Kapua Kawelo
O‘ahu Army Natural Resources Program
Honolulu, HI USA
"We have such an impact on everything around us...more and more people need to build conservation into their lives."
Career Roadmap
Kapua's work combines: Environment & Nature, Science, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Volunteer and get internships. Needs to be the right fit for you and only way to find out is to try it out.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Botany/Plant Biology
University of California-Davis
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
She grew up in a fishing family on O‘ahu; fishing grounded them in how to best use and respect Hawaii’s natural resources.
2.
She was also a member of an organization that visited local archeological sites and led hikes to learn about native plants.
3.
Went to the University of California, Davis, and started out as a pre-med student.
4.
When she discovered the field of botany, it piqued her interest enough that eventually, she switched her major.
5.
The summer after her sophomore year, she took an internship with The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii.
6.
It opened her eyes to the fact that she could make a career out of protecting Hawaii’s native plants and animals.
7.
After graduating, she started working at the O‘ahu Army Natural Resources Program as an intern.
8.
She’s been with the program for over 20 years, rehabilitating O‘ahu’s threatened and endangered plant and animal species.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You can't make a career out of conservation.
How I responded:
Conservation deserves consideration. I think more people need to build conservation into their lives and make an effort to explore its possibilities.