Meet Ocean Explorer Hulu Nunokawa

OET is proud to welcome Hulu Nunokawa to the Corps of Exploration as part of the Science Communication Fellowship Program. Hulu is spending 12 days aboard E/V Nautilus as an SCF on our NA152 expedition characterizing deep-sea features in international waters between Canada and Hawaiʻi, filling gaps in seafloor mapping coverage, and supporting priorities of the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, the US National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization, and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

We sat with Hulu to learn more about his experience at sea and the path that led him to Nautilus.

Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you from? 

I grew up in Waikapu, in the central valley area of Maui. It’s pretty rural area for the most part, but I grew in a suburb. So I had normal suburban neighbors but also pig farms and ranches. It’s a small town, everybody knows everybody. There wasn’t a lot of opportunity for me to get into too much trouble, but I would say I naturally attract chaos. 

I moved to Oahu for high school. I went to Kamehameha school my entire life, which is a tri-campus private school predominantly for native Hawaiians. Overall, it was a world-class education with a deep investment in its students. A lot of kids are on academic scholarship. It provided me with a lot of opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I’ve always loved storytelling – hearing a good story and telling a good story. 

In middle school, when my mom started asking me what I wanted to do, film was the main dominant force of telling stories in the modern world. 

I went to Chapman University in Orange County, California to study film production in 2017. 

The school was very industry-focused and made it difficult to do things on your own. I ended up at home in Oahu for my final semester and my sister told me about an internship opportunity at Kanehunamoku Voyaging Academy. I applied, ended up getting a part-time position, and I fell in love with it. I realized I hadn’t been happy in a long time but being part of this organization brought me great joy. When the internship finished, I went back to film for a while. But I was always looking to get back to Kanehunamoku. When a job opened up in January of this year, I took it. 

What do you like about working at the Kanehunamoku Voyaging Academy?

So many things – I didn’t realize how much it would help me grow as a human being. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with so many interesting people and engage with different age groups. I’ve learned how to be an effective teacher, how to have patience, and how to be kind at all times. 

There is also the added benefit of getting to be out on the water regularly. But most importantly, I have a job where I feel happy with what I’m doing, and where I feel like I’m part of a family. You can see the impact you’re having on your community. And there are so many great stories. 

What do you like about going to sea and being on the water?

I was sick a lot when I was a little kid so I would read a lot of adventure books and I’ve always had an innate desire for exploration and discovery. Water is a great equalizer and I’ve always felt comfortable in it. I learned how to swim before I could crawl. It’s pretty common with ocean Hawaiian families. I’ve always loved the ocean. 

How did you find out about Nautilus? 

I found out about Nautilus through my kapena, Malanai Kāne Kuahiwinui. She was a Science Communication Fellow last year and she encouraged me to apply. Everyone encouraged me to apply. 

What have you learned during your time on Nautilus?

A ton of things. I didn’t understand anything about deep sea mapping before, but now I have a general sense of what’s going on. I don’t have a marine biology or oceanography background so just learning the distinction between a squid and an octopus was a big deal for me. Having Christopher here to explain the basics of what I’m looking at on a marine biology level – connecting ideas I’ve had in the past to scientific truths has really helped me to learn a lot in a short amount of time. 

On the sailing front, there have been a lot of firsts for me. I’ve never sailed on a mono-haul before. There is a big difference in balance between that and a double-haul. This expedition is also the longest distance I’ve ever traveled on an ocean vessel, and it’s been really exciting to see my ability to adapt.