TCBES Professional Internship Reports

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Addressing the issue of marine debris through restoration and advocacy with Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund
(2021-12) Stone, Michael D.; Canale, Lisa K.; Lamson, Megan R.
Michael’s graduate internship project involved working over 700 hours with Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund as a professional intern from October 2019 to October 2021. Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to the conservation and preservation of the unique coastal and marine wildlife species of the Hawaiian Islands. During this internship, he was able to assist both the Hawai‘i and Maui-based HWF teams. On Hawai‘i Island, he assessed the environmental issues of plastic waste leading to marine debris while developing solutions to address this global threat to our ocean resources and marine biodiversity. Furthermore, Michael conducted fieldwork, research, and spoke to experts on the issues to better understand the severity of marine debris impacting the state of Hawai‘i and its coastal habitats. On Maui, he assisted with various projects, all of which helped to bring awareness and education to preserving marine wildlife. The work conducted during this professional internship has been crucial in my development as a professional in the field of conservation biology. He was on the front lines in the battle for conservation, collecting marine debris derelict fishing gear, conducting surveys, collecting data, building fences, going door-to-door advocating for light pollution reduction, presenting to public and college audiences, engaging in conversations with residents and tourists about the threats impacting native wildlife. Michael has become familiar with the realities of professional nonprofit fieldwork, and being a part of a team with a common goal. Furthermore, resulting in assistance to the community of Hawai‘i in combating the issues that impact the delicate ecosystems.
Invasive Plants Species Management and Lowland Wet Forest Restoration in Hawai′i
(2020-05) Irish, Amanda R; Canale, Lisa K.; Ostertag, Rebecca; DiManno, Nicole; Uowolo, Amanda; Cordell, Susan; Meehan, Kristin
This paper reports on two professional internships conducted as part of the Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science M.S. Professional Internship program. The first was with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) learning about data and the metrics involved in capturing the effectiveness of control treatments. The second was working as the field crew leader with Liko Nā Pilina, a hybrid ecosystem restoration research project. These two internship opportunities were chosen based on my personal and professional interest in better understanding the landscape of invasive species management efforts.
Monitoring the Hawaiian Monk Seal Population on Hawaiʻi Island
(2021-05) Villalobos, Carmelita I.; Canale, Lisa K.; Van Heukelem, Lauren
This internship focused on maintaining and supporting the growth of the Hawaiian monk seal population on Hawaiʻi island. The Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) is endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago and is the only pinniped found in Hawaiian waters (The Marine Mammal Center 2021). Unfortunately, they were historically hunted to near extinction (Kenyon & Rice), causing them to be listed as “endangered” under the US Endangered Species Act in 1976 (Gerrodette & Gilmartin 1990; Gilmartin et al. 1993; Baker & Johanos 2003). Although numbers are increasing, current estimations put the population at 1,400 individuals (Baker & Johanos 2003). Anthropogenic factors including fisheries interactions, disease, and intentional killings have all continued to prevent the population from making a healthy comeback (Gerrodette & Gilmartin 1990; Baker & Johanos 2003; Baker et al. 2011). The purpose of my internship with Ke Kai Ola was to help protect the Hawaiian monk seal population on Hawaiʻi island by monitoring the population and educating the public on their importance. Currently, only 10 Hawaiian monk seals are known to frequent Hawaiʻi island but thanks to the support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose partnership and approval makes the work of The Marine Mammal Center and Ke Kai Ola possible, the population has been slowly growing since the early 2000s. The work presented in this report describes the ways that Ke Kai Ola monitors the Hawaiian monk seal population on Hawaiʻi island and educates the public on various subjects pertaining to the importance of their preservation.
Saving Hawaiʻi Island’s Remaining Forest Birds
(2020-05) Bischer, Alexander; Canale, Lisa K.; Wang, Alex X.
This internship was in conjunction with the Hawaiʻi Natural Area Reserve System (NARS) endangered forest bird team to assist with the 2019 Palila release at Puʻu Mali Restoration Area and several other ongoing conservation projects. The Palila (Loxioides bailleui) is an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper that is currently only found on the southwestern slope of Mauna Kea at elevations above 6,500 meters. Captive birds were released in the spring and summer of 2019 to the Puʻu Mali Restoration Area, on the northern slope of Mauna Kea, with the end goal of creating a second sustainable population for the endangered Palila. Post release monitoring techniques and predator control methods were used to give the released birds the best shot at surviving in an area that has not housed Palila in roughly two decades. The Palila is just one of the many Hawaiian forest birds that are suffering extreme habitat and population loss in wake of global climate change. The work described in this report showcases a few of the conservation efforts and strategies that are currently ongoing to save the remaining native Hawaiian forest birds.
Shifting into the new normal: invasive species outreach in the age of COVID-19
(2021-05) Lopez, Kawehi M.K.; Canale, Lisa K.; Brewer, Franny K.
Hawaiʻi is home to a significant variety of native endemic plant and animal species that are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these unique organisms are threatened or critically endangered. Invasive species are introduced to Hawaiʻi either on purpose or inadvertently, and cause a range of negative impacts once established. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee works islandwide to prevent, detect, and control the establishment and spread of invasive species that threaten the environment, economy, and way of life on Hawaiʻi island. Effectively addressing the widespread impacts of invasive species on a mostly rural island requires active public engagement in invasive species detection and control efforts. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee has traditionally focused on public outreach through providing community workshops and educational opportunities in a face-to-face environment, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to these valuable in-person events. However, it also presented an increased opportunity to engage the public in digital spaces. The work described in this report outlines three projects that I worked on, representing the methods of video production, graphic design, and social media content marketing. The work that I completed during my professional internship proved to be invaluable for many reasons, but most uniquely, because it centered on building trust and credibility with the public during these unprecedented times.
Speaking Out for Conservation at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
(2020-05) Flint, John T.; Canale, Lisa K.; McDaniel, Kūpono
The professional internship discussed in this report took place at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For the duration of the project, I worked with the Interpretation Department as a ranger in the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program. The purpose of the Interpretation Department is to guide guests through the park, answer their questions, educate visitors about the parks natural and cultural resources, and help them have a pleasant experience during their visit. In addition to these duties, I also created a new ranger hike activity meant to inspire participants to join their local conservation efforts when they return home. I incorporated persuasive strategies into the event, such as the use of increasing social revenue, creation of positive experiences, and the display of messages that discussed the benefits of conservation for wildlife and people to broaden its appeal. I also included an ‘ōlelo chant (traditional Hawaiian chant) to engage the guests and make a lasting impact. The scripts for my tours were recorded and saved in Google Docs, and feedback from audiences were presented in my daily journal, which discussed my observations of the audiences’ reception of my talks. I also created the draft of a new Volunteers-In-Parks Handbook for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Sustainable Management of Alaska’s Kenai River Chinook Salmon in its Economic, Cultural, and Scientific Contexts
(2020-12) Malone, Wilson L.; Canale, Lisa K.; Begich, Robert
This internship focuses on Alaska’s Kenai River salmon populations. The role consists of working as a Fish and Wildlife Technician II for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Responsibilities included operating a research boat on the river as part of the in-river test netting project, working on a creel survey crew, and other research projects as needed. This project provides data on the adult returns of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), such as catch rates, age, and genetic composition used to manage the fishery. Age-structured data is used in models to predict future returns of Chinook salmon, which provides valuable insight into the population’s health and long-term trends. Genetic comparison enables sub-population management of the Chinook salmon. Creel surveys are designed to monitor sport fishing harvest rates and connect the fishery’s social and scientific aspects. The Chinook salmon population is maintained under the principle of sustained yield. Recent declines in this population’s numbers and size have caused problems for the management of the population. Political strife caused by allocation decisions complicates management decisions. The salmon populations in this region are significant economically and socially and form a large portion of local culture and identity. Efforts to maintain economically important salmon species are essential for the region’s economy and social fabric. This position contributes directly to that goal. Through this position, partial requirements of the Master’s of Science in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science internship track have been fulfilled.

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