Aloha readers! It’s Kayla here to share the latest Kure blog!
I know what you’re thinking… I thought there was a crew swap?? I’m writing from Honolulu, where I’ve been for the last week since we arrived back on the ship. This will be my last blog, and I hope to give everyone a fun rundown of the last two weeks, which have been action-packed!
On June 18th, we had our crew swap to complete the Winter 2025 season and begin the Summer 2026 season. Originally, we were supposed to leave on the 16th, but with less-than-ideal sea conditions and a very heavy Imua, the ship ended up changing plans and stopping at Midway first. Sadly, we didn’t get to go to Midway, but on the bright side, we had an extra two days to join the seal team, assist with Hawaiian monk seal (ʻīlioholoikauaua) marking and population surveys, and gain valuable experience supporting their work.
I was on Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) for 394 days. Thirteen months—an entire trip around the sun, plus a little more! I was lucky enough to experience the full cycle of life in the breathtaking ecosystem that the seabirds and I call home. I won’t lie and say it was always easy. I was mentally and physically challenged. I faced many obstacles, and came out standing on the other side. Hōlanikū has made me into a stronger person, and I am so incredibly grateful for everything I’ve gained from this experience.
I remember people back in New York telling me I was out of my mind when I said I would be volunteering on a remote island for a year. I also remember Jordan telling me after we met that I “didn’t seem crazy enough” to come out here. I’ve embraced my bold and adventurous side, and I’m thankful for that. I like to think I was a tough gal before this, but I’ve definitely been knocked down my fair share. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my team—my Kure family—who I will treasure for the rest of my life.
Jordan’s final blog did a perfect job of capturing the beauty of life on the island. If you haven’t read it yet, I would definitely give it a read, as he has such an extraordinary way of appreciating the natural world that I deeply admire. Jordan left the island slightly earlier than the rest of us on May 13th, just short of our one-year island anniversary. I hadn’t expected his departure to be so emotional. I spent every day with him for almost a year, so not getting to celebrate our one-year anniversary together felt like losing a piece of my heart. I think we were all emotional that day, yearning for our little ʻohana to be together again. I know one day we’ll all reconnect, whether that’s on our hypothetical West Coast trip in Summer 2027 or at one of our weddings far in the future.
But enough of the sentimental stuff. June 18th was a gorgeous day!! It was great getting to meet the new volunteers who would be replacing us, as well as being reunited with our old pal Dwight. Thankfully, we were able to transport all of our supplies in one trip, making offload super quick and easy. Before long, we were on the boat watching as our island home disappeared into the distance.
The ship ride was interesting… significantly bumpier than the trip out! Delia and I were out of commission for the first two days, but eventually we made our way to the top deck to join Naomi and Nick. Our days were filled with birdwatching and enjoying Lourdes’ delicious cooking. We all gained a few pounds, especially since there wasn’t much else to do besides eat—haha!
We arrived back in Honolulu on June 23rd. Being back in civilization was an incredibly special experience that would be impossible for anyone else to fully comprehend. Everything looked so magnificent. You really appreciate every little thing you see. The trees are so tall and green. You notice all the small details on each building. Even people-watching takes on a new meaning. It’s fascinating to think about each person living their own unique life.
The past week Nick, Delia, Naomi, and I have been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! I’ll try my best to remember everything we did: offloaded the ship, ate Mexican food, went to the mall, Chick-fil-A, sushi, had a spa day, enjoyed shaved ice, visited the Honolulu Zoo, ate at food trucks, went hiking, cleaned buckets, spent time at the beach, went bowling, visited a botanical garden, explored the North Shore, stopped at a shrimp truck, enjoyed Thai food, grabbed Dunkin’, ate poke, and lots and lots of BIRDINGGGG!! As our end-of-season gift, Nick gave Delia and me our own pairs of binoculars, which we immediately put to good use searching for Hawaiʻi’s native forest and water birds. My favorites were probably the ʻAlae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian Coot) and the Aeʻo (Hawaiian Stilt). We were also lucky enough to watch an ʻAukuʻu (Black-crowned Night Heron) catch a fish!
On July 2nd, Naomi and I dropped Nick and Delia off at the airport, bringing our unforgettable year to an end. With full hearts, we said our “see you laters.” I will miss my Kure family very, very much.
This has been a life-changing opportunity, and I am so very grateful for everything that I have learned and everyone that I have met. I wish the Summer 2026 team the best of luck and hope that they appreciate every single minute they get to spend on Holaniku. Every soul who is lucky enough to visit Hōlanikū is undeniably connected for life, whether way back in the Coast Guard days or simply spending a few hours to lend a hand for offload.
Mahalo to everyone who made this experience unforgettable. I will carry these memories with me for the rest of my life.
