Kupu

SPOTLIGHT | Alon Averbuj is a CLDP member currently serving at Kaua’i Forest Bird Recovery Project. Growing up I would watch David Attenborough documentaries with my dad and when it came time to decide on a degree I knew that biology was something I would never get tired of learning about. I graduated in 2019 with a degree in Biological Sciences and a concentration in Ecology. In school my vigor for learning ecology only grew and with each class I got more and more excited ...about it. I was lucky enough to take an ornithology course where I absolutely fell in love with birds. The following year I got to TA for that same class and spread my passion with students. After I graduated I wanted to learn more by getting hands-on field work experience and here I am! The Kaua’i Forest Bird Recovery Project works to better understand the factors affecting threatened and federally endangered forest bird species (i’iwi, puaiohi, ‘akikiki, and ‘akeke’e) through rat trapping, camera trapping, mosquito sampling, nest searching, mist netting, and banding. KFBRP also participates in community outreach to spread knowledge and our passion for the conservation of these beautiful birds. My day-to-day consists of incredible hikes and walks through untouched rainforests either looking for nests, resighting birds, setting up game cameras, setting mist nets and banding, or keeping up our extensive rat trapping grid by rebaiting and collecting data. If I’m not in the field I am preparing for the next field trip or cleaning up and deconning after the last one. Getting to walk, climb, and explore through the Alaka’i, the mountains, and the streams is an absolute pleasure. I feel like I am a kid again exploring the canyons in my hometown. I want to earn a PhD in ecology and become a professor so I can make meaningful connections with students like the ones I was able to make in school. Wishing you the best as you continue your journey in conservation, Alon. We know that you will continue to have an impact on people and the planet as you continue your service with Kupu and beyond!

Here are just a few of the 100+ host sites that partner with Kupu. We wish we could list you all! Mahalo nui to our host sites for the guidance and mentorship you’ve provided to our members over the years. Interested in joining in on the fun and your chance to win some cool swag? Show us how you serve (or served) by sharing your story. Post a photo or 15-30 second video connecting your service to AmeriCorps showing us how you Get. Things. Done. End your message with: Toget...her, we are AmeriCorps after your highlight a specific part of your service or the impact you made. Lastly, don’t forget to tag @AmeriCorps and @KupuHawaii and use these hashtags: #WeAreAmeriCorps #KupuCLDP #LearnServeRestore Those who participate and tag us will be placed in a drawing for a sweet Kupu’s swag pack!

SPOTLIGHT | Meet Kupaianaha "Kupai" Marx, our CLDP member serving with Hi'ipaka LLC at Waimea Valley, O'ahu. The conservation department at Waimea Valley serves as the stewards of the forest reserve in the ahupua'a of Waimea. This department focuses on weed and ungulate control for the whole area, but the main projects are two fenced reforestation sites. This team also helps take care of the native waterbird habitat and the botanical collections in the valley. Kupai, along wi...th the team, start their days with predator control for the ‘alae ula (Hawaiian Moorhen), which involves trapping and dispatching mongeese and feral cats. "Sometimes we work in the nursery, taking care of the natives we grow to outplant at our restoration sites. Usually, we will head up to one of these sites to work on clearing land, planting, or weeding around older outplantings. Currently, our main project is building a new ungulate exclusion fence to expand our native reforestation area. The variety of work; it never gets boring because we’re always doing something new. I love being up in the forest and interacting with the environment up there. It’s also awesome (and a bit unnerving) to see how much our work has really changed the landscape. I’ve also enjoyed running the chainsaws and learning from some experienced cutters." As Kupai looks back on his term, he mentions, "I grew up doing aloha ‘aina work through my hula hlau, so it [the interest in this link of work] was always there and always something I enjoyed, but it was only after serving with a bunch of different sites during my HYCC term that I fully realized conservation could be a career. The CLDP term gave me a more in-depth experience and helped me figure out which aspects of conservation most interest me. I am enrolled to start college this fall, where I plan to pursue a degree in environmental studies. I’m interested in exploring the intersection between ecology and social sciences." From coming into our organization as a team member to confidently leading community and CLDP service days, our team is grateful for you and your service. Congratulations on your next step in furthering your education. See more

And the winner of our Americorps Week contest is... . . . JANA MARAVI !!!... . . . Congratulations, Jana for sharing about your time visiting and serving at Waimea Valley. Mahalo to everyone who participated during last month’s week long event. Check out the carousel for a quick glimpse into Jana’s term with DLNR’s Hawai’i Invertebrate Program and stay tuned for our next contest. #weareamericorps If you’re interested in joining our programs, check out our postings on www.kupuhawaii.org/openings . Our Conservation Leadership Development Program applications are LIVEand close on June 11th, 2021. #kupucldp #learnserverestore #kupu #kupukupu #hawaii #americorps #getthingsdone #getoutside See more

KUPU ACTION | Better late than never? Here’s a look at the top ten photos from March! Our Conservation Leadership Development Program members have been busy across the state! Mahalo to each of them for all that they’re doing and for sharing beautiful photos for all of us to enjoy. #americorps #americorpshawaii #kupu #kupuhawaii

SPOTLIGHT | Ferdnando "Nando" Batista, is a Conservation Leadership Development Program member that is serving with the National Park Service, stationed at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park on Hawai'i Island. The park's main focus is protecting the wahi pana (sacred place) and interconnected cultural and natural resources of the Hnaunau, Keokea, and Ki'ilae ahupua'a, so that traditional Hawaiian values and practices will thrive now and in the future. Nando assist...s in the preservation and maintenance of the park and projects intended to restore cultural landscapes that consist of archeological sites preservation and landscape restoration including planting native and culturally important plants. "My favorite part about serving has been the ability to give back to a place I often visited as a kid. I am very grateful for the opportunity in preserving one of Hawai'i's most sacred and culturally significant places." Nando immigrated to Hawai'i from Brazil with his family when he was nine years old. He was enrolled in an after-school program that taught minority students how to plant, harvest and care for the land. He believes it's vital to give youth opportunities that enable them to learn about their environment and would like to work towards creating more representation of racial and ethnic minorities at U.S. National Parks and within the National Park Service. Nando first got into Kupu by way of the Kupu ina Corps Program last fall. We're happy to have him onboard full time with CLDP and are excited to see where his future brings him! #kupu #kupuhawaii #americorps #americropshawaii #conservation

On April 1st, 2021, Maui Kupu Americorps members from all around the island came to volunteer their time at a service day in Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. They planted 71 Alahe'e in the Burned Area Restoration plot to help restore the habitat to a native dry forest. After spending the morning planting, the Kupu members explored Kanuimanu Ponds and learned about native plant propagations in the Kealia Pond Greenhouse. . Mahalo to all those involved with the service day! Interested in joining the fun? Applications are now open for Kupu’s Conservation Leadership Development Program!