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Peter Rappa Fellows final presentations

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We are incredibly proud to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our 2026 Peter J. Rappa Fellows! Over the course of their fellowships, these amazing student leaders have been working directly within communities across Hawaiʻi, connecting science, outreach, and mālama ʻāina (caring for the land) under the guidance of our incredible Sea Grant Pili Nā Moku mentors. Marley Kong-Mercado Project: Creating vital educational materials focused on endemic vegetation, greenbreaks, and wildfire mitigation to help lower wildfire risk. Mentor: Terra Faraon (Waiʻanae Moku Resilience Stewardship Coordinator) Ila Nako Project: Demonstrating the necessity of repairing mauka to makai (ridge to reef) land systems through a visual project connecting wildfire risk reduction in Waiʻanae to coastal erosion mitigation in Kamalō, Molokai. Mentors: Terra Faraon & Kilia Purdy-Avelino (Waiʻanae and Molokai Moku Resilience Stewardship Coordinators) Shaelaree Pelekana-Manosa Project: Strengthening mauka to makai connections through hands-on water quality testing and traditional Hawaiian plant restoration at ʻĀina Pūlāpula in Kamalō, Molokai. Mentor: Kilia Purdy-Avelino (Molokai Moku Resilience Stewardship Coordinator) Haya Stein Project: Driving a holistic, multigenerational storytelling approach by documenting the people, places, and community-led projects of the multi-island Pili Nā Moku climate resilience initiative. Mentor: Anela Akana (Multimedia Communications Specialist) Join us in congratulating our fellows as they share their final presentations and the future of community-driven resilience in Hawaiʻi!

Event Sponsor
University of Hawai' Sea Grant College Program, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Cindy Knapman, 808-956-7410, lknapman@hawaii.edu,