Chaminade Natural Science Department Lab
Background Information
This research lab was created to give students the opportunity to learn what it takes to create their own research study, execute an experiment, and gain insight into the complexity of a field and lab technician.
The goal of this project is to keep an ongoing data log of limu and water quality of Ka`alawai while teaching students the skill they need to work in the fields of Oceanography, Marine Biology, and Psychology.
Hawaiʻi beaches and shores are in environmental decline. There are very few fish now, and one reason for that is lack of limu. Over the past decade, invasive species have been displacing native limu, fish, and coral. Kumu Kahoaliʻi hopes to bring awareness about these issues to his students with the end goal of restoring Hawaiian fish and limu. The hope is that by restoring the native limu, the native fish will return to this area.
This lab’s primary focus is research on the limu (macro algae) on the Kaʻalawai Beach (also known as Cromwell’s) near Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Kumu Kahoaliʻi and his students are studying: (1) the types of limu species existing in this area, (2) the amount of each type of limu species in this area, and (3) changes in the limu population between seasons (e.g., winter and summer). To do this research, Kumu Kahoaliʻi and his students count and identify the communities of limu and track how they change through the seasons.
This internship gives students an introduction to conducting field research and working in a laboratory setting. Students contribute to ongoing research project at this lab. This research project is focused on identifying limu species in Kaʻalawai. The goal of the lab is to train students to be lab technicians. Thus, students go out, 1-2 times per week, to test water quality, collect samples, and track limu density using lab equipment. In addition, students learn how to search for and read scientific journal articles.
STEM Fields: Biology; Environmental Studies; Marine Science; Oceanography; Restoration Ecology; Biogeography
Careers most common with this type of work include positions with Land and Shoreline Management, Research in Psychology and Water Quality, and the Department of Health for Water Quality.
THE PEOPLE
Kumu Kahoali'i Keahi
Internship Mentor
Kumu Jakelynn Poki
Academic Mentor
Ailama Faleolo
Student Intern
Saint Louis School
Aria Tripp
Student Intern
Roosevelt High School
Caden Kaneshiro
Student Intern
Iolani School
Ikaika Koa
Student Intern
Roosevelt High School
Hoku Kam-Castro
Student Intern
Iolani School
Kailee Gabris
Student Intern
Kalani High School
Starlen Wong
Student Intern
Sacred Hearts Academy
Copy of Hokulani 2023 Final.mp4Student Intern Reflections
Starlen Wong
While working at this internship, my role was to take the quadrats and go to all of our sites at kaʻalāwai, taking pictures of the limu in the grids to do further research on. Another role I had was to collect limu to take back to the lab to identify.
This internship gave me the opportunity to learn about limu, how it affects our oceans chemistry, and how to use devices in a lab and at the field. We learned about how internship site (kaʻalāwai - Cromwells) was formed and why certain things at this site are there. I am glad I got experience and be apart of this internship at Chaminade and kaʻalāwai because now I am considering Marine Biology as a career path. I have learned how to use and adapt to many things in a lab and on the field. I have also learned many skills that will help me in the future with my future career and internships. This was a really good and fun experience.
Ikaika Koa
Working as an intern during this project, my role was to identify, moniter, and study different types of limu in the field and any samples we took back at the lab.
Having now experienced a more in-depth look at Marine Biology, I realize how much work actually goes into these studies. How history, geography, and archeology has an impact on our aquatic ecosystems. It was really fun to learn what people in this study go through every day.
Hoku Kam-Castro
During the course of the intership, my role was to actively search and collect limu samples at the research site. Additonal duties included collecting water samples from the Plankton Toe Net and identifying a variety of limu species in the lab.
This intership provided and opportunity to explore and understand the natural components that make up the Hawaiian Archipelago. I was able to understand the role of limu in our ocean's ecosystem, learn about the formation of the Hawaiian Islands, and discover the landscape of Cromwells Beach.
Kailee Gabris
My contribution to this internship was to gather, identify, and observe limu in the lab setting and its natural habitat.
I enjoyed this internship experience because it was both hands-on and very informative. It expanded my knowledge on marine biology as a whole but also it was nice to go to the beach for a week.
Ailama Faleolo
As an intern I contributed by gathering limu and plankton samples and observed water conditions at the work field. The samples would be brought back to the lab in order to be identified to further investigate the population of native and invasive species.
Overall, I enjoyed working at the field and found myself having fun at the internship while still contributing and being productive.
Caden Kaneshiro
My contribution to this internship was keeping track of the wind speed, tide, cloud coverage, and surf around our site. In the lab, I helped to classify the different species of limu collected from different parts of the beach.
This internship has given me a greater understanding of the history of Ka'alawai (Cromwell's) Beach and the unfortunate future that its heading into. Being apart of this group has shown me how science can help people understand a great deal of the world around them.
Aria Tripp
I gathered limu to identify in the lab (picture of an invasive spieces of limu). I also took note of the differences in zones of the beach.
I learned a lot about what to expect as a field/lab technician and a lot about Hawaiian history/geography as well.