DARRIAN MURAOKA

Marine Debris Technician I

Hometown: Kekaha, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi

Current Residence: Kekaha, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi

Darrian was born and raised on the Westside of Kaua’i, where she learned to holoholo, hoe wa’a, and mālama the nearshore waters of Kekaha. After graduating from Kamehameha Kapālama, she continued to learn about capacity building with communities around the ocean and protect natural resources in Hawai’i. She graduated with her B.S. in Marine Science (California State University,Monterey Bay) and M.S. in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (UH Hilo). Her first connection to Papaphānaumokuākea began as a seafloor mapping intern on the Luʻuaeaahikiikapāpahākuʻiwawā expedition. Now nestled back in her Kekaha homestead, she is a biologist on the Mānā coastline and enjoys monitoring protected wildlife, presenting outreach to her community, and trapping feral animals (and making manapua magic..kidding). In her free time, you can find her steering her favorite wa’a or cruising on the Westside sands. Darrian is grateful to hele to our kūpuna islands and continue building pilina to pō by preserving and protecting these unique ecosystems alongside the rest of the PMDP hammahz!