Laura is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Mālama Maunalua. Her passion is to protect and conserve our natural resources and spaces in Hawai’i through engaging the community in environmental awareness and education. She has a strong background in outreach, education, and environmental science and conservation having worked for Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i, Americorps VISTA, the Ocean Institute, Science Camps of America, and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i GENE-ius Day Program. As an avid conservationist and nature enthusiast, she actively volunteers with local non-profit organizations across the island. Laura received her Bachelor’s in Marine Ecology and Conservation from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and her Master’s in Conservation Biology from Miami University of Ohio with a focus on Increasing Local and Global Awareness of Threats to Marine Biodiversity. When she’s not at work or volunteering, you can most likely find her outdoors; at the beach, in the water diving or surfing, or hiking up a mountain. Her love of and interest in taking care of the environment around her stems from being born and raised on Oʻahu.
To contact Laura, please email lbailes@malamamaunalua.org.