For this issue, we talked story with Grayson Boyer, an alumnus from Youth Tour 2005 Grayson is from Kapaʻa and graduated from Kapaʻa High. He received a Bachelor of Science from Washington State University. Grayson now lives in Tempe, Arizona, and is a research scientist.

Aloha, Grayson. What’s your favorite memory from the Youth Tour?

I have many great memories from the KIUC Youth Tour. It was the first time I had ever been to Washington, D.C. There was so much to see and only a limited amount of time, so I remember we zipped around visiting major landmarks like the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian. I was amazed by the sense of history I felt while surrounded by these giant neoclassical buildings.

This was especially the case when we visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The sun had just set, and the tour group was walking beside a long wall of black granite etched with the names of people who had died or went missing during the Vietnam War. We passed by the Vietnam Women's Memorial with a statue depicting a woman cradling a dying man in her arms. That was when it sank in; this war was no longer some distant event to be memorized for a class. So many young men like me had died. I broke into tears as the tragedy became so much more vivid and real in my mind. My heart goes out to everyone who has endured the awfulness of war.

Another memory that stands out is the time the tour group stopped by the National Archives. The interior of the building was kept dim to prevent degradation of the Declaration of Independence displayed in a glass case. Flash photography was also prohibited for the same reason.

I remember waiting in line with other tourists to see the famous document. I checked and rechecked my disposable Grayson Boyer with his wife, Angela Halasey, with an Arizona saguaro cactus in the background. camera settings to make certain the flash was off. When it was finally my turn to see the Declaration, I stepped up and immediately squeezed the camera button to snap a pic. Click - FLASH! The cavernous interior of the Archives lit up like a lightning strike because of a dumb high school kid (me) and his camera. Within seconds, I was surrounded by three security guards berating me about using flash photography. For a panicked moment, I thought they were going to grab me and physically remove me from the building! I mumbled an embarrassed apology and scooted off. I got to see the Declaration of Independence, but not exactly the way I wanted. What is the lesson? If you are still using a disposable camera in 2024 or 2025, triple-check the flash setting before you accidentally ruin one of the most famous documents on the planet. Alternatively, don't take a picture at all. Live in the moment and enjoy being in the presence of something you want to remember.

Tell us about your path after graduation.

I attended Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, where I obtained a BS in biochemistry in 2010. After that, I moved to Tempe to pursue graduate studies at Arizona State University. I eventually earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 2018. I am now a research scientist in a lab at Arizona State University, where I study interactions between microbes and the environment.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am a huge nerd who enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons, reading fantasy novels and watching old sci-fi shows. I'm currently in the middle of Farscape season 3.

Which one of KIUC's Hoʻokaʻana Waiwai shared values most resonates with you?

Aloha. So many of the things we do in life depend on those who are willing to welcome us. I am thankful to the people who welcomed me into their tlives and helped me get this far because I certainly didn't do it alone.