I grew up in a small coastal town in San Diego County, California (Vista, California). My family had a sailboat when I was growing up so I spent summers exploring around Catalina Island. I loved fishing as a child and snorkeling the most and would spend hours in the water. These ocean experiences sparked my passion for the sea and its creatures and I knew since I was 6 years old that I wanted to be a marine biologist. So that is what I do with most of my time... I am on, in, and around the ocean as much as possible and happiest when I am sharing the wonders of the sea with others! I studied marine science at UC Santa Cruz and received a BA in Biology and then a MA in Science Education from San Diego State University. I currently am the Ocean Education Manager at the National Geographic Society working on the new Ocean Now Initiative and recently traveled the world by private yacht teaching all school topics, scuba diving, and marine biology for 5th, 7th, and 9th grade students. I have worked in education management, animal care and training, exhibit creation, instruction, and program development at top institutions including Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Dolphin Research Center, and the Ocean Institute. In addition, Sarah I work as a science and education specialist publishing books, websites, and teaching guides for National Geographic, Scholastic, IMAX Films, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the multi-agency marine portal website Thank You Ocean (www.thankyouocean.org). I also have extensive marine field research experience ranging from being a NAUI Scientific Master Diver in kelp forests and coral reefs to a sea turtle and marine mammal observer. I have spent over 15 years working as a Naturalist on various ships all over the world introducing the wonders of whales in Alaska, Baja Mexico, and Hawaii to teaching snorkeling and diving around the globe.
I have dreamed of visiting this beautiful remote chain of islands for years and that desire has grown even more since its creation into one of our Marine National Monuments. A place that “seems” so far removed from human impact is filled with evidence of our capacity to harm the ocean and its wildlife. Papahanaumokuakea is an ultimate learning laboratory for the marine environment due to the presence of species that are both robust and fragile in their nature. I am looking forward to learning and experiencing a wild and special place that is a baseline for conservation as well as an area in need of preservation due to the quantity of endangered and diverse species. The islands are so unique and inspire action for protection and awe from its beauty. My project plan is to teach and inspire others about the ocean through the creation of a series of workshops to be held across the country to ocean stakeholders, such as boat captains, lifeguards, and those in the scuba diving industry. These workshops will supply ocean information and outreach materials to those on the front line of public interaction about our ocean and will enable these stakeholders to inform their visitors on ocean issues and conservation. We have the power to damage or protect our own backyard, local seashore or waterway, or a place that seems a world away like Midway Atoll.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Introduction: Doug Schmid
First I would like to express gratitude to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the State of Hawaii and the entire PAA team who have worked to provide this year’s team with this opportunity to experience Midway Atoll.
I also am looking forward to this program, at this place so isolated from human settlement, to see such an extraordinary and abundant part of our world. I have read about the huge colonies of nesting albatross and other seabirds and the remarkable life in the atoll’s reefs. I come from a heavily developed place, outside New York City, where the works of people are everywhere.
Here on Long Island we have a dense population and considerable pressure on our environment and natural resources. In my lifetime I have seem a great diminishment of the natural world. As a boy my local bays were full of game fish and clams and the spring skies were vividly colored with migrating warblers and noisy waterfowl. More recently I have seen our bays unnaturally full of algae, with eelgrass meadows gone and fishermen failing to find once numerous fish. I’ve led many post-mortem necropsies with high school students on marine animals. We’ve found plastic balloons that have compacted in the stomachs of loggerhead turtles causing death.
There has been much discussion lately about how our children are becoming more divorced from the natural world that sustains us (with every breath we take!). Most people here live a busy, suburban life, divorced from meaningful experiences with the natural world. We find ourselves less connected to and less understanding of nature around us. Our technology and standard of living insulates us. I think this “disconnect” from our life support system is a real problem for our future and must be addressed. Baba Dioum said “For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught.” If he is right we have a responsibility to be the guides and teachers for the generations to follow. I hope to be better equipped to be one of those guides after working and learning as part of our PAA team.
Lastly, as our lives become ever busier and our time for reflection less, I hope to have the gift of time at this magnificent place- time for perspective and the time to absorb and understand some measure of the natural world at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
I also am looking forward to this program, at this place so isolated from human settlement, to see such an extraordinary and abundant part of our world. I have read about the huge colonies of nesting albatross and other seabirds and the remarkable life in the atoll’s reefs. I come from a heavily developed place, outside New York City, where the works of people are everywhere.
Here on Long Island we have a dense population and considerable pressure on our environment and natural resources. In my lifetime I have seem a great diminishment of the natural world. As a boy my local bays were full of game fish and clams and the spring skies were vividly colored with migrating warblers and noisy waterfowl. More recently I have seen our bays unnaturally full of algae, with eelgrass meadows gone and fishermen failing to find once numerous fish. I’ve led many post-mortem necropsies with high school students on marine animals. We’ve found plastic balloons that have compacted in the stomachs of loggerhead turtles causing death.
There has been much discussion lately about how our children are becoming more divorced from the natural world that sustains us (with every breath we take!). Most people here live a busy, suburban life, divorced from meaningful experiences with the natural world. We find ourselves less connected to and less understanding of nature around us. Our technology and standard of living insulates us. I think this “disconnect” from our life support system is a real problem for our future and must be addressed. Baba Dioum said “For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught.” If he is right we have a responsibility to be the guides and teachers for the generations to follow. I hope to be better equipped to be one of those guides after working and learning as part of our PAA team.
Lastly, as our lives become ever busier and our time for reflection less, I hope to have the gift of time at this magnificent place- time for perspective and the time to absorb and understand some measure of the natural world at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Introduction: George Hanks
Aloha from Texas!
My name is George Hanks and I am truly excited to be apart of the PAA program this year! Although I now live in Houston, I am originally from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, a small town in the heart of Acadiana bayou country (think gumbo, beignets, crawfish, zydeco music and .. . alas ¼ most recently the oil spill!). I am a volunteer marine sciences educator with the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and I have served as a volunteer educator with the Houston Bar Association’s Lawyers In Public Schools Program. As a volunteer educator, I teach children in under-served Houston communities about our diverse marine resources and the importance of their conservation. I am also an avid scuba diver and amateur underwater photographer and I have been fortunate to travel throughout the Pacific Ocean learning about our island communities and diverse marine resources. I have enjoyed bringing these experiences back to my students in the classroom. As a diver, I have served as a Naturalist On Board on live-aboard dive boats visiting the Flower Garden Banks, teaching divers about what makes our national marine sanctuaries such special and important places for all of us.
After practicing law for 12 years, I served as a district court judge in Houston for two years and for the past eight years I have been serving as a justice on the Texas Court of Appeals, 1st District.
Jacques Cousteau summed up the challenge of marine conservation when he said “People protect what they love” and preserve what they understand. The key to promoting conservation and stewardship of our oceans is showing people how truly interrelated we are on this planet and how the actions of one person affecting our oceans can impact hundreds of lives thousands of miles away in more ways than we can imagine. We need look no further than the recent oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico to see that no matter who we are, where we live, or what our circumstances, our lives and the lives of future generations are inextricably intertwined with the fate of our oceans.
Participation in the PAA program offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the special bond that we all share through the ocean. Among other things, through this program I will not only see first-hand how current international polices have affected our Pacific Ocean resources but I will also be a part of current efforts to preserve these resources for future generations. As part of this experience I will learn about the impact of these policies on the Hawaiian people. I will use this experience and the relationships with my colleagues developed through this program as a catalyst to establish an ongoing “Sister Schools in Conservation” program for middle and high school students. Through this program, students will see that there are names, faces and even entire communities dependent on our conservation efforts and they will develop a greater appreciation of the importance and urgency of conservation efforts world-wide. I want the program to empower these students to take active roles in the stewardship of our oceans and inspire other students to do the same.
My name is George Hanks and I am truly excited to be apart of the PAA program this year! Although I now live in Houston, I am originally from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, a small town in the heart of Acadiana bayou country (think gumbo, beignets, crawfish, zydeco music and .. . alas ¼ most recently the oil spill!). I am a volunteer marine sciences educator with the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and I have served as a volunteer educator with the Houston Bar Association’s Lawyers In Public Schools Program. As a volunteer educator, I teach children in under-served Houston communities about our diverse marine resources and the importance of their conservation. I am also an avid scuba diver and amateur underwater photographer and I have been fortunate to travel throughout the Pacific Ocean learning about our island communities and diverse marine resources. I have enjoyed bringing these experiences back to my students in the classroom. As a diver, I have served as a Naturalist On Board on live-aboard dive boats visiting the Flower Garden Banks, teaching divers about what makes our national marine sanctuaries such special and important places for all of us.
After practicing law for 12 years, I served as a district court judge in Houston for two years and for the past eight years I have been serving as a justice on the Texas Court of Appeals, 1st District.
Jacques Cousteau summed up the challenge of marine conservation when he said “People protect what they love” and preserve what they understand. The key to promoting conservation and stewardship of our oceans is showing people how truly interrelated we are on this planet and how the actions of one person affecting our oceans can impact hundreds of lives thousands of miles away in more ways than we can imagine. We need look no further than the recent oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico to see that no matter who we are, where we live, or what our circumstances, our lives and the lives of future generations are inextricably intertwined with the fate of our oceans.
Participation in the PAA program offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the special bond that we all share through the ocean. Among other things, through this program I will not only see first-hand how current international polices have affected our Pacific Ocean resources but I will also be a part of current efforts to preserve these resources for future generations. As part of this experience I will learn about the impact of these policies on the Hawaiian people. I will use this experience and the relationships with my colleagues developed through this program as a catalyst to establish an ongoing “Sister Schools in Conservation” program for middle and high school students. Through this program, students will see that there are names, faces and even entire communities dependent on our conservation efforts and they will develop a greater appreciation of the importance and urgency of conservation efforts world-wide. I want the program to empower these students to take active roles in the stewardship of our oceans and inspire other students to do the same.
Introduction: Jennifer Barrett
Jennifer Barrett is an Extension Agent with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, where she coordinates a marine education program related to ecosystem restoration and management in Waikiki. Thanks to her mom, she spent much of her youth exploring the outdoors as a Girl Scout. She attributes her pursuit of "work" adventures at sites including Bishop Museum, San Francisco Zoo, Hanauma Bay and Coconut Island, to those early
encounters. It's what also inspired Jen to propose the development of a Junior Girl Scout badge as her stewardship project, the focus of which will be marine protected areas. Jen is also pursuing a Master of Environmental Management through Duke University's Environmental Leadership Program.
encounters. It's what also inspired Jen to propose the development of a Junior Girl Scout badge as her stewardship project, the focus of which will be marine protected areas. Jen is also pursuing a Master of Environmental Management through Duke University's Environmental Leadership Program.
Introduction: Randi Brennon
My name is Randi Brennon and I live on the island of Hawai'i. I am fortunate to teach 7th and 8th graders all day, getting them out of the classroom as much as possible and taking care of several sites in our community. We explore our island and our education through Project-Based Learning methods. It's exhausting and invigorating at the same time.
I am deeply excited about the opportunity to go to Kuaihelani (Midway Island). I'm looking forward to meeting the honu who live there, and the monk seals, and all those birds! My oldest son is named Koa'ekea, a bird found on this eastern-most side of the island chain, and it's exciting to know I'll be going to the nesting place of the Koa'eula on the western end of the island chain. I'm hoping to take lots and lots of pictures while we're there. One of the most exciting possibilities for me is the chance to meet and partner with people on projects. Collaboration is challenging and so rewarding. At school, we get our students involved in all kinds of things, and I can't wait to see what comes out of our adventures together through PA'A. So here's to our upcoming work and play together...see you soon!Randi
I am deeply excited about the opportunity to go to Kuaihelani (Midway Island). I'm looking forward to meeting the honu who live there, and the monk seals, and all those birds! My oldest son is named Koa'ekea, a bird found on this eastern-most side of the island chain, and it's exciting to know I'll be going to the nesting place of the Koa'eula on the western end of the island chain. I'm hoping to take lots and lots of pictures while we're there. One of the most exciting possibilities for me is the chance to meet and partner with people on projects. Collaboration is challenging and so rewarding. At school, we get our students involved in all kinds of things, and I can't wait to see what comes out of our adventures together through PA'A. So here's to our upcoming work and play together...see you soon!Randi
Introduction: Robin Craig
My life has been a multi-start attempt to blend my love of the oceans, my interest in science, and my humanities bent into a single career, and environmental law proved to be the right vocation. I grew up in southern California, in Long Beach, within biking distance of the ocean, and some of my happiest memories of childhood are of spending long afternoons boogey-boarding at the beach. In college I majored in English, but took the equivalent of a minor in biology and chemistry -- I loved learning the science, but I quickly discovered that my tolerance for lab work maxed out at 8 hours per week. The first attempt at blending the two loves was a Masters program in Writing About Science at The Johns Hopkins University, but full-time employment as a science writer is hard to come by. However, I got to be a Teaching Associate at Hopkins, which convinced me that I wanted to teach in some capacity.
After Hopkins, I pursued the teaching goal by spending two years teaching marine biology and island ecology at the Catalina Island Marine Institute on Catalina Island, California. That's also where I become SCUBA certified -- the Institute was a licensed dive facility, and we spent most of our free time out in the Zodiacs diving. I enjoyed living with the rhythms and fluctuations of the ocean, and one of the years I was there was a strong El Nino year. Just when I thought I'd gotten the native fauna down, the currents brought all sorts of strange creatures up from Mexico and even South America. : ) I also met my husband of almost 22 years on Catalina -- he was a new teacher that I was in charge of training.
After that, more grad school, because I'd figured out that I wanted to teach at the college level. My husband actually talked me into law school, because I had absolutely no inclination to be a litigator. However, environmental law suits me perfectly, and while I was in law school I got to work in the General Counsel's Office, Natural Resources Division, of the Oregon Department of Justice. There, I got to work with the lawyers who advise Oregon's environmental agencies on new programs and regulations -- proactive work, with no litigation involved. I was hooked! While there, I got to work on salmon issues, tribal issues, and all sorts of water issues, ranging the gamut from standard water quality regulation under the Clean Water Act to helping to assemble Oregon's coastal zone management plan.
After graduation, I worked for a federal judge in Oregon, who was delighted to send all his environmental cases to my desk. Toward the end of my tenure with him, the Lewis & Clark School of Law asked my to teach a night course, and my legal teaching career was launched. That's what I've been doing ever since, and it has allowed me to focus, as one of my areas of specialty, on ocean and coastal law. In particular, I've developed an interest and expertise in marine protected areas, coral reefs, ocean sustainability, and, most recently, climate change.
Its hard to work in this area of law and remain hopeful for the future of the oceans. There are so many debilitating stresses on marine ecosystems, and the law is often completely inadequate in protecting these resources. Marine protected areas aren't the full answer, but they do provide, I think, one of the best hopes for transitioning marine ecosystems through the climate change era. I've been fascinated by the efforts to protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from the beginning of the legal efforts to do so and have actively compared those efforts to coral reef protections in Florida, such as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and elsewhere in the world, such as the Great Barrier Reef Nation Marine Park in Australia. This opportunity to visit the Papahanaumakuakea Marine National Monument is, quite simply, a dream come true for me, both professionally and personally. I think large ecosystem-based protected areas like this one represent one of our best hopes in making progress toward sustainable use of the seas, even with the mounting stresses of climate change and pollution, and I look forward to observing the operations of the PMNM up close. (Okay, and on a less grandiose note, I'm also hoping to observe many of the native species while we're there. Seeing a Hawaiian monk seal in person would be spectacular!)
Robin
After Hopkins, I pursued the teaching goal by spending two years teaching marine biology and island ecology at the Catalina Island Marine Institute on Catalina Island, California. That's also where I become SCUBA certified -- the Institute was a licensed dive facility, and we spent most of our free time out in the Zodiacs diving. I enjoyed living with the rhythms and fluctuations of the ocean, and one of the years I was there was a strong El Nino year. Just when I thought I'd gotten the native fauna down, the currents brought all sorts of strange creatures up from Mexico and even South America. : ) I also met my husband of almost 22 years on Catalina -- he was a new teacher that I was in charge of training.
After that, more grad school, because I'd figured out that I wanted to teach at the college level. My husband actually talked me into law school, because I had absolutely no inclination to be a litigator. However, environmental law suits me perfectly, and while I was in law school I got to work in the General Counsel's Office, Natural Resources Division, of the Oregon Department of Justice. There, I got to work with the lawyers who advise Oregon's environmental agencies on new programs and regulations -- proactive work, with no litigation involved. I was hooked! While there, I got to work on salmon issues, tribal issues, and all sorts of water issues, ranging the gamut from standard water quality regulation under the Clean Water Act to helping to assemble Oregon's coastal zone management plan.
After graduation, I worked for a federal judge in Oregon, who was delighted to send all his environmental cases to my desk. Toward the end of my tenure with him, the Lewis & Clark School of Law asked my to teach a night course, and my legal teaching career was launched. That's what I've been doing ever since, and it has allowed me to focus, as one of my areas of specialty, on ocean and coastal law. In particular, I've developed an interest and expertise in marine protected areas, coral reefs, ocean sustainability, and, most recently, climate change.
Its hard to work in this area of law and remain hopeful for the future of the oceans. There are so many debilitating stresses on marine ecosystems, and the law is often completely inadequate in protecting these resources. Marine protected areas aren't the full answer, but they do provide, I think, one of the best hopes for transitioning marine ecosystems through the climate change era. I've been fascinated by the efforts to protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from the beginning of the legal efforts to do so and have actively compared those efforts to coral reef protections in Florida, such as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and elsewhere in the world, such as the Great Barrier Reef Nation Marine Park in Australia. This opportunity to visit the Papahanaumakuakea Marine National Monument is, quite simply, a dream come true for me, both professionally and personally. I think large ecosystem-based protected areas like this one represent one of our best hopes in making progress toward sustainable use of the seas, even with the mounting stresses of climate change and pollution, and I look forward to observing the operations of the PMNM up close. (Okay, and on a less grandiose note, I'm also hoping to observe many of the native species while we're there. Seeing a Hawaiian monk seal in person would be spectacular!)
Robin
Introductions: Norbert Larsen
Aloha.
My name is Norbert Larsen. I am originally from Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai`i. I've made home on O`ahu for the past 22 years. I feel humbled to be a part of PAA this summer, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone!
I am currently a fourth grade teacher at Wai`alae Public Charter School on O`ahu. I was an Education Specialist in Hawaiian Natural History for Moanalua Gardens Foundation for ten years, where great environmentalists and activists of Hawai`i mentored me. I hosted television series on public television exploring the Islands, Polynesian voyaging, as well as natural resources of America. I was fortunate to work at Bishop Museum on the `Ohi`a Project, with a team of people to whom I owe deep gratitude for teaching me a way to educate kids and classroom teachers about native Hawaiian ecosystems. In addition to being an environmental educator, I performed with a wide array of modern dance and ballet companies in Hawai`i during the 1990s.
I hope the PAA 2010 program helps me to achieve active stewardship of natural and cultural resources within my home community. I want to be a better, stronger leader. Great people inspire me, and wild places inspire me. I know the PAA experience will put me in touch with both great people and a very special place. In turn, I intend to evolve Wai`alae Public Charter School into a leading institution for environmental and cultural stewardship in our area.
See you in a few weeks!
Norbert
My name is Norbert Larsen. I am originally from Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai`i. I've made home on O`ahu for the past 22 years. I feel humbled to be a part of PAA this summer, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone!
I am currently a fourth grade teacher at Wai`alae Public Charter School on O`ahu. I was an Education Specialist in Hawaiian Natural History for Moanalua Gardens Foundation for ten years, where great environmentalists and activists of Hawai`i mentored me. I hosted television series on public television exploring the Islands, Polynesian voyaging, as well as natural resources of America. I was fortunate to work at Bishop Museum on the `Ohi`a Project, with a team of people to whom I owe deep gratitude for teaching me a way to educate kids and classroom teachers about native Hawaiian ecosystems. In addition to being an environmental educator, I performed with a wide array of modern dance and ballet companies in Hawai`i during the 1990s.
I hope the PAA 2010 program helps me to achieve active stewardship of natural and cultural resources within my home community. I want to be a better, stronger leader. Great people inspire me, and wild places inspire me. I know the PAA experience will put me in touch with both great people and a very special place. In turn, I intend to evolve Wai`alae Public Charter School into a leading institution for environmental and cultural stewardship in our area.
See you in a few weeks!
Norbert
Introductions: Maya Plass
Already Midway Atoll and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National monument has had a big influence on me. At the end of last year I had an email from Ron Hirschi (a participant on the PAA trip in 2009) asking if I would like to have Fred the Monkey come visit me here in the UK. Naturally, I said yes and so began an amazing journey that I am still finding hard to believe. Fred the teddy monkey came to me in a little brown box full of materials and information about this tiny island called Midway Atoll. The stories, situation, and wildlife that I learned about were incredible. He was spreading the word on marine litter, ocean conservation and about Papahanaumokuakea.
Here, in England I work in South Devon from “Learn To Sea” working with children and adults on marine conservation issues. We run beach cleans, marine conservation workshops, after school classes etc. and within this I am often found to be talking rubbish! A global perspective of the Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact was & has been really interesting for me. Fred has become a great work assistant and we have travelled to schools, local tourist attractions and talked about the impact of marine litter on Midway and locally. So it was through Fred & Ron that this opportunity arose and one I couldn’t pass up!
I feel so very honoured to be the first international participant and will take away and give as much as I possibly can. Work is already underway with a local primary school to prepare them to twin them with another school in Hawaii. I hope that they can share culture, friendship, traditions and stories and share and compare their coastline and common threats in a wonderful celebration of the ocean with a global perspective. Hopefully, this will be a pilot study that will then be rolled out to other schools in the area and create lots of sister schools! So that is a prime aspiration for this trip to find a sister school for Blackawton Primary School and develop a program of twinning.
There are so many things that I hope to achieve from this trip – new friends, experiences and knowledge. It is an amazing opportunity to share 10 days with other marine educators to brainstorm on all things ocean and coastal. All the time we will be being inspired by all the amazing wildlife and people around us. I look forward to learning about different marine education styles, tips, knowledge & experiences and gaining new perspectives.
I know this trip and magical place has already touched me deeply. I eagerly anticipate where it will take me, Learn To Sea and the children of the schools in South Devon in the future. It is a great privilege and opportunity which we will share to promote the protection and conservation of our seas both near and far.
Here, in England I work in South Devon from “Learn To Sea” working with children and adults on marine conservation issues. We run beach cleans, marine conservation workshops, after school classes etc. and within this I am often found to be talking rubbish! A global perspective of the Pacific Garbage Patch and its impact was & has been really interesting for me. Fred has become a great work assistant and we have travelled to schools, local tourist attractions and talked about the impact of marine litter on Midway and locally. So it was through Fred & Ron that this opportunity arose and one I couldn’t pass up!
I feel so very honoured to be the first international participant and will take away and give as much as I possibly can. Work is already underway with a local primary school to prepare them to twin them with another school in Hawaii. I hope that they can share culture, friendship, traditions and stories and share and compare their coastline and common threats in a wonderful celebration of the ocean with a global perspective. Hopefully, this will be a pilot study that will then be rolled out to other schools in the area and create lots of sister schools! So that is a prime aspiration for this trip to find a sister school for Blackawton Primary School and develop a program of twinning.
There are so many things that I hope to achieve from this trip – new friends, experiences and knowledge. It is an amazing opportunity to share 10 days with other marine educators to brainstorm on all things ocean and coastal. All the time we will be being inspired by all the amazing wildlife and people around us. I look forward to learning about different marine education styles, tips, knowledge & experiences and gaining new perspectives.
I know this trip and magical place has already touched me deeply. I eagerly anticipate where it will take me, Learn To Sea and the children of the schools in South Devon in the future. It is a great privilege and opportunity which we will share to promote the protection and conservation of our seas both near and far.
Introductions: Al Braun
Aloha kakou, My name is Al Braun, and I am a flight nurse and paramedic with Hawaii Life Flight (formerly Hawaii Air Ambulance). My wife, Tara, our daughter, Anna, and I live in Hilo, and I work in Kona. I am a former firefighter and US Navy veteran. I was born and raised here, but I have traveled extensively, and I returned home to the land of my kupuna to use my talents and abilities to care for Hawaii and its people. As a surfer and a hunter, I have been involved in conservation my entire life, but the birth of our daughter in 2007 made the importance of preserving our aina suddenly much more crucial. I am not an educator by trade, but education is part of my occupation and part of my personality. I am humbled to have been selected, and to be part of such an incredible group. I hope to incorporate the knowledge from the Papahanaumokuakea Ahahui Alakai in the development of a land lab experience to educate Hawaii's residents on the connections between our culture and environment. I look forward to meeting and learning with all of you.Malama pono,Al Braun, RN BSN EMT-P
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