Hello everyone! Welcome to the last student blog from PRX 280. I am Mikaela, originally from Beijing and I go to school in Washington D.C.

After more than ten days of sailing, we reached Hawaii and anchored in the Auau Channel off the town of Lahaina of Maui Island.

As we near the end of our trip, I can’t help but reflect on all the things we have seen, done, and felt. As we look towards Hawaii, a common sentiment among my peers is a little homesickness and awe at how far each of us has come as individuals and as a group. I think it is safe to say that this voyage has been life changing.

Today I sought solitude with the intention of seeing where my thoughts might lead. I climbed atop where the sails were only an arm’s length away. I sat there and took in the imagery of the ocean, letting the boat rock me from side to side.

125 nautical miles down, another 1000 to go! Since departing from Christmas Island yesterday, we have made good progress to our final destination: Hawaii. From the moment we left, everyone has been extremely busy. Between being back on the regular watch schedule, oceanography projects, reef reports, nautical science, it is difficult to find free time.

Waking up today was different than the past 6 days. It was our first time seeing land since we departed Caroline Atoll! Upon our arrival, we were visited by the Kiribati Coastal Guard. They inspected our vessel and did all of our immigration papers.

If someone was to ask me, “What’s it like sailing on the open ocean?” I would respond with: Imagine you’re in a snow globe, with nothing but the ship, the people on the ship, and the current environment - disconnected from the outer world and in tune with your direct surroundings.

Hello SEA blog readers, my name is Sofia and I’m a student on this voyage, I live in New Orleans, Louisiana and am a rising Junior studying Environmental Science. I started my day bright and early by getting woken up at 2:30 am by my fellow shipmate Riley to stand dawn watch from 3am-7am.

Hello family, friends, and avid blog readers following our journey through the Pacific on this Pacific Reef Expedition! I’m Kelly; I’m a PhD candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara and former SEA crewmember. I’m thrilled that my path has crossed with SEA once again to join this expedition as a Coral Reef Specialist onboard the Seamans!

I started today at about 3 in the morning, when I failed to wake up on time for my watch. I eventually got on deck in time to catch the briefing from the previous watch, and was subsequently assigned to clean the dishes from last night’s dinner. (This wasn’t a punishment or anything - I was scheduled for dishes duty today). After scrubbing everything clean and brewing a fresh pot of coffee, I went back to help out on deck.

She is still sailing on a peaceful ocean with all of her members taking care of her. On the science deck, we have scientists deploying the Neuston Net trying to capture at least a side of this mysterious ocean. On the starboard side, we have student crew members trying to haul the halyard.