As a 2026 Rappa Fellow under the guidance of mentor Kumu Kilia Purdy-Avelino, Shaelaree Pelekana-Manosa will be working on a project focused on conducting water quality testing (alongside Aunty Kehau Kimokeo) and assisting with Hawaiian plant restoration efforts (with Uncle Bobby) at ʻĀina Pūlāpula, primarily within the ahupuaʻa (land division) of Kamalo. Through this work, she hopes to deepen her understanding of the connections between land and ocean ecosystems while strengthening her commitment to mālama ʻāina (caring for the land) from mauka to makai (upland to oceanside).

Shaelaree is a recent graduate of Kanu o Ka ʻĀina Learning ʻOhana with a passion for marine biology and environmental conservation. Building on her senior capstone project, which explored how coastal erosion affects coral reef health on Molokaʻi, Shaelaree is excited to continue developing skills in field research, water quality monitoring, and environmental stewardship.

Growing up with a strong connection to Hawaiʻi’s natural resources has inspired Shaelaree to pursue higher education, with the goal of earning a doctorate in marine biology and using that education to give back to her community. She hopes to use the knowledge and experiences gained from the Rappa fellowship to help protect the ecosystems that sustain these islands and contribute to a healthy future for Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi.