Please enjoy this window into life on a remote atoll from Kayla
28 July 2025
What a wild two weeks it has been. Double the population on Kure and now back to the humble four of us.
Having eight people on the island made for quite an exciting break from the norm. Big family dinners sparked long conversations about celebrity crushes, sad movie recommendations, and plenty of wordplay and jokes. We’ve never had more dishes, but dishes have also never been washed so efficiently. All hands on deck for “sludge” has resulted in even more accents, name games, and laughs. Movie nights have been taken to the next level with a projector. “The Wrecking Season” led to a thought provoking conversation about marine debris and our takeaways from the film (highly recommend everyone watches!!). Even with the addition of new dynamics, our positive island attitude has flourished and the Kure family has grown a little bigger.
In terms of work, this was the busiest period so far, with everyone hustling to make the most of the seal crew’s stay. Transecting with six people is a game changer and we’ve been able to get several other side projects done. Who knew marine debris surveys and removal could be so enjoyable. Naomi’s shown us plenty of tips and tricks both in camp and in the field to make every day life flow smoothly. I’m so grateful to have learned some electrical skills from Naomi– together we replaced the Bunkhouse battery system and hooked up three new freezers! Everyone was dreading the electrical projects but I could not have been more excited to learn the ins and outs of our solar systems. Most importantly, our team was able to go out on seal surveys with the seal crew and watch some bleachings and taggings.
On Tuesday, it was with heavy hearts that we watched our guests leave. We will forever look back on the past two weeks filled with fond memories and inside jokes. “The sea decides” if our little family shall meet again. Andrew and Lizzy were the most perfect guests we could have asked for and I am so fortunate that our paths crossed. Most missed will be Naomi. It was such a game changer to have her out here and learn everything that she has to offer. A hui hou!
Highlights: Nick and Jordan’s Friday Pizza Feast, ice cream from the ship, late night dance party, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle sighting, new Wingspan expansion pack, almost all the BFALs are gone 
Nick’s addition about birds: 310 breeding Gray-backed Terns, 35 confirmed Christmas Shearwater nests, Nazca Booby continues, 50+ Ruddy Turnstones, 6 Bristle-thighed Curlew, more Bulwer’s Petrels detected but breeding unconfirmed thus far.
