kahealani MURAOKA

Marine Debris Technician II

Hometown: Kekaha, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi

Current Residence: Kekaha, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi

Born and raised on Kauaʻi's Westside, Kāhea learned to holoholo, hoe waʻa, and mālama the nearshore waters of Kekaha. Following her graduation from Kamehameha Kapālama, she pursued her passion for protecting natural resources and community capacity building. Kāhea holds a B.S. in Marine Science from CSU Monterey Bay and an M.S. in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from UH Hilo. Her relationship with Papahānaumokuākea began at a young age, but physically as a seafloor mapping intern during the E/V Nautilus Luʻuaeaahikiikapāpahākuʻiwawā expedition. Now a biologist based in Mānā, she is responsible for monitoring protected wildlife, conducting community outreach, and leading the predator control program for her Natural Resources team. When not working, she enjoys steering her favorite waʻa for West Kauaʻi Canoe club or relaxing on the Westside sands. Kāhea is grateful to mālama our kūpuna islands, and building pilina to pō by protecting these unique ecosystems with the PMDP team.