Pacific Islands Region

Through the Pacific Island Region’s (PIR) collaboration with the University of Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), four university students are working in sanctuary offices on O`ahu and Maui. The fellows of 2010 receive a one-year paid fellowship allowing them to acquire “real world” job experience.

HIMB’s Dr. Judy Lemus serves as the fellowship coordinator, and each fellow works with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mentor in one of four different NOAA offices. Fellows will complete 20 hours/week for 9 month; then each will spend two months in a summer internship at the Washington DC headquarters of their respective NOAA office. The PIR and HIMB hope the fellowship program will address a deficiency in local representation in the sciences and resource management professions in the Pacific Region. In addition to the work, fellows receive guidance on academic and career opportunities.

The fellows come from four Hawai`i schools:

Brenda Asuncion, a Hawaii Pacific University Masters student, is assisting the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS) with their management plan review process.

Danica Zupic, a graduate student at UH Manoa, works on mapping NOAA education programs throughout the state for the NOAA Pacific Services Center.

Darrin Neagoy, a UH Maui College undergraduate, conducts plankton surveys for the HIHWNMS at their Kihei office.

Kalisi Fa'anunu, a Masters student from the University of Hawai'i Hilo, works with the National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office mapping habitats and uses of sites in Hawaii.