Name: Sheila Sarhangi
Location: Honolulu
Contribution: Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, Executive Committee, Fundraising Board; author of Honolulu Then and Now
Website: sierraclubhawaii.com

What inspired you to pursue a career in environmental writing?

My parents took us camping at least once a month. They were both born and raised in Iran and then came to Southern California--they were exploring this new place, so they inspired this feeling of adventure and exploration in me. My dad had a Ph.D. in horticulture, and he would point out plants and trees and tell me their names, their characteristics, and their function in nature. Understanding the stories behind species gave me an understanding of all the different pieces in an ecosystem. I wanted those stories to be told. I had an environmental column in Honolulu magazine for almost seven years, and I've written about everything from native snails to profiles on biologists to endangered marine animal species and whales.

You also work as a project manager at SeaWeb. What's that?

We do strategic communications on marine conservation. We build a bridge between the media and scientists so that stories about the environment will be reported correctly.

Do you have any special hobbies or talents?

When I moved to Maui, I started surfing. It's an awesome sport for all ages--everyone's out in the water. You see kids who are 5 years old and people who are in their 70s or 80s who are incredible.

What's your favorite place to surf?

I live about five minutes from a surf break called Diamond Head Cliffs. I also hike. That's the great thing about Hawaii: I'm 5 minutes from a surf break and 10 minutes from a rainforest.

If you could be any marine animal, what would you choose?

I have a really big love for sea otters, but I don't know if I'd ever want to be one. I don't think it's all cake out there in the ocean.