It all started when…

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, I have always had a strong connection to the ocean through surfing, fishing, and spending time outdoors. These experiences shaped my appreciation for marine life and sparked a growing interest in sustainability. While working toward my Sustainability Certificate at Kapiʻolani Community College, I spent a semester contributing to a native forest restoration project in Wailupe Valley. That hands-on experience deepened my understanding of local ecosystems and strengthened my commitment to protecting this beautiful place I call home. Although I now study Finance at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, I continue to explore how human activity affects natural systems and how we can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

My research...

In the summer of 2025, I joined the Madin Lab at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology through Kapiʻolani Community College’s ExLENT STEM program. Under the guidance of Jake Linsky, I contributed to the SatWhale Project, which uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to detect and monitor whales. I learned how to annotate whale sightings using ArcGIS Pro and gained introductory experience with data filtering and visualization in RStudio.

I also participated in fieldwork with Andrew Pettit at the Lanikai Pillbox overlook, where we used spotting scopes to observe shoreline fishing activity. That experience inspired me to begin my own project focused on tracking human activity patterns at Lanikai. I designed a data collection method and gathered observations throughout the summer to better understand peak crowding times and how human presence may impact nearshore ecosystems.

What I've written...

Coming soon!

Contact me…

Email:

makotomm@hawaii.edu

Address:

Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
University of Hawaii at Manoa
PO Box 1346 (for US Postal Service)
46-007 Lilipuna Road (For all other carriers)
Kaneohe, HI 96744 USA