I am an FAA Air Traffic Controller at Hilo International Airport, currently living in Kailua-Kona with my pilot husband and our sweet little rescue Pit Bull, Vlade.

My husband was chartered to pick up one of the workers from Kaho’olawe and asked if I wanted to join him. Never having been there, I jumped at the opportunity, citing that it would be safer to have a controller flying with him. It was such a beautiful experience. They are working so hard to clear away the unexplored ordnance and restore the island to its pre-bombing perfection. One day I hope to help them bring back the flora that once thrived there as I am a huge fan of planting and maintaining endemic Hawaiian trees.