Programs Blog

July 18, 2025

We went on our first official snorkel recon today (July 18th) at Kalua O Maua, or as it has been ‘redubbed’, Three Tables. It is relatively close to the logging, and it is very different from Kapo’o, Shark’s Cove. Jenny Yagodich works as the director of education at Mālama Pūpūkea Waimea and led a walk around Kapo’o earlier in the morning, around 8 am. I truly admire her passion for marine education and her cultural heritage. It was truly awesome to learn more about the area and how every natural aspect of the environment is connected to the Hawaiian cultural ancestors. She grew up in the area and knew it well.

After the walk, we walked to Kalua O Maua for the recon. I was a little intimidated since the water was rougher than Kapo’o, but I actually did pretty well. My snorkel buddies today were my fellow peers, Amira and Hudson. We had a lot of fun trying to scope out the area and do some duck dives in the short time we had there. I did not have a lot of energy today, but I had a lot of fun playing card games later that day and having tofu for dinner<3.

I have some photos, but they are not from today, just so y’all can see some of the fun!

Helene Dinehart, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign