ScholarSpace
ScholarSpace is an open-access, digital institutional repository for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa community. ScholarSpace stores the intellectual works and unique collections of the UH at Mānoa academic community and also provides a permanent web location for those accessing these resources.
Communities in ScholarSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
The effectiveness of video-based education for marine conservation
(2025-05) DeBenedictis, Emma, C.; Vaughan, Mehana; Litton, Creighton M.
As global marine ecosystems face increasing threats, educators must adopt effective strategies to promote conservation awareness and support responsible environmental behavior. Videos have become a key tool in marine education programs, yet few studies have examined their effectiveness or outlined best practices for implementation. This study explores the role of video-based education in two marine programs: the Hanauma Bay Education Program (HBEP) in Hawaiʻi and the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) in Bali, Indonesia, to assess how videos influence visitor engagement, knowledge retention, and conservation behavior. I addressed three key objectives: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of videos in orienting, guiding, and educating visitors, (2) identify which aspects of videos enhance their effectiveness, and (3) determine best practices for implementing videos in marine education programs. I used a mixed-methods approach that included a literature review, visitor surveys at HBEP, video engagement analytics from CTC, and the production and deployment of educational videos at CTC. At HBEP, 96 percent of visitors reported that visuals helped them understand key concepts, and 85 percent said the video influenced their behavior in the water. Respondents most often remembered messages related to Hawaiian culture, marine life etiquette, and reef protection. Visitors also suggested adding practical tips, reef deterioration animations, and more footage of marine species. At CTC, I produced and edited eight short-form videos and supported 17 social media posts on the Saving Oceans Now Instagram account. These efforts led to a major increase in engagement, with likes, shares, and comments rising from 1,273 in April to June 2023 to 34,157 in April to July 2024, and total profile views reaching 76,906. Youth-centered, localized videos such as the Ocean Keeper Club recap performed best. Strategic practices such as optimizing post schedules, tailoring content to Indonesian users aged 25 to 34, and boosting posts significantly improved visibility and interaction. Findings demonstrate that video-based education effectively conveys marine conservation messages, especially when using compelling visuals, narrative storytelling, and interactive elements. This research contributes best practices for marine educators and offers a guidesheet for organizations aiming to strengthen environmental outreach through video.
Stories of water, stories of resilience: community voices of Hāmākualoa
(2025-05) Davis, Lilia; Tsang, Yinphan; Litton, Creighton M.
Climate change is shifting rain patterns and increasing flooding globally. The benefits and challenges of water shape the stories of people and places worldwide, influencing cultures, livelihoods, and ecosystems. In Hawaiʻi, wai (freshwater) is foundational to life, identity, and connection. Community members from Hāmākualoa, Maui, know deeply about their water, streams, and watersheds. They also face uncertainties as increased floods and droughts, exacerbated by climate and land use changes, threaten their homes and livelihoods. Severe flood events in Hāmākualoa, including a dam breach in 2021, highlight the urgent need for community-driven solutions. Guided by the Hawaiian proverb “I kahiki ka ua, ako ʻē ka hale” (While the rain is still far away, thatch the house; Be prepared), the primary objective of this project was to weave the stories of water and resilience in Hāmākualoa, integrating ʻike Hawaiʻi (Indigenous knowledge) and community voices with scientific insights to strengthen preparedness. Through a participatory approach, this study amplifies the voices of Hāmākualoas people—those who have lived through and learned from these events. A community survey (n=33) found that 64% have experienced flooding firsthand, with significant concerns including property damage, blocked waterways, and poor road conditions. Semi-structured interviews (n=9) with residents revealed that traditional stream stewardship once helped regulate water flow, but modern disruptions, such as diversions, climate change, and increased development, have altered natural hydrological patterns. Many emphasized the need to restore traditional stream stewardship practices, to reinforce that resilience is rooted in knowing and caring for the land, and to embrace the unknown. This project has taken meaningful steps toward strengthening community resilience. Specifically, through hosting a stream restoration event that engaged residents in education of stream names/histories along with an activity to create stream name signs for local bridges, reinforcing education and awareness as a step into resilience. These efforts have deepened community awareness, strengthened local stewardship, and provided a foundation for continued collaboration between residents, researchers, agencies, and policymakers. The stories of water in Hāmākualoa are equally stories of resilience, offering lessons for this community and others facing similar climate challenges.
Assessing graduate student volunteer impacts and stewardship reciprocity
(2025-05) Boucher, Olivia, E.; Dacks, Rachel; Litton, Creighton M.
The profound effects of engaging with nature are widely acknowledged, with a growing recognition of the advantages of purposeful activities in nature, such as participation in environmental volunteerism. Cultural ecosystem services (CES) encompass individuals' intangible relationships with their environment, including contributions of nature to mental well-being and a sense of place. One way to experience these CES firsthand is through community-based stewardship opportunities that foster meaningful connections between people and place. The Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) organizes volunteer opportunities, referred to as Laulima (many hands) Days, for graduate students, researchers, and a broader network of collaborators as an opportunity to participate in biocultural restoration projects in the ahupuaʻa (historic land division) of Heʻeia, Hawaiʻi. Further, Laulima Days provide opportunities to further reciprocal relationships with ʻāina by giving back to researched areas. The overarching objective of this capstone project was to discern the CES experienced by graduate students through their participation in biocultural stewardship events. This overarching objective was addressed with three specific objectives: (i) to identify the CES experienced by graduate student participation at Laulima Days; (ii) to investigate what aspects of well-being are influenced by the CES experienced at Laulima Days; and (iii) to determine if participation in biocultural restoration influences graduate student researcher development. Fourteen interviews were conducted with graduate student participants of Laulima Days. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify Connect, Learn, Value, Well-being, ʻĀina, and Emotions as the six overarching subjects. Respondents noted several CES, including deepened connection to place, sense of responsibility, and lessened stress. Laulima Days helped students foster reciprocal relationships with place and strengthened relationships between researchers and community members, which is necessary for place-based and co-developed research that aligns with the needs and interests of local communities. These findings provide valuable guidance for integrating CES assessment into restoration monitoring, a need voiced by stewardship communities in Hawai‘i. This research also presents a semi-structured survey, co-developed with interviewees, that can be used to assess the nonmaterial benefits of biocultural restoration projects in He‘eia and beyond.
Farming Practices and Implications for Water Quality and Sustainability at S’ang, Kandal, Cambodia
(2025-05) Chhimcanal, Bunneam; Tsang, Yinphan; Litton, Creighton M.
In Cambodia, the primary water issue is the pollution of surface water by organic and inorganic pollutants linked to agricultural and non-agricultural activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the pressing issue of decreasing water quality linked to agricultural activities using cooperative methods to monitor water quality as influenced by farmer practices. Overall, the goal was to assess the relationship between agricultural runoff and sediment and nutrient levels in local water bodies. As such, this study analyzed the impacts of agricultural practices on water quality in S’ang, Kandal, Cambodia, focusing on farm irrigation, fertilizer application, and manure management via water quality testing, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping, and qualitative insights from farmer interviews. There were three periods of water sampling, which commenced in May (dry season – with irrigation & fertilizer), August 2024 (wet season – rain-fed period with reduced fertilizer), and March 2025 (dry season – harvest & post-harvest period) to ensure the data captured the complete farming practice and management scenarios. Five farmers participated in the focus group interview. Water samples were analyzed in a laboratory, while Excel was used for data visualization and trend analysis. Nonnumerical Unstructured Data Indexing, Searching, and Theorizing software (NVIVO) facilitated qualitative analysis, identifying themes and patterns from interviews.
I found while most parameters such as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and chlorophyll remained within acceptable standards, potassium (K) and turbidity levels frequently exceeded thresholds, particularly during the dry season when fertilizer use and irrigation respectively were most intensive. These elevated K and turbidity levels suggested a strong link between seasonal farming practices and nutrient runoff, although potential contributions from domestic wastewater and industrial sources cannot be ruled out. This study underscored the long-term risks of unmanaged agricultural practices on water quality, potentially affecting both human and ecological health. Promoting best management practices, providing knowledge incentives for sustainable farming, and fostering community-led monitoring programs could help mitigate water contamination. This study provided a critical foundation for improving water resource management in Cambodia and similar agricultural regions globally.