Intern Account: Jiny:
"Heather, Jaap, David Duffy and I kayaked out to Manana Islet this morning. When we landed, there were 2 monk seals on the adjacent beach. The kayak landing was fairly smooth due to the good conditions compared to the ocean conditions on a rough day at that islet. Our agenda was to pick up the pan and pit fall traps that were laid out there the day before. We also did a little sample on the inner part of the crater. This islet had some native poppies and also ilima in some areas. I think the best part of the trip was the tropic birds that were on the eastern side of the islet. They were checking out nest sites and flying synchronously with their mates. They were also vocalizing a lot as they flew in large groups. The pan traps and pitfall traps had a variety of arthropods in them as well. Again, my favorite, the cockroaches were in full force. There were also the black cricket things that I still don’t know the names for. I am going to have to bring a field guide for insects as well as a guide for the plants next time. Leaving the islet was a little bit tricky, at least we didn’t flip over in the surf. We saw a few more monk seals on the beach when we were making our departure. Jaap and Heather tried to get whatever IDs they could make out to report to the monk seal watch crew. Overall, it was a smooth and fun trip. One more islet has now been marked off in my goal book and I can’t wait until the next one."

Intern Account: Ryan:
"A very long while ago I began to volunteer for the bishop museum's islets project, but never made it out to any of the field studies. Deep within the coziness and protection of the museum I counted and labeled endless amounts of insects, most of them being ants stuck to an assortment of bait substances. After spending hours picking quite a few thousand ants out of zip lock bags, one begins to question his or her enthusiasm. Luckily, months engulfed with threatening clouds of discouragement (and winter rain) finally ended. The skies were blue and the seas were calm. It was finally my time to explore Manana Island! An isolated retreat for monk seals and birds, this island was truly untamed. At first glance it was a lush haven for local species, as well as traveling animals looking for a peaceable rest...but then something bites your feet! ANTS. Everywhere! While exploring this tuff-cone islet you see many sights that you wouldn't expect on a nature preserve. Lifeless fledglings litter the land, and candy wrappers shine even brighter than the invasive flowers that make it almost impossible to maneuver around bird burrows. My trip out to Manana Island brought a mountain of significance to my volunteer work at the museum, and broadened my understanding on human effects on the environment. These islets are sensitive last havens for many native species, and are truly microcosms of our impact on the main islands."