jack, and maintaining broodstock health and reproduction. The hatchery phase ensured optimal health and survival through early life stages before transferring fish to offshore ocean cages. His favorite part of the internship was working directly with fish and getting to know the wonderful people on his team. The most challenging part was the long, strenuous days required to move thousands of juvenile fish offshore.

Lucy completed her professional internship with Colorado State University in partnership with NOAA and ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. Focused on science communication, she helped bridge the gap between scientists and the public using tools like social media and place-based curriculum. Her favorite part of the experience was seeing how science communication sparked curiosity and understanding in the community, especially among those without access to post-high school science education. The greatest challenge? Keeping the attention of kindergarteners at ʻImiloa’s Hālau Lamakū—especially when they were more interested in her life story than the science!

Cienna was from the ahupuaʻa of Keonepoko. Her professional internship was with the Kumuola Marine Science Education Center, where she served as a steward, researcher, and teacher. She engaged students, researchers, and community members in cultivating loko iʻa and restoring native habitats. Her research helped fill knowledge gaps while educating others about the importance of place-based ecosystems. Her favorite part was meeting motivated students whose excitement inspired her. The most challenging part was navigating the role of teacher—something she had never done before—especially while leading groups of elementary students.

Vi is from Cleveland, Ohio. Their professional internship was with Pahoehoe LLC, a startup developing a sustainable agroforest and solar complex in Pāhoa. As the sole intern, Vi juggled many roles, from writing grants and designing agroforestry plans to coordinating with consultants and conducting biodiversity surveys. They also worked with a team at MIT on drone-based tree identification. Their favorite part was building something from the ground up—meeting new people, learning constantly, and expanding their network. The most challenging part was coordinating with collaborators across islands and the mainland, especially amid everyone’s packed schedules.

Hannah is originally from Los Angeles, California. Her professional internship was with the Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, where she worked on mycorestoration—using fungi to remove pollutants from degraded environments. Alongside PhD fellow Riley-Sanae Hartmann, she helped develop a mycofiltration plan to remediate jet fuel contamination from the Red Hill facility on Oʻahu. Her work involved experimental design, regulatory navigation, and community engagement. Her favorite part was beginning her own mycorestoration nonprofit while giving back to ʻāina and the Native Hawaiian community. A major challenge was navigating dense state and local legislative processes without prior experience.

Mio, an Indigenous Melanesian woman of Japanese and Papua New Guinean descent, is a human rights and environmental justice advocate as well as an aquatic biologist. Under the mentorship of Dr. Angela Fa‘anunu, Mio critically examined the UN Sustainable Development Goals and contributed to the 2023 Mālama Honua: Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainability Conference. Her research explored connections between stewardship and the Hōkūleʻa, interviewing voyagers from the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage. She was even invited to sail the Melanesian leg of the current Moananuiākea Voyage. Her greatest challenge was confronting institutional frameworks that limit Indigenous perspectives—but she remained committed to compiling knowledge that empowers Pacific Islander communities.

Avalon is from Waikōloa, Hawaiʻi. Their professional internship was with the South Kohala Coastal Partnership (SKCP), a collaborative network of over 30 organizations. They worked on various field and outreach projects with SKCP partners, all focused on strengthening pilina (relationships) between South Kohala residents and ʻāina. Their favorite part was meeting passionate people committed to protecting the region’s unique ecosystem. The biggest challenge was managing communication across such a large and diverse network of partners.