Keaholi sabate

marine Debris Technician

Hometown: Kaneohe, O’ahu

Current Residence: Davis, California

Kealohi is a Native Hawaiian from the windward side of Oʻahu with a profound love for the ocean. Growing up, she was immersed in a ton of water related activities including surfing, paddling, and spending beach days with her family. Having moved to California to pursue her PhD in Environmental Engineering, she has developed a deeper appreciation for Hawaii, which has felt more distant than ever for her. To remedy this, she has focused her research in Hawaii looking at the effects plastic pollution has on islands. with a focus on impacts to indigenous cultures. When she is home, much of her time is dedicated to rebuilding traditional waʻa kaulua to ensure future generations have the opportunities to foster deeper connections to place. Learning about traditional voyaging has taught her that when we become detached to place, we lose a part of ourselves as Native Hawaiians and our kuleana to this ʻāina we live on, which is why she is so passionate in doing everything she can to reconnect and give back to her ʻāina. Outside of her research and ʻāina based work, she is an avid bookworm, attempts to rock climbing, and is always learning how to make things she deems are too expensive for her to justify buying.