The Stewards and Residents of Anchialine Pools Storytelling as a Tool for Marine Conservation, through the Lens of Hawaiʻi Island’s Nearshore Subterranean Pools

This creative senior thesis, in fulfillment of my B.A. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Marine Conservation, is a case-study of environmental writing for conservation. How can storytelling—especially long-form, magazine-length storytelling—be a tool for the conservation of anchialine pools in Hawaiʻi Island? After analyzing published environmental writing, I wrote a magazine article, with magazine style and formatting, about anchialine pools. I sought to communicate the ecological and cultural importance of anchialine pools, conveying the wonder that comes with knowing that we share the world with such awesome ecosystems. My intention is for this piece to be enriching, educational, and an act of self-expression—an account of my own inner life, because part of the power of writing and reading is sharing the unique perceptions, thoughts, and analyses that make each of us ourselves. In the appendix, I explain my creative choices and provide a written analysis of some example texts; that is also where the bibliography is housed.