KHON’s Cover2 highlights the dedication of a KSH student on the field and in the community

Class of 2026 junior Eli Mercado spent last summer as a student research aide at Kumuola Marine Science Education Center.

KHON's Cover2 highlights the dedication of a KSH student on the field and in the community

Oct. 25, 2024

KS Hawaiʻi class of 2026 junior Eli Mercado was featured in Thursday night's edition of KHON's Cover2 for his dedication on the football field and his work as a student research aide at Kumuola Marine Science Education Center this summer, helping to perpetuate the practices of our kūpuna and bringing academic research to the forefront of how we can sustain our communities into the future.

Huge mahalo to Big Island Sports Network's Thane Milhoan who also is one of our kiaʻi at the loko iʻa for connecting this story and Eli's work with KHON to highlight the work of student-athletes.

Eli along with Kumuola director Luke Mead examine a sample for Eli's research project on opae populations in the loko iʻa.