On day five of our trip to the “big island,” we began the day by exploring and touring various businesses that are apart of the NELHA campus. To start, we went underground at the main NELHA building and learned how the deep ocean water comes from underneath the ground to cool the building. We discovered that although the method can be beneficial to reducing emissions, the temperature can’t be regulated resulting in a building that is often to warm or cold depending on the direction/gravity of the winds. In addition to this location, we toured the Kampachi fish farm and the Japanese Abalone farm where we learned about the importance and struggles of raising farmed fish. After concluding our tours, my group separated from the other where we went on a submarine ride 100 feet under water. On the adventure, I learned about artificial reefs and the importance they have in Hawaiian coast lines. In addition to the submarine ride, we toured the Golden Queen baths, a freshwater cave system where ancient Hawaiian queens were permitted to bathe. I learned many new things about Hawaiian culture on this part of the trip.
Tomorrow, I am most looking forward to the service project and exploring Pololu valley.
