2024 Case Study
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ItemReport on Climate Change Effects in Maunalua Bay, Oʻahu( 2024)Students worked with Mālama Maunalua to do a report on climate change effects in Maunalua Bay. By researching existing data on climate change metrics including rainfall, flooding, storms, fire, air temperature, ocean temperature, and sea level rise, students provided an overview of existing data they could find, as well as providing insight as to what gaps in literature they found. Students additionally created a survey for community members to share their perceptions and experiences of climate change in Maunalua Bay. This project identified many gaps of research still needed, as well as highlighted how much of the availble data is growing outdated.
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ItemNa Āla Hele Trail Vulnerability Analysis Final Report( 2024-05-06)Our research explores the factors influencing trail health and degradation on Oʻahu, advocating for a systems-based approach to sustainably managing Hawaiʻi’s trail infrastructure. The goal is to model trail susceptibility and vulnerability to degradation by analyzing various conditioning factors.
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ItemCreating a Framework to Test the Effectiveness of a Suite of Projects in the Maunalua Region( 2024-05-06)The Maunalua region, once renowned for its productivity in agriculture and fishponds, now faces numerous environmental challenges due to urbanization. Degradation of native forests, pollution from impervious surfaces, and declining coral reefs necessitate comprehensive restoration efforts. The Ridge to Reef Project by Mālama Maunalua aims to restore the watershed from mountains to reef, focusing on native reforestation and ungulate fencing. This project worked to collect baseline data and create a framework to help with continuous monitoring. Our framework focused on monitoring water quality and ungulate presence in the mauka region before fencing implementation. Using YSI ProDSS water quality meters and game cameras, we assessed water parameters and ungulate activity in Wailupe, Niu, and Kuliʻouʻou streams and Pia Valley, respectively. Results show varying water quality trends correlated with rainfall and confirmed the presence of pigs within the proposed fencing area. Community engagement, including workshops and outreach campaigns, facilitated stakeholder collaboration and knowledge dissemination. Continuous monitoring is needed following this project to get a better picture of water quality parameters and how well the ungulate fence is working once it is fully constructed. Standard operating procedures for sediment load testing, and ungulate monitoring were created along with a cost estimation table for future use by community groups.
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ItemOpportunities for Growth: Aligning Government Support with Hawaiʻi Producer Realities( 2024-05-06)Current pathways for accessing agricultural technical and financial assistance (TA and FA) administered by government agencies contain several obstacles and systemic barriers which significantly impact Hawaiʻi producers, particularly those using Indigenous stewardship methods (ISMs). Analysis of these obstacles can provide a more accurate understanding of how and why they manifest, and reveal more precise, tangible recommendations for state and federal agencies, NGOs, producers, and other interested parties. This project's objectives were to: 1) Review relevant literature and government publications; 2) Conduct an assessment of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Practice Standards (CPS); 3) Seek feedback from interested parties in academia and government agencies; and 4) Identify proposed solutions and areas for additional analysis. Ultimately, the project goal was to contribute towards removing barriers for Hawaiʻi producers to access TA and FA. Our findings indicate there are a broad variety of underlying challenges including inaccessibility of information, lack of Hawaiʻi representation in federal agency processes, and exclusionary CPS implementation criteria. Producers and agricultural practices specific to Hawaiʻi landscapes, and Kanaka Maoli ISMs are disproportionately impacted by these obstacles. We identified several recommendations for continued work in our white paper, "Opportunities for Growth," which provides a comprehensive starting point for anyone aiming to take on the work of better aligning USDA agencies, Hawaiʻi producers, and Indigenous stewardship.
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ItemKupu Aʻo ʻĀina Externship( 2024-05-06)The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is a proud partner of Kupu, a local non-profit that fosters environmental stewardship among youth in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Pacific. Since 2020, Kupu has coordinated the Aʻo ʻĀina Professional Development Program, which uses a work-based learning approach to enhance educators’ knowledge of different natural resource careers and topics. This spring, the University’s Natural Resource and Environmental Management (NREM) department is providing classroom resources on soil science and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping for the program’s cohort of seven high school educators. Our role in this project was to develop and facilitate a 3 hour workshop, scheduled for March 18th, as well as create a curated website for educators to support their efforts beyond the program. The learning objectives for the educators attending the workshop include: (1) recognize the integration of indigenous and western knowledge in soil understanding; (2) participate in a guided tour of a soil science laboratory, learning about soil health assessment equipment and techniques; (3) understand the ways GIS mapping tools can be used to interpret and analyze spatial patterns of soil properties; and (4) develop capacity to access and utilize Hawaiʻi-focused resources on soil science, GIS, and natural resource management. The project’s outcomes aim to enhance and support educators' ability to develop curriculum on soil science and GIS mapping tools, ultimately promoting environmental stewardship and a deeper connection to the land among students.