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# Kure Atoll Conservancy

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## Posts

- [Field Blog - July 3, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-july-3-2026/) - 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
- [Winter 2025 Season Wrap Up - June 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/winter-2025-season-wrap-up-june-2026/) - Winter 2025 Season Wrap-Up After more than a year living and working on Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll), our Field Crew Leader, Nick Minnich, shares reflections on the accomplishments, challenges, wildlife, and friendships that defined the Winter 2025 field season. Through their shared dedication to this special place, the Winter 2025 field team grew in their conservation
- [Field Blog - May 24, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-24-2026/) - Aloha kākou! Enjoy the latest field blog from our Field Station Manager, Naomi Sixteen Years on Hōlanikū: Watching an Ecosystem Recover When I first arrived on Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) in May 2010 as a monk seal field technician, I had no idea how deeply this remote place would shape my life. At the time, I
- [Field Blog - May 31, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-31-2026/) - Aloha kākou! We're pleased to welcome Diane to the Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) field team for the Summer 2026 season. Welcome to the team, Diane—we look forward to following your journey! Enjoy the latest blog from the field. Aloha everyone!! This is Diane I arrived on Hōlanikū earlier this month to begin training with the winter
- [Field Blog - May 17, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-17-2026/) - Aloha all, This week was action-packed, with a semi-personnel change on 13 May. Jordan departed the island, which was a bittersweet goodbye. I am happy he is getting to return to Portland in time for the World Cup and for his grandma’s birthday. Shoutout Jordan’s Grandma! I’m not one for all the sappy garbage (I’m
- [Voyage to Hōlanikū](https://kureatollconservancy.org/voyage-to-holaniku/) - Mahalo M/V IMUA Crew, Aloha Kure! What an amazing journey this has been already, and we’re just getting started! Life out at sea is truly a different kind of lifestyle, we’re literally living with the ocean. Each second is breathtaking out here. The waves glisten on the horizon with a heartwarming sparkle as the sun
- [Field Blog - May 12, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-12-2026/) - Hello everyone, it's Jordan from Hōlanikū writing the blog for this week. Now I imagine this may come as a surprise to many of our usual readers since I haven't been a regular writer this past year. Generally, it's not my style to have the general public aware of where I am or what I've
- [Field Blog - May 3, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-3-2026/) - Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog :) Our little team has been busy busy busy wrapping up another month here on Holaniku. It’s CRAZY how fast time has been moving out here. I think I speak for our entire team that we only just realized this weekend switching the calendar to
- [Field Blog - April 26, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-26-2026/) - Aloha from Hōlanikū! Enjoy our latest field blog from Delia It’s been a full and productive week out here. We’ve been busy transecting and wrapping up inventories of our food, tools, and shed appliances. Nick spent time this weekend in the shed labeling and repairing, which now looks impressively organized. With a stretch of rainy,
- [Field Blog - April 12, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-12-2026/) - Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog 🙂 It is officially starting to feel like we are in the homestretch here on Hōlanikū. Although our winter 2025 season does not officially end until the summer crew swap in June, the arrival of the NOAA Hawaiian monk seal team in May is fastly
- [Field Blog - April 5, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-5-2026/) - Aloha & Happy Easter! We’re slowly recovering from a very full (and very sunny) week out here! The team has been busy transecting, booby monitoring, conducting Hawaiian monk seal surveys, kicking off the end-of-season food inventory, and picking up washed-up marine debris. We started on the new scheduler last week and got to enjoy a
- [Field Blog - March 23, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-23-2026/) - Sending aloha to everyone across the main Hawaiian Islands after the recent storms While Hōlanikū was fortunate to avoid serious impacts, we’re thinking of all those affected and the communities coming together in kōkua. Enjoy our latest field blog from Kayla: Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog We have had a
- [Field Blog - March 29, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-29-2026/) - Aloha kākou! Enjoy our latest field blog from Nick Another great week on Hōlanikū! We finished our fourth full-island transect of the year, and it’s not even April! We’ve let 0 Verbesina plants mature, and that’s something to be excited about. I’m super proud of our hard-working team. One of the perks of being so
- [Field Blog - March 16, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-16-2026/) - Aloha all! Enjoy the latest blog from Delia 🌈🍀 Last week, we started scheduler 4, continued staking the Verbesina points, hacked away at some washed-up marine debris, and conducted our regular biweekly shorebird survey and ground-nesting Booby monitoring. We also had our monthly individual check-ins with our Field Station Manager, Naomi, which is always a
- [Field Blog - March 8, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-8-2026/) - Life on Hōlanikū is never quiet—but this time of year brings a noticeable shift in the rhythm of the island. Read the latest field update from Nick to hear what spring is starting to look—and sound—like in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 🌊🐦 Aloha readers, This is unarguably my favorite time of year in the Northwestern
- [Field Blog - February 22, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/11091-2/) - Aloha from Hōlanikū Last week was a short work week, but it was packed full. Every minute spent restoring this place reminds us why we’re here — small efforts add up in a big way. Enjoy the latest field blog from Delia! Aloha everyone, We had a short and sweet 4 day work week. Verbisina
- [Field Blog - February 16, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-february-16-2026/) - Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog Our week was filled with plenty of aloha here on Hōlanikū! As we finished up the remaining “hard” plots together as a team, we had plenty of time to work on our other side projects. Continued staking, marine debris, and bird surveys have kept us
- [Field Blog - February 8, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-february-8-2026/) - Aloha kākou! Another installment of the blog from Nick – there was transecting, seabird monitoring, gular sacs, booby copulation, marine debris removal, band reading, some burrow-shoe fastening, trail maintenance, 'Akihikeʻehiʻale or Tristram’s Storm-Petrel chicks, and an attempt at painting. We covered our naupaka-heavy greater restoration areas this week (GRAs), and found lots of Verbesina sprouts
- [Field Blog - January 31, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-31-2026/) - Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog After a mostly cloudy month, January wrapped up with vibrant, sunny weather and another exciting week on Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll)! In terms of our everyday transecting, we are zooming around the island on the hunt for the continued popping up keiki (baby plants). Although there
- [Field Blog - January 25, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-25-2026/) - Aloha to all! The team had a diverse 4-day work week last week with our usual transecting, trail cutting, inventory, and office work, and the filming of an informational video for the Pacific Seabird Group conference next month. We had fun filming those short clips. The winter weather has treated us to some rainy days
- [Field Blog - January 20, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-20-2026/) - Aloha readers, Another lovely, fun-filled week here on Hōlanikū. We’ve been cranking out our invasive vegetation treatments and have been finding loads of Verbesina sprouts. Upon hearing that, you might shudder, but it’s a good thing that we’re finding them when they’re sprouts. As a team, we have a high detection rate of small plants
- [Field Blog - January 11, 2026](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-11-2026/) - Enjoy our latest blog Aloha and Happy Weekend! We’ve finished another sunny week of transecting with a considerable amount of Verbesina keiki found by the team throughout the island. A significant amount of marine debris has been washing up on the beaches, with a 1500-pound marine debris conglomerate being our current challenge. We’re definitely using
- [Field Blog - December 26, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-december-26-2025/) - Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog The last few weeks have been an immense change of pace to our usual island activities. Apologies for slacking on the blogs but we have been busy!! We hope everyone enjoyed our latest videos, and just know there will be many more to come. Thankfully,
- [Field Blog – November 30, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-november-30-2025/) - A week of wild winds, warm laughter, and deep gratitude for this ʻāina and the crew who cares for it. Enjoy the latest blog from Kayla! Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog This week was quite different from what has come to be the norm on the island, including Thanksgiving… which
- [Field Blog – November 24, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-november-24-2025/) - This past week on Hōlanikū was a reminder of why we’re here—celebration, teamwork, and aloha ʻāina. Mahalo to our amazing volunteers! This work wouldn’t be possible without all who mālama and care for this special place. Enjoy our latest field blog from Nick! Aloha all,Makahiki winds have certainly arrived in our neck of the Northwestern
- [Field Blog – December 7, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-december-7-2025/) - December showed up in style. Enjoy an update from Delia! Aloha from Hōlanikū,We’ve had a productive first week of December, completing 12 transect plots, conducting a shorebird survey, and tackling diverse tasks. Friday, while Kayla and I updated the freezer inventory, Jordan was working on his outplanting nursery project, and Nick was completing office work,
- [Hiki Mai Ke Kau And (Winter is Here) by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hiki-mai-ke-kau-and-winter-is-here-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua piha ka pule ʻehiku o ko mākou hana ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mau mea pīhoihoi kā mākou e hoʻolaha ai. Ua hiki mai ke kau anu! Pā mai ka makani me ka ikaika, a he
- [Pili Kau Pili Hoʻoilo by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/pili-kau-pili-hoʻoilo-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i nui ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. I kēlā pule aku nei, ua hiki mai ke kau anu. Ua pā mai ka makani me ka ikaika, a ua ʻoi aku ke anuanu. Ua hoʻomaka ka hoʻopūnana ʻana o nā mōlī a me nā kaʻupu,
- [One tross, two tross, white tross, black tross… by Morgan Walter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/one-tross-two-tross-white-tross-black-tross-by-morgan-walter/) - It’s 7 am. The breeze is lightly blowing the sarong I have stretched in front of the window as a makeshift drape. I can see the sun rising high in the sky. The heat radiating off the ground lets me know it’s already hot out. As I lay in bed slowly waking up I notice
- [Trash Talk Words by Soren George-Nichol](https://kureatollconservancy.org/trash-talk-words-by-soren-george-nichol/) - The winter crew has been on Kure for about two months. Every morning we are greeted by the sun burning over the Eastern horizon. But a couple weeks ago we were, instead, awoken by the glare of lights on the Western side of the island. If you regularly read about Kure you know that the
- [Field Blog - January 26, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-26-2025/) - 26 January (95 days on island) This week was a short one, that with the holiday on Monday, so we only had 4 days. In addition to that, we lost a morning and part of an afternoon outside to bad weather and rain, so we only managed 36.2 acres this week. Still, a respectable amount
- [Field Blog - February 2, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-february-2-2025/) - 2 February (102 days on island) I have been on Hōlanikū now for over 100 days. I can think of only a few times/places in my 31 years on this earth that have had an equal or bigger impact on me. I know I say it often, but I really am just filled with gratitude
- [Field Blog - February 9, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-february-9-2025/) - 9 February (109 days on island) This week we did things a bit differently. Since I am interested in learning about the position of crew lead, for future leadership roles on other islands and potentially to apply to come back to Hōlanikū in that capacity within the next few years, Ryan involved me more in
- [Field Blog - February 16, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-february-16-2025/) - 16 February (116 days on island) This week we treated 42 acres. We did lots of other jobs apart from treating as well, such as trail cutting, working on securing water sources for the Laysan ducks, and facilities maintenance. I have a leak in my room for example, so Ryan and I worked together to
- [Field Blog - February 23, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-february-23-2025/) - 23 February (123 days on island) Hello again from Hōlanikū! I sit on the front porch of the main house writing to you now, with the sun coming up brilliant and orange over the east side of the island. The moon is a high hint of a sliver in the sky. There are large banks
- [Field Blog - March 2, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-2-2025/) - 2 March (130 days on island) The great, life-giving sun is rising in front of me again over the ocean, with little puffs of small cumulus clouds moving slowly south in front of it. They are a dusky lavender, with the tops of the nearest ones tinged in a soft pink. You know that Shakespeare
- [Field Blog - March 9, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-9-2025/) - 9 March (137 days on island) I’m writing to you now not, as I usually do, by the light of the rising sun on my Sunday morning, but instead by headlight from the bunkhouse at 6am. I was awoken several times in the early hours by the scratchy calls of a manu-o-Ku (white tern) sitting
- [Field Blog - March 16, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-16-2025/) - 16 March (144 days on island) We treated 43 acres this week. On the work front, we had a more ‘laid back’ week – although treating 43 acres in a week could hardly be described as ‘laid back’! We had more afternoons back in camp than usual which is what made it seem more chilled.
- [Field Blog - March 23, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-23-2025/) - 23 March (153 days on island) The 5 of us have been here on this tiny atoll for 5 months now. 2 months left. It’s pretty awesome to have done this – such a small number of people on this earth know what it’s like to actually live and work in a remote field camp
- [Field Blog - March 30, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-march-30-2025/) - 30 March (160 days on island) The last week of the scheduler is always (to me) a tough one. We treated 33.4 acres this week. There are several difficult GRAs to transect, where you are being thoroughly tested by the burrows and the terrain whilst still really needing to be on your toes about the
- [Field Blog - April 6, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-6-2025/) - 6 April (167 days on island) Another week done. We are now closing in on the last month and a half here. What is left is at once a lot of time and none at all. I try to enjoy every day as much as I can, to be present, to feel, to remember, to
- [Field Blog - April 13, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-13-2025/) - 13 April (173 days on island) We treated 47+ acres this week. There is nothing new or terribly interesting to report on that front. We continue our war against the invasive grasses such as Setaria and Cenchrus, and it is sprouting season for them. This luckily coincides for a short amount of time with the
- [Field Blog - April 20, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-20-2025/) - 20 April (180 days on island) The sky looks like a watercolour this morning. Shadows, clouds, blues, violets, and yellows all blend together, and the banks of cloud remind me of the fog banks that lie over the ocean on the west coast of Canada. Sounds of the colony fill the air. Adult mōlī (Laysan
- [Field Blog - April 27, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-april-27-2025/) - 27 April (187 days on island) Another week done. 48 acres treated. That was the final week of our sixth rotation, i.e. we have treated the island for weeds in its entirety, six times. This is quite an accomplishment! Last week had some toughies, like the infernal Sector 5 East and West. We were out
- [Field Blog - May 4, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-4-2025/) - 4 May (193 days on island) Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another installment of my weekly blog on Hōlanikū for the winter 2024 season. You don’t have many of these left to read now, as my time on the atoll is running out. There will be only two more blog entries delivered
- [Field Blog - May 11, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-11-2025/) - 11 May (200 days on island) Our penultimate weekend is upon us, and we finished our last week of formal treatment this week (provided all goes as planned with departure). We made it halfway through our 7th rotation around the island. The coming week – our last full week on island – will see us
- [Field Blog - May 18, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-may-18-2025/) - 18 May (207 days on island) It dawned grey, windy and rainy today. There was such a mist of drizzle over the island that I could not see the reef to the south-east which I normally can see from my bedroom window. I could see plumes spraying into the air from the breakers though, which
- [Current Events – Words and picture by Andrew Sullivan-Haskins](https://kureatollconservancy.org/current-events-words-and-picture-by-andrew-sullivan-haskins/) - Spending a few years on this tiny island in the middle of the Pacific has taught me a lot. Each day offers new growth and a chance to engage with the natural world in a way we rarely get to in our modern lives. News of the day tends to be related to what’s happening
- [Field Blog - November 16, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-november-16-2025/) - Wind and rain usher the Makahiki season onto Hōlanikū, guiding the island into a gentle rhythm of renewal. Hey everyone! It’s Kayla with this week’s blog edition :) After this week, we can officially say the winter weather has started! With higher winds and rainstorms on the horizon, we were not able to get out
- [Field Blog - November 10, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-november-10-2025/) - Aloha readers, Nick here with another bird-filled blog. In case you missed the most recent edition of our Hanohano Hōlanikū video series, we conducted a shorebird survey this week! Super exciting for a bird-lover like me of course! We split up early in the morning and hit the beaches, tallying the five main shorebirds that
- [Field Blog - November 1, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-november-1-2025/) - Aloha and happy Halloween to everyone! Delia here, this is my first blog post for the winter 2025 season!!! This first work week was completed with a dose of horror movies and jack-o’-lanterns made from booeys (pun intended) Overall, this felt like a productive week. This week I got introduced to transecting the plots. Don’t
- [Field Blog - October 20, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-october-20-2025/) - Aloha from Hōlanikū! Here is the latest blog from Kayla. We’ve had an eventful week on Hōlanikū wrapping up the summer season. Transecting this week was somewhat tranquil, we wrapped up the remaining more challenging plots for this month’s scheduler. Sunny mornings had us drenched in sweat by lunch time. It’s been very dry lately,
- [Field Blog - October 5, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-october-5-2025/) - A hui ho Dwight! This is Dwight's last blog for the season. Mahalo nui loa for all your hard work this summer Dwight. Let's all wish him well as he prepares to journey home. ________________________________________________________ Hi everyone! Dwight here! This blog post will unfortunately be my last one for this field season. In just a
- [Field Blog - October 12, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-october-12-2025/) - October arrives on Hōlanikū with cool(er) mornings, new visitors, and the timeless pulse of migration. Enjoy our latest field blog from Nick. Aloha kākou! After a restful weekend following the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) trip, we jumped right back into transecting and searching for Verbesina plants. It was a full week in the sun
- [Field Blog - September 27, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-september-27-2025/) - On Hōlanikū, even the calmest weeks can end in surprise—enjoy the latest field blog from Kayla! 27 September 2025 If you had asked me what my blog was going to be about 2 hours ago, I honestly could not have told you. We’ve had a relatively anticlimactic week over here on Kure. Workwise, we started
- [Field Blog - September 21, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-september-21-2025/) - As summer fades, Hōlanikū hums its September refrain of storms, seabirds, and stars. Check out our latest field blog from Nick! Aloha kākou, Do you remember? The 21st night of September? This week’s blog installment is all over the place, as it was a spectacular week here on Hōlanikū. The sky this week, both night
- [Field Blog - September 7, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-september-7-2025/) - Aloha readers, Another eventful week has passed on Hōlanikū! Perhaps most notably, we welcomed three new faces for about an hour. We were fortunate to host the Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) cruise aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette. While the researchers were conducting their monitoring protocol, we led a three-person terrestrial party
- [Field Blog - September 14, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-september-14-2025/) - The rhythm of Hōlanikū is written in waves, wings, and wind. Check out the latest field blog from Dwight: Hi everyone! I apologize for the delay in writing another blog of my own. Fortunately, my teammates put together some incredible blogs for our readers. The last couple months have had so many changes. We had
- [Field Blog - August 30, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-august-30-2025/) - Hey everyone! It’s Kayla here to share this week’s blog Work this week was CASFIL CASFIL CASFIL!!! Cassytha filiformis is a parasitic vine that is one of our target species on Kure. Personally, I think the vine is one of the coolest plants on the island; it doesn’t have any leaves, instead getting its nutrients
- [Field Blog - August 24, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-august-24-2025/) - Aloha readers, this week’s blog installation is here, and it is once again being written by me (Nick). I’m encouraging the rest of the crew to write as well, as I don’t want my account of the season to be the only thing our dear readers are consuming. Nonetheless, enjoy! This week, I’ve been diving
- [Field Blog - August 16, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-august-16-2025/) - Winds, Wings, and… Runwaylings? Aloha readers! Nick again with another update on camp life, environmental changes, and of course birds. Pretty exciting things are occurring weather wise, with lots of wind blowing this week. We had gusts up into the 40s which meant we closed our storm shutters as a precaution. I was excited, because
- [Update from the field - July 29-31, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/update-from-the-field-july-29-31-2025/) - July 29 - The highest tsunami wave from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula 8.8 earthquake was 1.79 meters at Midway, which was probably similar to Kure. The Kure team stayed inside the main building. Tomorrow, they will take pictures and a GPS track around the run-up from the wave. There are still small waves happening, so everyone
- [Field Blog - June 14, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-june-14-2025/) - Kayla's first blog! 14 June 2025 Hey everyone!! My name is Kayla and I’m one of the volunteers this season on Hōlanikū. I’m from New York, born and raised, so to be here in Papahānaumokuākea is truly such a unique and life changing experience that I am so very grateful to have. Having been here
- [Field Blog - June 29, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-june-29-2025/) - Jordan's first blog! Aloha, my name is Jordan, one of the fortunate few who get to live on Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) for this year. With the summer solstice just behind us we have officially been living on the island for over a month. So much has happened and I have seen so much already that
- [Field Blog - July 6, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-july-6-2025/) - Albatross fledgling season is underway! Here's another field blog from Dwight. Hi again everyone! With this being my second field season on Hōlanikū, it’s the first time I’ve been here in June. From Christmas Shearwater chicks to albatross chicks finally fledging, Hōlanikū always presents new moments to witness and remember. The ka’upu (Black-footed albatross) have
- [Field Blog - July 28, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-july-28-2025/) - 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
- [Field Blog - August 1, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-august-1-2025/) - Never a dull moment at Hōlanikū! Enjoy the latest field blog from Nick Aloha! What a week! To be completely honest, I was going to let someone else from the team write the first post-tsunami blog, but then a Red-necked Stint showed up, and I wanted to talk about it. The first RNST observed in
- [Field Blog - June 8, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-june-8-2025/) - Celebrate World Oceans Day with Nick's first blog of the season! Aloha! Nick here with my first blog entry. To begin, it’s pertinent to note that I am very much a bird guy, so most of my blogs will be bird centric while also covering other highlights that are notable. Additionally, mahalo to our Hōlanikū
- [Field Blog - June 1, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-june-1-2025/) - June 1, 2025- Dwight's first blog of the season! I left Hōlanikū on May 14th, 2022 and I thought I would never have the opportunity to come back again. Leaving was bittersweet and Hōlanikū had taught me so much. Despite the hardships of living in a remote field camp and missing my friends and family
- [Field Blog - January 5, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-5-2025/) - Happy National Bird Day! Here is Isabelle's Hōlanikū Blog for the week: 5 January (74 days on island) This week we treated 47.25 acres (in four days)! We are now seeing parts of the island for the third time as we begin our third rotation through the 44 GRAs (greater restoration areas) that parcel up
- [Field Blog - January 19, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-19-2025/) - 19 January (88 days on island) Let’s get the more serious topics out of the way before I move onto the very exciting topic that I’m sure you all know is coming! We treated 52.7 acres this week, and most of the time we are getting plants now before they start seeding, which is great!
- [Field Blog - January 12, 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/field-blog-january-12-2025/) - 12 January (81 days on island) We treated 52 acres this week whilst still accomplishing a myriad of other important tasks. We found verb sprouts and tore up more beds of Cassytha, amongst other weeds, and made sure we put our best foot forward with respect to treatment. We are keeping pace with the weeds,
- [Ke Alaula o Hōlanikū part 3--na Hawane Pa'a Makekau](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ke-alaula-o-holaniku-part-3-na-hawane-paa-makekau/) - My kupuna Lani Akau once shared with me that every single sunrise and sunset is different, that every single one is unique, and that very mana'o has guided me since I was 18 to look at as many of them as I possibly can. The sun is rising later and setting earlier letting us know
- [Ke Alaula o Hōlanikū part 2--na Hawane Rios](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ke-alaula-o-holaniku-part-2-na-hawane-rios/) - I started learning about Papahanaumokuakea when I was a 22-year-old senior at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo. I can still remember listening to the Kumu of our Ola Na Iwi research class, Kalani Makekau-Whittiker, speak with passionate excitement about Kekuewa Kikiloi's dissertation that revealed the names of these
- [Hōlanikū ʻĀina Pāhaʻohaʻo na Hawane Paʻa Makekau](https://kureatollconservancy.org/holaniku-ʻaina-pahaʻohaʻo-na-hawane-paʻa-makekau/) - This work requires you to take your time, to be intentional with every single step, to keep your eyes sharp, and your mind ever sharper. It requires just as much of your strength as it does your grace. This work requires you to trust yourself and to trust your instincts completely. It requires you to
- [Ke Alaula o Hōlanikū na Hawane Rios](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ke-alaula-o-holaniku-na-hawane-rios/) - I woke up this morning before sunrise and watched night make way for the day. The light of the sun danced streaks of pink and purple across indigo blue skies and at that moment I could hear Holaniku say, "listen to me wake up." The birds' voices started to fill the space in between and
- [Last Blog from Myka](https://kureatollconservancy.org/last-blog-from-myka/) - It has been both fulfilling and humbling to have been able to experience a portion of my life living in another’s world. As author Robin Wall Kimmerer describes it, wildlife is capable of resembling the role of our teachers that lead, they are our founders. I would have to agree with her, especially after getting
- [Keola from Myka](https://kureatollconservancy.org/keola-from-myka/) - When I think about life, I think about how beautiful the world can be, how every single little detail has its own meaning in the circle of life. I think about humans and how we have an ample amount of potential to do good and bad for the Earth. Although, after having woken up in
- [A Message for the Wildlife of Holaniku from Myka](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-message-for-the-wildlife-of-holaniku-from-myka/) - Hello! I was laying in bed the other night pondering what my next blog would entail, and I couldn’t help but think that it was time for me to elaborate more on the wildlife here. I hope that this will paint a brief illustration of the life that my team and I have gotten to
- [Christmas Blog from Myka](https://kureatollconservancy.org/christmas-blog-from-myka/) - Mele Kalikimaka from your Winter Season Kureans! Hi family and friends from all around the Earth! I hope that this finds each and every one of you having an amazing time during the holidays, may your spirits be filled with happiness, peace, love and unity. Spending the holidays here has been very special and humbling.
- [Grounded on Kure](https://kureatollconservancy.org/grounded-on-kure/) - Connection is essential in life, in order to feel. For me anyway, this is true. We as humans have found a handful of ways to connect in the world, whether it be through media, materials, or just the simple company of other things that may help us find a deep sense of peace and/or physical
- [Ko Hirikimata tōku maunga Ko Orewa Estuary tōku awa Ko Ngapuhi tōku iwi Ko Charlie Thomas toku ingoa](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ko-hirikimata-toku-maunga-ko-orewa-estuary-toku-awa-ko-ngapuhi-toku-iwi-ko-charlie-thomas-toku-ingoa/) - Dearest Island, The time has come for us to move on, to no longer share in your sacred land. It has been an honour to live under the shelter of the spirits of my own ancestors and great elders. Though Kure is the last stepping stone before the next life for those who have gone
- [Carpe Noctem by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/carpe-noctem-by-charlie-thomas/) - In a world so far removed from the one that I was used to, I expected every aspect of living here to be the antithesis of my other life. I thought the days would be busy and raucous, and the clear skies at night a reason to indulge in the tranquility of isolation. I was wrong, of course. Night
- [Isolation by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/isolation-by-charlie-thomas/) - I am isolated. There is nothing but ocean and desolate islands in every direction. The horizon hides any evidence of people and land behind the earth’s gentle curve. I am one of four, the youngest, the only one without an American accent and the newest to life away from those who I love. As my
- [A Taste Of Kure by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-taste-of-kure-by-charlie-thomas/) - Close your eyes and picture the Pacific Ocean on a map – now draw a line directly north from the top of the North Island of New Zealand and keep going until you’re you‘re almost as far away from anything as you could possibly be. That’s where I am right now. Kure Atoll is one
- [Beastly Friends by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/beastly-friends-by-charlie-thomas/) - Beastly Friends, Kure has provided me with friends of all sizes. Some are large…very large indeed. The albatross with their 6ft wingspan, the ‘Iwa with one similar. Though there is one more creature that seems to have taken my fancy, that is unequivocally large, called a Cane Spider. Now, it by no means has wings
- [A Letter for the Birds by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-letter-for-the-birds-by-charlie-thomas/) - My dearest feathered friends, The breeze tickles my face as I’m sure it does yours, too. The soft down that once covered you from head to tail now forms nothing more than a mane around your neck, a sign of months gone by and many more still to come. My, you have grown so much.
- [The Still Waltz by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/the-still-waltz-by-charlie-thomas/) - East beach overlooks me. I glance up and down the sand with a tender gaze, my eyes flinching in retaliation to its bright whiteness. The onshore breeze catches my stare and draws it towards the sky where it’s met by a sight I‘ve only seen in museums. It’s as though time is frozen above my
- [May 7, 2020 Entry by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/may-7-2020-entry-by-charlie-thomas/) - Hi Mum! I am feeling much better, obviously, I still miss you all like crazy, but all of the lovely messages have helped me to realise that I am actually lucky to be so homesick and that it is only temporary. I really forced myself to try and find the inspiration I had when I
- [The Albatross Under the Stairs by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/the-albatross-under-the-stairs-by-charlie-thomas/) - I‘m beginning to love my walk through the open field of Lobularia. I had always dreaded it because I was guaranteed to collapse a burrow or two but now I have begun to appreciate the enormous amount of invisible and unsteady holes, for that is exactly the point of all our restoration efforts. The Bonin
- [Beauty in Life and Death by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/beauty-in-life-and-death-by-charlie-thomas/) - Nobody likes to talk about death. I avoid it like you would a cavernous sink hole. It’s uncomfortable to navigate and frightening to think about. No one knows for sure what to expect when you close your eyes for the last time; we have boundless theories and beliefs with nothing but coincidences to bring us
- [Kure Atoll, by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/kure-atoll-by-charlie-thomas/) - Dinner is followed by a sunset trip to the pier. The sooty terns screech and circle above our heads as we navigate our single-file line through the ‘trosses to the beach. At first glance, I don’t notice the normal blue of the lagoon due to the lowering sun shimmering just on the surface. The water
- [Greetings from Kure! By Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/greetings-from-kure-by-charlie-thomas/) - I’m settling into life in my new home and I’m fast beginning to love it. To give you an idea of what camp is like, we have no lightbulbs in any rooms so we do everything by red headlamp light so the birds don’t hit the windows. Our bathroom is a long drop with only
- [Entry 1 – March 4, 2020, by Charlie Thomas](https://kureatollconservancy.org/entry-1-march-4-2020-by-charlie-thomas/) - Hello my dear family! I’m very happy to be finally sending you this email, as I’m sure you’re excited to be receiving it! The boat ride was great, each day was an ‘eat, sleep, look at birds, repeat’ sort of thing and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the last few days were super calm as well
- [What do you miss the most? By Zach Pezzillo](https://kureatollconservancy.org/what-do-you-miss-the-most-by-zach-pezzillo/) - Kure Atoll is a wild and isolated place. It sits alone in the vast Pacific Ocean about 1500 miles or so northwest of O‘ahu. Resting on the southeast corner of the northwestern-most atoll is Green Island–a tiny, flat spit of land in the shape of a waxing moon, with the lagoon bordering one side and
- [VK10 by Morgan Walter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/vk10-by-morgan-walter/) - “I’ve got the tape ready when you are Matt,” said Keelan.She bucked and roared. “She’s just having a bit of a fit, she’s alright,” he said.I peered over my shoulder to see Matt gently lift the weaned seal pup up so Keelan could slip the yellow plastic measuring tape under her bulbous body. Working together
- [Daily Waltz by Morgan Walter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/daily-waltz-by-morgan-walter/) - Hello All! We have officially finished our first month on Green Island, in Kure Atoll. Now that things have settled we are all starting to fall into place and fit into a rhythm. I wanted to share a bit of what our daily lives consist of to paint a better picture of life here on
- [Kure Arrival by Morgan Walter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/kure-arrival-by-morgan-walter/) - Hello all!We’ve completed our first few days on Kure! It has been so amazing, overwhelming and beautifully exhausting all at the same time. We left Honolulu on April 4th aboard the cargo ship, the Kahana. The minute we crossed into the Marine Monument everything transformed. I could feel my life changing as we cut through
- [Summer 2018 Crew Bios by Morgan Walter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/summer-2018-crew-bios-by-morgan-walter/) - Meet the new Kure summer 2018 crew–we are a completely novice crew–all bright eyed and bushy tailed to get to Kure and being our work. Each member of our crew has traveled here to Honolulu from all over the nation. As we begin to document our work and daily lives on Kure we would like
- [Buckets by Morgan Walter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/buckets-by-morgan-walter/) - Our most revered tool and, if you’re a new Kurean, our most feared. From here on out our lives revolve around these buckets. From the time of your first conversation with the Kure team leaders, be it interview or a basic “get to know you”, these buckets are front and center. I’m not talking about
- [In The Final Hours by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/in-the-final-hours-by-ryan-potter/) - The M/V Kahana picks us up tomorrow. Just like that, our seven and a half month field season will come to an end and we will say our goodbyes to the place we’ve called home for quite some time. It’s been a busy end finishing out our last full week of restoration treatment and then
- [Reality Check by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/reality-check-by-ryan-potter/) - As we patiently await a final pickup date after another short extension to our time on Green Island, Kure Atoll, those of us here have finally had the reality check that we will soon be returning to a world we’ve spent a great deal of time away from. In spending over seven months in a
- [Springing Forward by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/springing-forward-by-ryan-potter/) - We’ve marched well over the six-month mark and with less than a month left here on Green Island, Kure Atoll, our few remaining days are quickly passing by. Besides the obvious cleaning and packing that is still before us to let us know the field season is ending, there have been plenty of new sights, sounds,
- [Ode to the Beach Pier by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ode-to-the-beach-pier-by-ryan-potter/) - Here I sit, atop the pier-shed roof, spellbound in a gorgeous scene that I could only dream of. To either side of me lay long, gently curving stretches of sun-washed sand gracefully hugging the vibrantly clear, turquoise water of the lagoon in front of me. Along the horizon, white wave crests fall and break as
- [Peace brings undisturbed nights and days. Week 24 by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/peace-brings-undisturbed-nights-and-days-week-24-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. ʻAneʻane pau ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi! Hoʻokahi wale nō pule i koe. Hauʻoli loa au i ka hiki ke hoʻolaha i ka loaʻa ʻole ʻana o nā kakā i maʻi a i ʻole make i
- [Buckets, Cans, and Toilet Paper by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/buckets-cans-and-toilet-paper-by-ryan-potter/) - Six months ago back in Honolulu; seven of us had the joyful task of packing all the food we’d be bringing out for our seven month field season on Kure. Plastic five-gallon buckets were filled with cans of fruits, vegetables, soup, chili, and an array of other items like rice, cookies, hot sauces, or oatmeal
- [A Bit Blustery](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-bit-blustery/) - When the wind blows the buildings will creak, the trees will shake, and, sadly, some albatross chicks will find themselves a far ways from home. Over the course of last week, Kure Atoll was bombarded with strong winds and high surf making for quite an interesting scene. With winds speeds consistently in the thirties for
- [Routine](https://kureatollconservancy.org/routine/) - Life on a remote island seemingly falls into a consistent routine especially when considering how little else there is to get up and go do besides what is in front of you. Over the past several months there has been a common trend for routines within camp and between the crew. Most every day like
- [Pieces To Choose](https://kureatollconservancy.org/pieces-to-choose/) - This past weekend I found myself immersed in the unsightly task of cleaning grungy, dirt-covered pieces of plastic I had collected from around the island this season. Beside me sat nine different quart-sized bags filled with a conglomerate of objects: bottle caps, lighters, oyster fishery components, nurdles (the raw material for making plastic items), a
- [An Unusual Visitor](https://kureatollconservancy.org/an-unusual-visitor/) - By breeding on remote islands as many seabirds do, there is generally a lack of land-based predators for the birds to worry about or be threatened by. By utilizing far-flung specs of land like Green Island, Kure Atoll, seabirds are usually ensured a safe setting aside from facing the elements and intra-species competition for space
- [Counting Into The New Year by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/counting-into-the-new-year-by-ryan-potter/) - Aloha! I owe an apology for the long delay in writing. Busy enjoying the holidays, rolling in the New Year Kure style, and counting thousands and thousands of albatross, you could say I lost track of time out here more than I had already before. Since I last wrote, there have been plenty of good
- [Things To Be Thankful For by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/things-to-be-thankful-for-by-ryan-potter/) - Thunder and lightning, wicked winds and heavy rain, six days of grueling restoration treatment, a massive holiday dinner, and tons of laughter. In short, the past two weeks have been all sorts of incredible and filled with many moments worth reflecting upon what we have to be thankful for out here on Kure. The week
- [Stranger Weather by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/stranger-weather-by-ryan-potter/) - To think that during any given year only 15 to 20 people get to set foot on and see Green Island, Kure Atoll, there is something special about having the chance to return and experience it for a second time like I am. When we arrived at the white sand beach for offload day, there
- [Same-Same But Different by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/same-same-but-different-by-ryan-potter/) - To think that during any given year only 15 to 20 people get to set foot on and see Green Island, Kure Atoll, there is something special about having the chance to return and experience it for a second time like I am. When we arrived at the white sand beach for offload day, there
- [Part 2: Cruise Aloha by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/part-2-cruise-aloha-by-ryan-potter/) - “See the line where sky meets the sea, it calls me.And no one knows, how far it goes.If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me,One day I’ll know… if I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go.” It might seem cliché but if there was a need to describe
- [Part 1: Beginnings and Return for Winter 2017 by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/part-1-beginnings-and-return-for-winter-2017-by-ryan-potter/) - My writing and name might be familiar to some and I'm excited for the opportunity to share the experience of life and work on Kure with you all once again. Coming back for a second season after working with the 2015/2016 winter crew, there's a new level of excitement in returning to the place that
- [Derelict Eclectic Human Trash](https://kureatollconservancy.org/derelict-eclectic-human-trash/) - One day as we were spraying an area that had its borders on the beach, a derelict fishing line in the lagoon caught the eyes of Matt, crew leader. A look with his mini binoculars that fit in our fanny pack, confirmed the presence of this entangled hazard in the reef which can harm the
- [Summer Momentum](https://kureatollconservancy.org/summer-momentum/) - This week, Mother Nature gave us a nice break as for the Albatross chicks about to fledge: windy with an average of 15 mph and lower temperatures, lower than the previous +80ish degrees we sweat on! In my last post, I asked you to guess our grand total Albatross chicks count and here it is:
- [A Hot Tub Bolus-an Machine!](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-hot-tub-bolus-an-machine/) - This week, we are counting the albatross chicks on the entire island before they fledge! I will let you guess our final count. Stay tuned next week when we release our final counts! A few weeks ago, we welcomed Nimz and David, monk seal technicians. They will stay on the island until mid-August, during the
- [Invasive Plant Removal: “Are you ready? Always!” Firefly](https://kureatollconservancy.org/invasive-plant-removal-are-you-ready-always-firefly/) - IDENTIFICATION of a plant is critical for appropriate treatment and data collection. At the seedling stage, plants look quite alike. After weeks in the field, your eyes get familiar to the appearance for a given plant by its leaves, stem, shape, color, and texture. Also, some have a distinctive smell such as the peppery Coronopus
- [Earth Day Every Day And Our Daily Sweat](https://kureatollconservancy.org/earth-day-every-day-and-our-daily-sweat/) - The calendar reminded me that Saturday April 22nd was Earth Day! That day was a worldwide day of demonstration and remembrance that our planet needs care. On September 2014, I happened to be in Melbourne, Australia, for the Climate March. A sign always haunts me from that event: it featured an Earth globe in a
- [Meet the DLNR Summer ʻ17 Crew](https://kureatollconservancy.org/meet-the-dlnr-summer-ʻ17-crew/) - Aloha followers! We, the Summer 2017 crew, are finishing up our first intensive three weeks on Kure Atoll. Our apologies for being quiet, we surely appreciate your patience! As time goes, each of us is absorbing all the little things that make the Kure life. You get very easily distracted from writing! It is almost
- [He Pūkoʻa Kani ʻĀina by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/he-pukoʻa-kani-ʻaina-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua hōʻea nō ka pau ʻana o ko mākou noho ʻana i Hōlanikū nei. Hō ka wikiwiki o ka holo ʻana o ka manawa! I loko o koʻu makemake ʻole e haʻalele, hauʻoli au i ka hoʻi
- [He Hana Luhi by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/he-hana-luhi-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. He hana hou kā mākou i mālama ai i kēia mau pule ʻelua, a he hana luhi nō ia. Ua paʻa mākou i ka ʻimi a me ka mālama ʻana i nā kakā i loaʻa i ka
- [Needs, Cycles, and Beauty words by RJ Roush](https://kureatollconservancy.org/needs-cycles-and-beauty-words-by-rj-roush/) - "Life out here is more direct." - Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow. Though the original context of this quote is distant from Kure Atoll, it still resonated with me when I encountered it a few weeks back. The simple, sparse wording struck a chord with yet another reason why the life of a wildlife biologist can
- [Ka ʻElele Leo ʻOle by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ka-ʻelele-leo-ʻole-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i nui ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ke kokoke nei ka pau ʻana o kēia huakaʻi. ʻEhā wale nō pule i koe! ʻO ka hapa nui o kaʻu mau puke hoʻomanaʻo, ua kālele ʻia ma luna o ka hana. No nā pule i koe,
- [Hoʻi Hou I Ka Iwi Kuamoʻo (Returning to the Backbone) by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hoʻi-hou-i-ka-iwi-kuamoʻo-returning-to-the-backbone-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ke noi nei kēia mea kākau i ko ʻoukou hoʻomanawanui a me ka huikala mai i koʻu hoʻouna aku i kaʻu mau puke hoʻomanaʻo me ka lohi. Ua nui nā mea e kau ana i koʻu
- [Complacency, Delusion, and Acceptance by RJ Roush](https://kureatollconservancy.org/complacency-delusion-and-acceptance-by-rj-roush/) - There is no satisfactory way to illuminate the ranges of emotions we go through while living here on Kure. Being in such a state of isolation, we not only run the gamut of ups and downs, but may experience them more intensely because of the amount of time left alone with our thoughts. Without the
- [He Milimili Ke Keiki Na Ka Mākua (Children are Beloved by Parents) by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/he-milimili-ke-keiki-na-ka-makua-children-are-beloved-by-parents-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua hōʻea nō mākou i ka hoʻomaka ʻana o kekahi mahina hou ʻo Pepeluali. I ka Poʻakahi, ua piha ka mahina ʻehā o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. Mau nō ka holo ʻana o ka
- [Hele Ke Poʻo A Pōnaʻanaʻa (The Mind is Bewildered) by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hele-ke-poʻo-a-ponaʻanaʻa-the-mind-is-bewildered-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. E kala mai i koʻu hoʻouna ʻana i kaʻu mau puke hoʻomanaʻo me ka lohi. ʻO ka ʻoiaʻiʻo, ʻaʻole au hoihoi i ke kākau ʻana i kekahi mau manawa ma muli o ka luhi i ka
- [Reflections on Mind and Ocean by RJ Roush](https://kureatollconservancy.org/reflections-on-mind-and-ocean-by-rj-roush/) - I touched upon this subject in my first blog. The acquired feeling of calmness and presence when one is in a remote field camp. It is unparalleled in many ways. We have time to observe our surroundings, to think, and to appreciate it without interruption. We become tied to our environment and its changes in
- [Hiki Mai Ka Mālie A Hiki Mai Ka ʻIno by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hiki-mai-ka-malie-a-hiki-mai-ka-ʻino-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. He pule hou kēia i nui ka ua ʻana a me ka pā ʻana mai o ka makani ikaika. Ua kuʻi ka hekili, a ua lapa ka uila kekahi. E like me kēlā pule aku nei,
- [Hanini Ka Wai O Kūlanihākoʻi by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hanini-ka-wai-o-kulanihakoʻi-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua hala iho nei ka pule mua o ka makahiki hou! I kēia makahiki hou, he mau hana hou kā mākou. ʻO ke anilā ka mea i lilo ai kekahi mau mea i hana koʻikoʻi. Ua
- [He Panina, He Hoʻomaka by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/he-panina-he-hoʻomaka-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua hōʻea kākou ka pau ʻana o ka makahiki 2016, a e hoʻomaka ana ka makahiki hou. Ua holo nō ka manawa me ka wikiwiki! Nui nā mea i hoʻolauleʻa ʻia i kēia mahina, kekahi ma
- [Aloha Lā Kalikimaka by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/aloha-la-kalikimaka-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Kōkoke pau kēia makahiki. Ua holo nō ka manawa! He mau mea i hoʻolauleʻa ʻia i kēia pule. Ua pau ko mākou helu ʻana i nā mōlī, nā kaʻupu, a me nā makalena i ʻō a
- [ʻUmia Ka Hanu by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ʻumia-ka-hanu-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i kēia aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua holo nō ka manawa! Ua hōʻea mākou i ka pau ʻana o ka pule ʻumikūmākahi o ko mākou noho ʻana i Hōlanikū. Ua kō nō ka hana maʻamau i ka pule i hala aku nei,
- [Sounds of Seafaring Syrinx by RJ Roush](https://kureatollconservancy.org/sounds-of-seafaring-syrinx-by-rj-roush/) - Spending my last three years in the world of birding and bird work has left me with an acute appreciation of the sounds our avian friends make, one that will likely never leave me. I've spent a good chunk of those years listening for birds in difficult to reach places. This is a job known
- [Kau Ka Maka by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/kau-ka-maka-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. E ʻokoʻa ana ke kumuhana o kēia puke hoʻomanaʻo me nā mea o nā pule i hala. ʻO ka maʻamau, kākau au e pili ana i ka hana o kēlā me kēia pule akā, mai kēia
- [Hū Mai Ke Aloha by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hu-mai-ke-aloha-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā hoa i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. Ua piha ʻeono pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. Mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana. Mau nō ka holo pono ʻana o ka hana. Mau nō ka ulu ʻana aʻe o koʻu aloha i kēia wahi keu a ka
- [Zen Gardening in the Middle of the Pacific by RJ Roush](https://kureatollconservancy.org/zen-gardening-in-the-middle-of-the-pacific-by-rj-roush/) - I've spent a good deal of the last month trying to put my finger on a deja vu feeling that I've had since arriving. Upon stepping onto the coral crumbled shore of Kure for the first time, I havenʻt been able to shake the feeling that I've been here before. At first, I simply thought
- [Aia Ke Ola i Ka Hana by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/aia-ke-ola-i-ka-hana-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha no Hōlanikū. Ua hōʻea mākou i ka pule ʻelima o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mau mea kā mākou i hoʻolauleʻa ai i kēia pule. Ua piha nā makahiki he 25 iā RJ, a ua piha
- [Noke Noke Noke by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/noke-noke-noke-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu. Ua piha ʻehā pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i ʻaneʻi. He mea pīhoihoi nō ia. Mau nō ka hoʻokō ʻana i nā kuleana he nui, a mau nō ka holo pono ʻana o ka hana. He iwakāluakūmāhā pule i koe! Aloha gangeh! We completed 4 weeks of being
- [I Ka Laʻi o Hōlanikū by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/i-ka-laʻi-o-holaniku-by-aulani-herrod/) - Aloha mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, nā hoa, a me nā kānaka i piha i ke aloha iā Hōlanikū. He mea maikaʻi loa kā mākou i ʻike ai i kēia pule. Ua hōʻea nō nā mōlī (black-footed albatross & short-tailed albatross)! Ua ʻike ʻia lākou i ka lā 21 o ʻOkakopa. Pīhoihoi loa
- [Hele a Maʻa by Aulani Herrod](https://kureatollconservancy.org/hele-a-maʻa-by-aulani-herrod/) - Welina hou mai e nā maka heluhelu. Ua piha ʻelua pule o ko mākou noho ʻana i Hōlanikū. Hauʻoli loa au i ka ʻōlelo ʻana ua hoʻomaka ʻia kēia pule me ke oli ʻana iā “E Ala Ē” ma ka Lāpule. Ua ala mākou i ke kakahiaka nui, a ua hele mākou i ka ʻaoʻao
- [Lele Ka Manu No Hōlanikū by Aulani](https://kureatollconservancy.org/lele-ka-manu-no-holaniku-by-aulani/) - Welina mai e nā maka heluhelu, nā ʻohana, nā hoa aloha ʻāina, a me nā hoa i piha i ke aloha no Hōlanikū. ʻO au ʻo Aulani Herrod a no Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu mai au. Ua piha nā makahiki he iwakāluakūmākolu iaʻu. Ua puka au mai ke kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Hilo me ka mēkia o
- [What About Lob? By Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/what-about-lob-by-ryan-potter/) - For anyone familiar with scientific studies or research projects, the common assumption is to set your parameters at the start and to follow them diligently to completion. Varying your methods can alter results or skew an outcome to favoring one thing over another. The process can be applied within the field of ecology and in
- [How To Air Layer by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/how-to-air-layer-by-noel-dunn/) - Plants are pretty nifty and learning how to propagate each one makes life on Kure feel like one of Harry Potter’s Herbology lessons. In the past few months, our team has been attempting to air layer naupaka (Scaveola taccada) which should give the summer field crew rooted branches to cut off of parent bushes in
- [RA Names by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ra-names-by-ryan-potter/) - Green Island is a single entity but to those of us who work here it feels more like 91. With no term used more frequently throughout the work we do, the island is broken down into individual Restoration Areas (RA’s) which guide how we approach our work days. At five months in and having finished
- [Something Not Said by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/something-not-said-by-noel-dunn/) - Confession: despite five months of blog posts, there’s an aspect of life on Kure that I haven’t mentioned. Here’s the fact I’ve shared: Green Island is divided into 91 Restoration Areas (RAs). Here’s the detail I’ve omitted: buoys recycled from the endless marine debris have been strategically placed around the island to border RAs like
- [Between You And Me by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/between-you-and-me-by-noel-dunn/) - My favorite question from the Kapa’a High School students was from Vanessa who asked, ‘do the birds show any human characteristics?’ Her question is excellent, in part, because it shows the way humans have approached the topic of animal intelligence, personalities, and emotions for years. It is understandable why us, humans, want to use ourselves
- [Golden Year by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/golden-year-by-ryan-potter/) - Though now set for my Golden Year, 27 as of the 27th, looking back on 26 has me curious how it is supposed to get better. From a chance to help my undergraduate college as a temp employee to a season on a seabird project in beautiful Northern California to this wonderment here at Kure,
- [Camplife by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/camplife-by-ryan-potter/) - Imagine what life could be like here on Green Island at times feels like something scripted for a reality TV show. Let us take six individuals who all but two don’t know a single thing about the others. Fly them to a set location and then drop them off on a small remote island to
- [Food by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/food-by-ryan-potter/) - Be it a missed craving for a crisp apple, a perfectly steamed artichoke, a juicy cheeseburger, or for me in particular, a CTC Columbia S.O.E latte, living on a remote island takes sacrifice. Cell phones, internet, and common facilities aside, food is one area you might think we would sacrifice the most for but here
- [This Is Not For The Faint Of Heart by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/this-is-not-for-the-faint-of-heart-by-noel-dunn/) - Tonight is clear and cold. When I look at the constellations, I worry about Orion’s arm. Surely, it’s throbbing after all this time holding up that bow. After many minutes of surveying the night sky, my neck feels strained so I lower my gaze back to the albatross chick in front of me. Lately, rain
- [Island Boobies by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/island-boobies-by-ryan-potter/) - It has come time to talk about a particular pair of boobies here at Kure Atoll. Before your minds drift too far, I’m talking about a pair of seabirds. With both our Brown Boobies and Masked Boobies starting their nesting seasons, it felt right to shed light on their intricate biology and place within the
- [Dating the Wildlife by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/dating-the-wildlife-by-noel-dunn/) - As far as courtship goes, humans have nothing on animals. Male crocodiles swim underwater, flip so they are belly up and then blow bubbles towards their female interest. Male bowerbirds create elaborate bachelor pads to entice females that they decorate with collections of brightly colored items and shiny objects from flowers and fungus to bullet
- [Albatross vs. Your Favorite Band by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/albatross-vs-your-favorite-band-by-noel-dunn/) - Albatross vs. Your favorite band Albatross baby craze is taking over Kure this week as proud parents keep distracting staff by standing up to talk to, preen and feed their still-egg-shaped chicks. Coryna keeps threatening to combust from cuteness overload while I can’t stop wondering how I lived knowing so little about such a majestic
- [If We Were Superheroes by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/if-we-were-superheroes-by-noel-dunn/) - If we become superheroes, Ryan wants to have the power to fly. Martha wants to swim like a dolphin and Andy wants the ability to become invisible. Eryn thinks all of these special powers sound good and believes she could do all three and more with a magic wand. Coryna simply wants to be able
- [Departures & Arrivals by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/departures-arrivals-by-ryan-potter/) - The 22nd marked our fourth month here at Kure Atoll and though it has been long since our arrival and still close to three months until our departure, much has happened in the terms of comers and goers in the past few weeks here on Green Island. Unfortunately this wasn’t the year for us to
- [Data by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/data-by-ryan-potter/) - My brain functions on numbers and details and I readily remember statistics or the exact date each species of albatross arrived on and when their first eggs were laid. Doing math equations before Pre-K, it seemed destined I’d be bound for a life in mathematics but math alone didn’t hold because it lacked the tangibles,
- [A Moment on Midway by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-moment-on-midway-by-ryan-potter/) - “In the midst of a huge ocean, the tiny dots of sand that form Midway Atoll may seem insignificant, but its islands house a unique blend of elements from the world’s natural and historic treasury, including unsurpassed wildlife resources and remnants from one of the most decisive battles of World War II. “ Boasting the
- [The Case Against Verbesina by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/the-case-against-verbesina-by-noel-dunn/) - Sometimes Kure Atoll feels like a crime scene. We know the perpetrator well: Verbesina encelioides aka Golden Crownbeard, Wild sunflower, Yellowtip and Anil del Muerto. Our team simply calls him, Verb. His crimes are extensive, but most biologists sum up his destruction by calling him an invasive species. When it comes to invasive plants, Verb
- [Mahalo Honu by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/mahalo-honu-by-noel-dunn/) - Every time I see a sea turtle, I silently thank it for bringing me here. Right now, ‘here’ means Kure but in the past it has meant a dozen different countries with beaches adjacent to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. ‘Here’ means pursuing a graduate degree and career as a conservation biologist even though
- [A Workday on Kure by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/a-workday-on-kure-by-noel-dunn/) - 6:56 am I’ve pressed snooze on my alarm more times than I can count, thrown on some work clothes and finally made it out of the bunkhouse. I’m probably projecting, but the sun also seems reluctant to wake up as there is only a faint orange glow peaking over the tree line in the east.
- [Beauty and a Beast by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/beauty-and-a-beast-by-ryan-potter/) - There is one thing for certain about life here on Kure; we live in one unbelievably picturesque place. Birds and wildlife aside, this island and atoll offer some of the most breathtaking images one could ever think to lay eyes upon. Precious white sand lines the beaches, reflecting the sun’s light so brightly as if
- [Restoring Balance](https://kureatollconservancy.org/restoring-balance/) - Verbesina encelioides. Cenchrus echinatus. ‘Alena. Kawelu. Sweet Alyssum. Button Sedge. Shrubs. Grasses. Sprouts. Seeds. The list goes on and on. The characteristics start to blend together, your brain reaches a point of plant overload and you wonder how you might ever do what is asked of you. The simple task of finding a weed is
- [Walk like a Kurean by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/walk-like-a-kurean-by-noel-dunn/) - I’ve been trying to write this blog all day, but I keep getting distracted. It’s just after 7 pm and I’m sitting at a picnic table near the kitchen. Loud, helicopter-esque wing beats just a moment ago announced the arrival of one of our Laysan Ducks, Yellow Y. She flew fairly quickly past me and
- [Kure Landing by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/kure-landing-by-noel-dunn/) - Once upon an atoll… Adventure stories were always my favorite childhood tales. The ones where the protagonists go on a long journey and wander through strange lands encountering abandoned buildings, friendly strangers and incredible natural wonders along the way. The past few days have been a whirlwind of new experiences and as I try to
- [Team Introductions by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/team-introductions-by-noel-dunn/) - Here are seven short profiles, first impressions and probing Q&A’s to officially introduce the 2015 Kure winter field crew: Andy has already spent a summer on Kure and seems to be looking forward to discovering the nuance of winter field camp. He is both charismatic and patient as he shows off Oahu, gives the newbies
- [All Hands Present by Ryan Potter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/all-hands-present-by-ryan-potter/) - With my arrival late last week, it seemed as if the final piece of the puzzle had finally been placed. This, this all is happening. With just over a week till we arrive on Kure, there is no lack of excitement in finally getting out there. As with any field camp though, the first biggest
- [Packing Buckets by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/packing-buckets-by-noel-dunn/) - Fly fishermen are brilliant. Andy, Eryn and I are trying on field kit that has arrived in the mail and so far the fly-fishing vests are our favorite items due to the pockets. We’re already choosing which pockets will hold our radios and admiring how different loops and built in cords will help ensure that
- [Words of Wisdom by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/words-of-wisdom-by-noel-dunn/) - I’ve learned the hard way (read: scared off many men at bars) that the commonplace conversations that take place on a remote project site, don’t transfer well when you re-integrate into city life. A similar sentiment holds true for going to a field base. City knowledge and habits don’t always transfer well. Which is why
- [Painting Wood by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/painting-wood-by-noel-dunn/) - Today, Andy and I are staining wood for the Laysan ducks that were recently translocated to Kure Atoll. Maybe that sounds funny. We’re taking some lumber with us in order to build another guzzler to collect fresh water for the ducks. In order to meet the strict quarantine measures for the island, we are staining
- [Buckets of Fun by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/buckets-of-fun-by-noel-dunn/) - As I power wash a dead spider and her eggs out from under the lip of a bucket, I silently apologize that they aren’t invited on our trip. In two months, a team of six, including myself, is headed to Kure Atoll. Kure Atoll. I can’t even say the words without a sense of awe.
- [Bon Voyage by Noel Dunn](https://kureatollconservancy.org/bon-voyage-by-noel-dunn/) - The Pacific Ocean is hosting a hurricane party. It is the first time three, category four storms exist in one ocean basin at the same time. The staff currently at Kure has remained on island as they are safe from the high winds. However, many of the field teams that were working on the other

## Pages

- [Home](https://kureatollconservancy.org/) - Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll): Bringing Forth the HeavensAt the northwestern edge of the Hawaiian archipelago. Our Work Conservation efforts that sustain the biodiversity and ecological health of Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary, or Hōlanikū. Habitat RestorationRestore native plants, remove invasive species, and manage pests to keep Kure Atoll thriving. Key projects include the Laysan Duck Translocation, US
- [Newsletter Privacy Policy](https://kureatollconservancy.org/newsletter-privacy-policy/) - Newsletter Privacy Policy | Kure Atoll Conservancy Kure Atoll Conservancy We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the information you choose to share with us. Effective January 1, 2026 Kure Atoll Conservancy (“KAC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you choose to share with
- [Eric Vanderwerf](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/eric-vanderwerf/) - Eric VanderWerf Eric VanderWerf is a wildlife biologist based in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he currently operates Pacific Rim Conservation. He completed a Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii in 1999 and has participated in a variety of ornithological research and management projects in the Pacific region over the past 20 years during stints with the
- [About Us](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/) - About Us Main OutlookOfficersBoard of DirectorsAdvisorsMission Kure Atoll Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting ongoing State of Hawaii habitat restoration and other wildlife management programs that enhance biological diversity, ecosystem health, and cultural resources of Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Archipelago. Vision The organization’s vision is to develop additional funding through
- [Support Our Work](https://kureatollconservancy.org/support-our-work/) - Every Gift Makes a DifferenceHōlanikū, or Kure Atoll, is one of the most remote wildlife sanctuaries in the world. From ground-nesting seabirds to endangered Laysan Ducks and Hawaiian Monk Seals, every species here depends on dedicated habitat restoration, invasive species management, and careful ecosystem monitoring. Your support fuels the work of our passionate staff and
- [Steven Hess](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/steven-hess/) - Steven Hess Advisor Steve Hess was a research wildlife biologist at USGS with interests in both native and invasive species for almost 20 years and is now leader of the USDA National Wildlife Research Center’s Hawai‘i Field Station. He began his career as a teenager catching sharks for cancer research at Mote Marine Laboratory in
- [Newsletter](https://kureatollconservancy.org/newsletter/)
- [Kure History](https://kureatollconservancy.org/explore-kure/kure-history/) - 1799-18351836-18931894-19401941-19781992-20161799-18351799 – Captain Don M. Zipiani of the Spanish vessel Senhor del pilar discovered an island at about Kure’s longitude and latitude and named it Patrocinio. 1825 – Captain Benjamin Morrell Jr. Schooner Tartar and named it Morrell 1827 – Captain Stankovitch Russian ship Moller 1835 – Russian captain/cartographer Krusenstern synonomizes all the written accounts,
- [Michelle Hester](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/michelle-hester/) - Michelle Hester Advisor Michelle Hester helped create the Kure Atoll Conservancy and now serves as a research associate guiding the STEM+Art education activities based on science conducted at Kure. She is the Executive Director of Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge and brings 25 years of experience as a seabird ecologist and non-profit leader.
- [Online Resources](https://kureatollconservancy.org/online-resources/) - Stay-At-Home Resources Don’t let staying home disconnect you from the places and wildlife you love. Online ResourcesVirtual Fieldtrips & LivestreamOnline ResourcesWoods Hole Oceanographic InstituteWoods Hole Sea Grant has compiled a list of suggested educational resources to assist families with ideas and online programs in response to COVID-19. NOAAHere’s a quick roundup of NOAA’s most popular
- [Hoku Cody](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/hoku-cody/) - Hōkū Cody Board Member Hōkū Cody is a kamaʻāina of Moanalua and an ʻōiwi of Hawaiʻi Island. She mainly focuses on the intersection of technology, community, and seabird conservation to create meaningful impacts for Hawaiʻi’s future generations. Hōkū has been involved in several seasonal field camps throughout Papahānaumokuākea since 2013. She has a degree in
- [Michael Holland](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/michael-holland/) - Michael Holland Board Member Emeritus Michael Holland has spent the past 25 years exploring multimedia production. The proprietor of Compound Media in Palo Alto, California, Michael assisted Cynthia in the production of the video DVD – “Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Ecological Protection Protocols: A Training Guide for Packing and Field Operations” (2007), funded and published
- [Bill Gillmartin](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/bill-gillmartin/) - Bill Gillmartin Advisory Bill Gilmartin retired from federal government service in 1996 after nearly 30 years of research on many marine mammal species, including 16 years of managing the research and recovery program for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. He is still a member of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Team and, as Director of
- [Martha Brown](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/martha-brown/) - Martha Brown Advisor Martha Brown is a senior editor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a freelance writer and editor. She began working at Midway Atoll in 1988 and has returned many times to assist with research and restoration efforts and to lead natural history tours. She has also worked on bird banding,
- [Naomi Worcester](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/naomi-worcester/) - Naomi Worcester Advisor Naomi Worcester is a wildlife biologist and the current manager of the Kure Atoll Field Station. She first visited Kure Atoll in the summer of 2010 and returned annually until the fall of 2020, during which time she served as a field camp leader. Naomi earned her Bachelor of Science in Botany
- [Alex Wegmann](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/alex-wegmann/) - Alex Wegmann Board Member Emeritus Alex Wegmann, Ph.D.: A 20-year veteran of managing and advising conservation projects in the Pacific, Alex Wegmann became The Nature Conservancy’s Palmyra Program Director in 2016 and then the Director of Science for the Palmyra Program in 2019. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Alex worked for Island Conservation for more
- [Christina Ryder](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/christina-ryder/) - Christina Ryder Board Member Christina Ryder is a Conservation Biologist with over 16 years of federal and nonprofit experience dedicated to protecting ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, Christina developed a deep connection to Pacific conservation early in her career — a passion that has only
- [David Littschwager](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/david-littschwager/) - David Littschwager Board Member David Littschwager is a freelance photographer who, after working with Richard Avedon in New York in the eighties, left advertising to focus on portraiture and natural history. Now a regular contributor to National Geographic, Liittschwager has produced a number of books. Among his many honors is a World Press Photo Award
- [Lizabeth Kashinsky](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/lizabeth-kashinsky/) - Lizabeth Kashinsky Board Member Emeritus Lizabeth Kashinsky has worked for the NOAA Fisheries Hawaiian monk seal research Program since 1997. Over the years she has participated in numerous research activities in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Lizabeth felt an immediate connection to Kure on a short trip there in the late `90s, never imagining that she
- [Barry Christansen](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/barry-christansen/) - Barry Christansen Director Barry Christenson’s interest in wildlife management manifested in two degrees: a Bachelor of Science from Humboldt State University and a Master’s from the University of Maine. He worked from the East Coast to Midway as a refuge manager with the US Fish and Wildlife Service but considers his three years on the
- [Matt Saunter -- President](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/matt-saunter-president/) - Matt Saunter President Matthew Saunter, the President of Kure Atoll Conservancy began work at Kure Atoll in 2010. He has been leading yearly field camps to the remote outpost since 2012 for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Matt, born and raised in Hawaii attended Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Campus.
- [Cynthia Vanderlip -- Executive Director](https://kureatollconservancy.org/about-us/cynthia-vanderlip-executive-director/) - Cynthia Vanderlip Executive Director Cynthia Vanderlip is the founder and Executive Director of Kure Atoll Conservancy (KAC). In 2002, she began supervising the habitat restoration and biological monitoring at Kure Atoll for Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Her goal as KAC Executive Director is to educate the public about
- [Our Work](https://kureatollconservancy.org/our-work/) - Habitat Restoration ProgramHabitat Restoration, Our Work Habitat Restoration ProgramThe largest focus is habitat restoration projects, including the eradication of invasive plants, the restoration of native plants, and pest management. Over the years, management objectives have aimed to constantly modify field efforts in response to maintaining a balance between restoring an ecosystem and the impact the
- [Explore Kure](https://kureatollconservancy.org/explore-kure/) - Thousands of nesting seabirds, home to critically endangered species, and much more. Learn about the history, flora, and fauna of Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary
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- [Our Blog](https://kureatollconservancy.org/our-blog/) - FiltersCategoryResetField Camp Blog175Summer Season49Summer 20162Summer 20176Summer 20186Summer 202013Summer 20224Summer 202518Winter Season126Winter 201528Winter 201625Winter 201716Winter 20183Winter 20216Winter 202420Winter 202528ApplyFilters Field Blog – July 3, 2026Field Camp Blog, Winter 2025, Winter Season1 week agoAloha 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

## Envira Albums

- [Camp Facilities](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira_album/camp-facilities-2/)

## Our Work

- [Makalena - Short-tailed Albatross](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/makalena-short-tailed-albatross-2/) - Makalena – Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus Federally Listed Endangered NatureServe Heritage Rank G1 – Critically Imperiled IUCN Red List Ranking Vulnerable NomenclatureDue to the differences within the juvenile and adult stages, a name was given to each. Makalena refers to the physical features of the adult Short-tailed Albatross that is reflected in the “lena” (yellowish
- [‘Ā - Masked Booby](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/a-masked-booby/) - ‘Ā – Masked Booby Sula dactylatra State Recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 – Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Vulnerable The Kiamanu ProjectʻĀ are revered through profound kinship in meaningful practices of traditional Hawaiian lifestyles. Many of those understandings are being re-awakened through the community, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Kiamanu Project.
- [Kōlea - Pacific Golden-Plover](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/kolea-pacific-golden-plover-2/) - Kōlea – Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva State Recognized Indigenous US Shorebird Conservation Plan High concern IUCN Red List Least concern NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 Secure General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsOn HōlanikūPhotosGeneral InformationThe Kōlea, also known as the Pacific Golden-Plover, is a small, yellow-and-buff mottled shorebird (Family: Charadriidae) that winters in the
- [‘Akekeke - Ruddy Turnstone](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/akekeke-ruddy-turnstone/) - ‘Akekeke – Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres State Recognized Indigenous US Shorebird Conservation Plan High concern IUCN Red List Near threatened NatureServe Heritage Rank Secure General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsOn HōlanikūPhotosGeneral InformationThe ‘Akekeke, or Ruddy Turnstone, is a small calico-colored shorebird (Family: Scolopacidae) with a short bill and bright reddish-orange legs. The
- [Nohu - Tribulus cistoides](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/nohu-tribulus-cistoides-3/) - Nohu Tribulus cistoides Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationTribulus cistoidies is a native plant to Kure, called nohu, and is abundant in open areas. Its leaf pattern and yellow flowers are unmistakable. The cotyledons (sprouting leafs) are large and
- [Pollution Reduction](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/pollution-reduction-2/) - Pollution reduction usually entails removing marine debris that are entanglement hazards. Other areas include the removing of PCBs and other toxicity that remains from the Coast Guard operations that were once on Kure.
- [How Feathers Brought Communities Together](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/how-feathers-brought-communities-together/) - Outreach education community workshop through the Kiamanu Project was conducted in Kalawao county, Molokaʻi in partnership with Kalaupapa National Park to support traditional Makahiki ceremonies on Molokaʻi.
- [The Kiamanu Project](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/the-kiamanu-project-2/) - The Kiamanu ProjectGeneral Information Nā Kiaʻi Nihokū (NKN) and The Kiamanu Project focuses on re-establishing kinships between the Native Hawaiian community and seabird populations, develop a deeper sense of place inclusive of seabirds, as well as increase participation in seabird conservation and protections. This effort focuses on creating those pathways through two main areas–1) The
- [Natural Resource Protections](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/natural-resource-protections/) - Monitoring includes all wildlife monitoring and surveys--including seabirds, monk seals, laysan ducks, shorebirds, and native plants--as well as monitoring the shoreline for marine pollution.
- [Biosecurity](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/biosecurity-2/) - In 1995, the State successfully eradicated rats from Green Island and created strict biosecurity protocols. After predator removal, some seabird species returned (small petrels) and others increased in population size (ground-nesting boobies and albatrosses). However, the spread of Verbesina encelioides (Golden Crown-beard) and other invasive weeds (Starr et al. 2001) has severely threatened recovery by degrading and displacing seabird nesting habitat on a large scale.
- [Outreach Education](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/outreach-education-2/) - Kure Atoll has many messages to share with the world. Outreach education is one of the only avenues we have to reach our communities in Hawaii and beyond. Kure Atoll Conservancy focuses on providing education in a few targeted ways: through the Bolus Education Program, Huliʻia Project, Nā Kiaʻi Nihokū, and The Kiamanu Project.
- [Habitat Restoration Program](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/habitat-restoration-program/) - Green Island, the atoll’s only permanent island, is the state of Hawai‘i’s most significant seabird sanctuary with 18 seabird species totaling over 100,000 nesting birds. The role of Kure Atoll Conservancy (KAC) is to provide critical funding that supports all aspects of the State of Hawaiiʻs Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary research field station operations, logistics, and personnel.
- [Invasive Tree & Plant Eradication Program](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/invasive-tree-plant-eradication-program-2/) - Pollution reduction usually entails removing marine debris that are entanglement hazards. Other areas include the removing of PCBs and other toxicity that remains from the Coast Guard operations that were once on Kure.
- [ʻIwa -- Great Frigatebird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻiwa-great-frigatebird-2/) - ʻIwa – Great Frigatebird Fregata minor Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G4 – Apparently secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationForaging & NestingDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsPhotosSpecies InformationThe ‘Iwa or Great Frigatebird is a large, graceful seabird (Family: Fregatidae) related to boobies and tropicbirds, with a pantropical
- [Pākalakala - Gray-backed Tern](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/pakalakala-gray-backed-tern-2/) - Pākalakala- Gray-backed Tern Sterna lunata Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Apparently Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosSpecies InformationThe Pākalakala or Gray-backed Tern (Family: Laridae) is endemic to the central Pacific and breeds on small and remote islands and atolls, however, its
- [Kaʻupu - Blackfoot Albatross](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/kaʻupu-blackfoot-albatross/) - Kaʻupu – Blackfoot Albatross Phoebastria nitripes State-listed: Threatened Stated-recognized: Indigenous National Level Bird of Concern NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 – Apparently secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern IUCN Red List Ranking Endangered Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationForaging & NestingDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosSpecies InformationThe Ka‘upu or Black-footed Albatross is the smallest
- [ʻEwaʻewa - Sooty Tern](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻewaʻewa-sooty-tern-2/) - ʻEwaʻewa – Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationForaging & NestingDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosSpecies InformationThe ‘Ewa‘ewa or Sooty Tern is an abundant and gregarious tern (Family: Laridae) with a pantropical distribution, and can remain on the
- [ʻĀ - Brown Booby](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻa-brown-booby/) - ʻĀ – Brown Booby Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G3 – Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern IUCN Red List Ranking Vulnerable Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 The Kiamanu ProjectʻĀ are revered through profound kinship in meaningful practices of traditional Hawaiian lifestyles. Many of those understandings are being re-awakened through the community,
- [Mōlī - Laysan Albatross](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/moli-laysan-albatross-2/) - Mōlī – Laysan Albatross Phoebastria nitripes Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G3 – Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern IUCN Red List Ranking Vulnerable Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosSpecies InformationThe Mōlī or Laysan Albatross is a large, abundant seabird (Family: Diomedeidae) whose breeding range
- [ʻAkihikēʻehiʻale - Tristram's Storm Petrel](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻakihikeʻehiʻale-tristrams-storm-petrel-2/) - ‘Akihike‘ehi‘ale – Tristram’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma tristrami Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsPhotosSpecies InformationTristram’s Storm-Petrel is a large storm-petrel (Family: Hydrobatidae) with long, pointed wings, and a notched tail. Adult males and females are
- [ʻUaʻu Kani - Wedge-tailed Shearwater](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻuaʻu-kani-wedge-tailed-shearwater-2/) - ʻUaʻu kani – Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus Pacificus Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Apparently secure/Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Low concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe ‘Ua‘u kani or Wedge-tailed Shearwater is a large, abundant seabird (Family: Procellaridae) that produces a variety of wails
- [Native Plant Restoration](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/native-plant-restoration/) - As a result of decades of human disturbance and introduced species, many native species have declined and three have gone extinct. In order to maintain substrate for nesting seabirds, re-vegetation is an important component of management on Kure Atoll.
- [ʻAlena - Boerhavia repens](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻalena-boerhavia-repens/) - ʻAlena Boerhavia repense Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationBoerhavia repens is a native plant called ʻalena. It is a creeping vine easy to distinguish from other plants on Kure. One of the few instances ʻalena is mistaken for another plant
- [Naupaka - Scaevola taccada](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/naupaka-scaevola-taccada-2/) - Naupaka Scaevola taccada Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationNaupaka is a ubiquitous native shrub along Hawai’i coastlines that in the Northwestern Hawaii Islands will form dense stands in places. In other places, there are less dense or
- [Pohuehue - Ipomoea pes-caprae](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/pohuehue-ipomoea-pes-caprae/) - Pohuehue Ipomoea pes-caprae Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationIpomoea pes-caprae, called pōhuehue, is a cosmopolitan species found in sandy coastal areas throughout the Hawaiian archipelago. It is a strong vine, the smooth, broad leaves notched at the top; the
- [ʻĀ - Red-footed Booby](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻa-red-footed-booby-2/) - ʻĀ – Red-footed Booby Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 – Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Not at risk The Kiamanu ProjectʻĀ are revered through profound kinship in meaningful practices of traditional Hawaiian lifestyles. Many of those understandings are being re-awakened through the community, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Kiamanu Project. ʻā1.
- [Koloa Pōhaka - Laysan Duck](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/koloa-pohaka-laysan-duck/) - Koloa Pōhaka – Laysan Duck Anas laysanensis State Recognized Endemic Federally Listed Endangered State Listed Endangered IUCN Red List Ranking Critically Endangered General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe Laysan duck is a small dabbling duck (Family: Anatidae) that is endemic to Hawai‘i. Until recently, it was restricted to Laysan Island (370
- [Hunakai - Sanderling](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/hunakai-sanderling/) - Hunakai – Sanderling Calidris alba State Recognized Indigenous General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe Hunakai, or Sanderling, is a sandpiper (Family: Scolopacidae) that is well-known for its habit of foraging at the edge of the surf zone and running up and down the beach to avoid waves while probing the sand
- [Kioea - Bristle-thighed Curlew](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/kioea-bristle-thighed-curlew/) - Kioea – Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis State Recognized Indigenous IUCN Red List Ranking Vulnerable General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationKioea, or Bristle-thighed Curlews, are large-bodied shorebirds (Family: Scolopacidae) that twice annually make a nonstop migration of at least 4,000 kilometers (2,480 miles) between Hawai‘i and Alaska. They typically arrive in Hawai‘i
- [‘Ūlili - Wandering Tattler](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ulili-wandering-tattler/) - ‘Ūlili – Wandering Tattler Tringa incana, Heteroscelus incanus State Recognized Indigenous US Shorebird Conservation Plan Moderate Concern General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral Information‘Ūlili, or Wandering Tattler, remains one of North America’s least known birds. ‘Ūlili winter in the Hawaiian Islands, arriving in stages (adults from July to August, juveniles from September
- [Noio Kōhā - Brown Noddy](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/noio-koha-brown-noddy/) - Noio Kōhā – Brown Noddy Anous stolidus State Recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 – Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Not currently at risk Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe Noio Kōhā, also known as the Brown Noddy, is a medium-sized and abundant tern
- [Noio - Black Noddy](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/noio-black-noddy/) - Noio – Black Noddy Anous minutus State Recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G5 – Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe Black Noddy, also known as the Noio, is a medium-sized seabird that is abundant and typically found
- [Koa‘e ‘ula - Red-tailed Tropicbird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/koae-ula-red-tailed-tropicbird/) - Koa‘e ‘ula – Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda State Recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G4/G5 – Apparently secure/Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe Koa‘e ‘ula, also known as the Red-tailed Tropicbird, is a striking white seabird belonging to
- [‘Ou - Bulwer’s Petrel](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ou-bulwers-petrel/) - ‘Ou – Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G4 – Apparently secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe ‘Ou, or Bulwer’s Petrel, is a highly pelagic, nocturnal gadfly petrel belonging to the family Procellariidae. This
- [ʻAoʻū - Christmas Shearwater](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻaoʻu-christmas-shearwater/) - ʻAoʻū – Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G3/G4 – Vulnerable/Apparently secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe ʻAoʻū, or Christmas Shearwater, is a medium-sized seabird belonging to the Procellariidae family. It has dark brown
- [Nunulu - Bonin Petrel](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/nunulu-bonin-petrel/) - Nunulu – Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca Stated-recognized Indigenous North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationForaging & Nesting InformationDistribution & AbundanceConservation ManagementCurrent ThreatsPhotosGeneral InformationThe Nunulu, also known as the Bonin Petrel, is a small, nocturnal bird from the gadfly petrel family (Procellariidae). It breeds farther north than any
- [Manu-o-Kū - White Tern](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/manu-o-ku-white-tern/) - Manu-o-Kū – White-Tern Gygis alba Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank G4 – Apparently Secure North American Waterbird Conservation Plan Moderate Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 Species InformationForaging & NestingDistribution & AbundanceConservation ActionsCurrent ThreatsPhotosSpecies InformationThe Manu-o-Kū, or White Tern, is a small, all-white bird belonging to the family Laridae, found in tropical regions around
- [Conservation Management](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/conservation-management/) - Conservation ManagementGeneral Information To ensure state personnel and volunteers are working efficiently, management aims to measure each field season’s aim to increase plants that support ground and burrow-nesting seabird habitats. Seasonal efforts are documented around annual growth periods and measures 4 designated plots for percentages of Verbesina, other non-native plants, and native plants. The Kure
- [Kaunaʻoa Pehu - Cassytha filiformis](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/kaunaʻoa-pehu-cassytha-filiformis/) - Kaunaʻoa Pehu Cassytha filiformis Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundEradication/ControlPhotosGeneral InformationC. filiformis is a native parasitic vine, called Kaunaʻoa Pehu, that was first observed on the northern tip of Kure’s Green Island in 2001. The north point of Green Island is
- [ʻEnaʻena - Pseudognaphalium sandwicensium var. sandwicensium](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻenaʻena-pseudognaphalium-sandwicensium-var-sandwicensium/) - ʻEnaʻena Pseudognaphalium sandwicensium var. sandwicensium Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationYoung P. Sandwicensium plants, called ʻenaʻena, are hairy, oval leaves slightly wider at the tip, with a silvery green appearance. As the leaves grow out they become long and slender
- [ʻAkulikuli - Sesuvium portulacastrum](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/ʻakulikuli-sesuvium-portulacastrum/) - ʻAkulikuli Sesuvium portulacastrum Seapurslane Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationSesuvium is an introduced native plant, called ʻakulikuli, with fleshy, succulent leaves, red stems, and purple flowers. The succulent leaves of Sesuvium are relatively distinctive, only resembling Portulaca oleracea on Kure.
- [‘Anunu - Sicyos maximowiczii](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/anunu-sicyos-maximowiczii/) - ʻAnunu Sicyos maximowiczii Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationʻAnunu is an annual vine in the Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae) which includes cucumbers, watermelons, and pumpkins. The leaves are large, roughly elliptic, and the stem is stout. No other plant on Kure
- [Dwarf Eragrostis - Eragrostis paupera](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork/dwarf-eragrostis-eragrostis-paupera/) - Dwarf Eragrostis Eragrostis paupera Stated-recognized Indigenous NatureServe Heritage Rank Vulnerable North American Waterbird Conservation Plan High Concern Regional Seabird Conservation Plan USFWS 2005 General InformationKure BackgroundHabitat RestorationPhotosGeneral InformationEragrostis paupera, a native grass, is truly a dwarf. It can produce seed as little more than a sprout. Large plants are seldom more than a few inches tall

## Envira Galleries

- [ʻĀ - Masked Booby](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻa-masked-booby/)
- [Noio - Noddy](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/noio-noddy/)
- [Noio Kōhā - Brown Noddy](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/noio-koha-brown-noddy-2/)
- [Akekeke - Ruddy Turnstone](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/akekeke-ruddy-turnstone-2/)
- [Kōlea - Pacific Golden Plover](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/kolea-pacific-golden-plover-3/)
- [ʻĀkihikēʻehiʻale - Tristram's Storm Petrel](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻakihikeʻehiʻale-tristrams-storm-petrel/)
- [Makalena - Short-tailed Albatross](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/makalena-short-tailed-albatross-3/)
- [Work - PCB Project](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-pcb-project/)
- [Work - Pest Management](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-pest-management/)
- [Work - Bird Banding](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-bird-banding/)
- [Work - Outplanting](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-outplanting/)
- [Work - BHA](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-bha/)
- [Pohuehue - Ipomea indica](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/pohuehue-ipomea-indica/)
- [Nohu - Tribulus cistoides](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/nohu-tribulus-cistoides-2/)
- [Camp Facilities](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/camp-facilities-3/)
- [‘Anunu - Sicyos maximowiczii](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/anunu-sicyos-maximowiczii-2/)
- [Akulikuli - Sesuvium portulacastram](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/akulikuli-sesuvium-portulacastram/)
- [ʻEnaʻena - Pseudognaphalium sandwicensium var. sandwicensium](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻenaʻena-pseudognaphalium-sandwicensium-var-sandwicensium-2/)
- [Kiamanu Project](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/kiamanu-project/)
- [Historical Photos](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/historical-photos/)
- [ʻĀ -- Red-footed Booby](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻa-red-footed-booby/)
- [Koaliʻawa - Ipomea Pescapre](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/koaliʻawa-ipomea-pescapre/)
- [Alena - Boerhavia repens](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/alena-boerhavia-repens/)
- [ʻUaʻu Kani - Wedge-tailed Shearwater](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻuaʻu-kani-wedge-tailed-shearwater/)
- [Naupaka - Scaevola taccada](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/naupaka-scaevola-taccada/)
- [Native Plants](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/native-plants/)
- [Scenery](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/scenery/)
- [Work - Marine Pollution](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-marine-pollution/)
- [Work - Monk Seal](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-monk-seal/)
- [Work - Habitat Restoration](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/work-habitat-restoration/)
- [Shorebirds](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/shorebirds/)
- [Native Grasses](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/native-grasses/)
- [Kaʻupu - Black-footed Albatross](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/kaʻupu-black-footed-albatross/)
- [ʻĀ - Brown-footed Booby](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻa-brown-footed-booby/)
- [Nunulu - Bonin Petrels](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/nunulu-bonin-petrels/)
- [ʻAoʻū - Christmas Shearwaters](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻaoʻu-christmas-shearwaters/)
- [Pākalakala - Gray-backed Tern](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/pakalakala-gray-backed-tern/)
- [ʻIwa - Great Frigatebird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻiwa-great-frigatebird/)
- [Koaʻeʻula - Red-tailed Tropicbird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/koaʻeʻula-red-tailed-tropicbird/)
- [Mōlī - Laysan Albatross](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/moli-laysan-albatross/)
- [ʻEwaʻewa - Sooty Tern](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/ʻewaʻewa-sooty-tern/)
- [Manuokū - White Tern](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira/manuoku-white-tern/)

## Categories

- [Field Camp Blog](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/)
- [Summer Season](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/)
- [Winter Season](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/)
- [Winter 2015](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2015/)
- [Winter 2016](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2016/)
- [Winter 2017](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2017/)
- [Winter 2018](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2018/)
- [Summer 2016](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/summer-2016/)
- [Summer 2017](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/summer-2017/)
- [Summer 2018](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/summer-2018/)
- [Summer 2020](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/summer-2020/)
- [Winter 2021](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2021/)
- [Summer 2022](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/summer-2022/)
- [Winter 2024](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2024/)
- [Summer 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/summer-season/summer-2025/)
- [Winter 2025](https://kureatollconservancy.org/category/field-camp-blog/winter-season/winter-2025/)

## Tags

- [Field Camp Prep](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/field-camp-prep/)
- [Departure](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/departure/)
- [Arrival](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/arrival/)
- [Entanglement](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/entanglement/)
- [Monk Seal](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/monk-seal/)
- [Camp Life](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/camp-life/)
- [Kure Arrival](https://kureatollconservancy.org/tag/kure-arrival/)

## Manufacturers

- [FUJIFILM](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/fujifilm/)
- [FinePix XP20](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/finepix-xp20/)
- [Panasonic](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/panasonic/)
- [DMC-FZ35](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-fz35/)
- [OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/olympus-imaging-corp/)
- [uT8000,ST8000](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/ut8000st8000/)
- [OLYMPUS CORPORATION](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/olympus-corporation/)
- [C5060WZ](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/c5060wz/)
- [E-M5](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/e-m5/)
- [SONY](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/sony/)
- [ILCE-7](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/ilce-7/)
- [Canon](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon/)
- [Canon EOS REBEL T2i](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-eos-rebel-t2i/)
- [DMC-FZ3](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-fz3/)
- [Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-eos-digital-rebel-xs/)
- [DMC-FZ8](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-fz8/)
- [FinePix XP70 XP71 XP75](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/finepix-xp70-xp71-xp75/)
- [Canon PowerShot D20](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-powershot-d20/)
- [Canon PowerShot A640](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-powershot-a640/)
- [DMC-ZS3](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-zs3/)
- [DMC-TS3](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-ts3/)
- [Canon EOS 7D](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-eos-7d/)
- [DMC-TS20](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-ts20/)
- [Apple](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/apple/)
- [iPhone 5s](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/iphone-5s/)
- [Canon PowerShot A70](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-powershot-a70/)
- [Canon EOS 70D](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-eos-70d/)
- [NIKON CORPORATION](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/nikon-corporation/)
- [NIKON D80](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/nikon-d80/)
- [Canon EOS 30D](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-eos-30d/)
- [NIKON](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/nikon/)
- [COOLPIX L810](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/coolpix-l810/)
- [Canon EOS 5D Mark III](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii/)
- [DMC-FZ30](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/dmc-fz30/)
- [E-M1MarkII](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-exif-manufacturer/e-m1markii/)

## Envira Tags

- [Wildlife](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/wildlife/)
- [Facilities](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/facilities/)
- [Hawaiian Monk Seal](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/hawaiian-monk-seal/)
- [Honu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/honu/)
- [Crew](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/crew/)
- [Work](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/work/)
- [Kaupu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/kaupu/)
- [Seabird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/seabird/)
- [Kure Sign](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/kure-sign/)
- [Baseyard](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/baseyard/)
- [a (red)](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/a-red/)
- [Shorebird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/shorebird/)
- [Kolea](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/kolea/)
- [Uaukani](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/uaukani/)
- [BHA](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/bha/)
- [Akekeke](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/akekeke/)
- [Akihikeehiale](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/akihikeehiale/)
- [Manuoku](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/manuoku/)
- [Makalena](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/makalena/)
- [Kaupuakala](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/kaupuakala/)
- [Ewaewa](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/ewaewa/)
- [Moli](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/moli/)
- [Koaeula](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/koaeula/)
- [Iwa](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/iwa/)
- [Pākalakala](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/pakalakala/)
- [Aou](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/aou/)
- [Nunulu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/nunulu/)
- [A-Masked](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/a-masked/)
- [A-Brown](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/a-brown/)
- [Noio Koha](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/noio-koha/)
- [Noio](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/noio/)
- [Downy Chick](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/downy-chick/)
- [Marine Pollution](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/marine-pollution/)
- [Chick](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/chick/)
- [Nesting](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/nesting/)
- [Dancing](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/dancing/)
- [Preening](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/preening/)
- [Native Plant](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/native-plant/)
- [Flora](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/flora/)
- [Native](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/native/)
- [Native Grass](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/native-grass/)
- [Naupaka](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/naupaka/)
- [Alena](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/alena/)
- [Nohu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/nohu/)
- [Koali](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-tag/koali/)

## Envira Categories

- [Seabirds](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/seabirds/)
- [Kaupu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/kaupu/)
- [Noio](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/noio/)
- [Noio Koha](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/noio-koha/)
- [Moli](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/moli/)
- [Ewaewa](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/ewaewa/)
- [Pakalakala](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/pakalakala/)
- [Iwa](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/iwa/)
- [Aou](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/aou/)
- [Akihikeehiale](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/akihikeehiale/)
- [A (red)](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/a-red/)
- [A (brown)](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/a-brown/)
- [A (masked)](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/a-masked/)
- [A](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/a/)
- [Shorebirds](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/shorebirds/)
- [Kolea](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/kolea/)
- [Akekeke](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/akekeke/)
- [Manuoku](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/manuoku/)
- [Wildlife](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/wildlife/)
- [Work](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/work/)
- [Marine Pollution](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/marine-pollution/)
- [Flora](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/flora/)
- [Native](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/native/)
- [Nunulu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/nunulu/)
- [Koaeula](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/koaeula/)
- [Makalena](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/makalena/)
- [Uau Kani](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/uau-kani/)
- [Grasses](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/grasses/)
- [BHA](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/bha/)
- [Habitat Restoration](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/habitat-restoration/)
- [Outplanting](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/outplanting/)
- [Bird Banding](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/bird-banding/)
- [Monk Seal](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/monk-seal/)
- [Camp Facilities](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/camp-facilities/)
- [Scenery](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/scenery/)
- [Historic Photos](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/historic-photos/)
- [Kiamanu](https://kureatollconservancy.org/envira-category/kiamanu/)

## Work Categories

- [Our Work](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/our-work/)
- [Habitat Restoration](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/habitat-restoration/)
- [Natural Resource Protection & Monitoring](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/natural-resource-protection-monitoring/)
- [Pollution Reduction](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/pollution-reduction/)
- [Outreach Education](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/outreach-education/)
- [Hawaiian Cultural Studies](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/hawaiian-cultural-studies/)
- [Eradication](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/eradication/)
- [Restoration](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/restoration/)
- [Biosecurity](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/biosecurity/)
- [Conservation Management](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/conservation-management/)
- [Seabirds](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/seabirds/)
- [Plants](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/plants/)
- [Native Plant](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/native/)
- [Flora](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/flora/)
- [Grasses](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/grasses/)
- [Native Grass](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/native-grasses/)
- [Shorebirds](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/shorebirds/)
- [Laysan Ducks](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_category/laysan-ducks/)

## Work Tags

- [Seabird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/seabird/)
- [Wildlife](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/wildlife/)
- [Native Plant](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/native-plant/)
- [Habitat Restoration Program](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/habitat-restoration-program/)
- [Native Plant Restoration](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/native-plant-restoration/)
- [Invasive Plant](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/invasive-plant/)
- [Shorebird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/shorebird/)
- [Laysan Ducks](https://kureatollconservancy.org/ourwork_tag/laysan-ducks/)

## Folder

- [Seabird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/?mediamatic_wpfolder=seabird)
- [BFAL](https://kureatollconservancy.org/?mediamatic_wpfolder=bfal)
- [Seabird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/?mediamatic_wpfolder=seabird_1)
- [Shorebird](https://kureatollconservancy.org/?mediamatic_wpfolder=shorebird)
- [Laysan Duck](https://kureatollconservancy.org/?mediamatic_wpfolder=laysan-duck)