Current Interns
Mar Ribé Julià
Mar completed an MSc in Marine Sciences through Sorbonne University in 2025, with a research focus on marine mammal ecology and conservation. Her interests include cetacean ecology, bioacoustics, morphometrics, and understanding how human activities influence marine mammal behaviour and welfare. As part of her master's thesis in Western Australia, she investigated the potential impacts of underwater construction noise on the hearing sensitivity of bottlenose dolphins.
She is currently leading a long-term cetacean monitoring and submarine canyon research project in South Africa while supporting NGO-led conservation initiatives focused on cetacean population monitoring and photo-identification. Mar joined MMRP as an intern in 2026 and currently assists PhD student Lewis Evans with processing drone imagery for morphometric measurements of humpback whales in Hawaiʻi. She hopes to pursue a PhD focused on cetacean ecology and welfare and contribute to advancing marine mammal research and conservation.
Kiana Alo
Kiana is a senior at Haskell Indian Nations University pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science and holds an Associate of Science in Natural Science. She is Native Hawaiian, White Mountain Apache, and Samoan, and was raised on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Kiana is passionate about marine conservation, environmental management, and supporting Indigenous communities through science and stewardship. As an MMRP intern, she works with Liah McPherson on research examining cetacean species distribution off the west coast of Oʻahu. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career focused on environmental restoration, water quality, and conservation in Hawaiʻi.
Makana Fake
Makana Fake is a junior at University of California San Diego, pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology and competing on their Division I water polo team. Born and raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, she developed a deep love for the ocean early on in her life, which grew into a deep passion for marine science. That interest led her to MMRP in 2023 through SMMILE (Summer Marine Mammal Intensive Learning Experience), where she got her first taste of hands-on research and interest in marine mammal science. In summer 2026, she returned to MMRP as an intern, working with Liah McPherson to organize cetacean data collected along West Oʻahu. After graduating, Makana hopes to continue her education at UH Mānoa or UCSD, with a focus on developing solutions for climate-driven impacts on cetacean populations, and eventually bringing her work full circle back to the waters she grew up around.
Taylor Rouse
Taylor graduated from Iowa State University in 2021 with a B.S in Environmental Science and a minor in Data Science. While finishing her degree, she worked in a paleoclimatology lab and participated in a REU program with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences where she evaluated the performance of remote sensing algorithms used to develop a carbon monitoring system in the Gulf of Maine. After Graduation, she worked as a naturalist on board Pacific Whale Foundations eco tour boats and volunteered with their research and conservation departments in Maui Nui. She spent all of 2023 sailing as a first mate and dive master through the Vava’u island group in the Kingdom of Tonga. Taylor began interning with MMRP in March 2023 and is currently assisting Lewis Evans process done imagery for photogrammetry measurements of humpback whales in Hawaii, helping assess the impact of climate change on their bioenergetic demands. She hopes to use the knowledge and technical skills gained from this internship to pursue a higher degree focused on better understanding the impacts of climate change on marine mammal foraging ecology.
Abby Jacka
Abby Jacka graduated from Hawai’i Pacific University in 2023 with a B.S in Marine Biology. During her undergrad she began interning with MMRP, starting in 2022 assisting Martin Van Aswegen with the processing of humpback whale body conditions, to help better understand the impact of reproduction and migration. Between 2023-current Abby has become a full time member of the humpback whale field crew assisting under both Martin Van Aswegen and Lewis Evans, on both Hawai’i Island and Maui. During this time Abby has amassed many skills, such as, small boat operating, UAS assistant, photo-ID, necropsy, data analysis, CATS tag retrieval using VHF radio, and has become proficient in using MatLab, Poimapper, and HappyWhale. Abby has applied these skills and become a certified Protected Species Observer, and also hopes to continue her growth to pursue a higher degree focusing on marine mammal behavior and conservation.
Former Interns
Cameron Nemeth
Lily Magee
Pearl Thompson
Emily Foote
Madi Gordanier
Kyleigh Fertitta
Anna Schmalz
Elizabeth Fry
Darian Coffin
Adriana Diaz
Kelsie Grant
Sophie Teasell
Sarah Perryman
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Aitana Romero
Aitana completed her Marine Sciences Degree at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) in 2025. Throughout her studies, she collaborated on marine mammal and elasmobranch research projects with CICIMAR (IPN), Gray Whale Research Mexico (GWRM), CAMARC, Aarhus University, Group Research and Conservation of Marine Mammals (CONANP) and MMRP. Over the past few years, she has specialized in photo-ID and drone photogrammetry, applying non-invasive techniques to study marine wildlife. In 2025, Aitana joined MMRP as an intern, assisting PhD student Lewis Evans with drone morphometric measurements of humpback whales in Hawai'i. In 2026, she had the opportunity to participate in humpback whale fieldwork in Maui. Aitana aims to further develop her skills through postgraduate research, using innovative, non-invasive methods to advance marine conservation and improve our understanding of marine megafauna.