Congratulations to Manager Climate Corps student, Ihilani Kamau
January 24, 2025
Ihilani Kamau was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i, and is a PI-CASC Manager Climate Corps graduate scholar working under Dr. Tracy Wiegner on the project, “Predicting sea level rise impacts to coastal wastewater infrastructure and water quality for adaptive planning and increased coastal habitat resilience.” Ihilani graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo in Fall 2024 with a master’s of science degree in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES).
We caught up with Ihilani for a talk story.
Tell us about your project
My master’s thesis focused on the impact of sea level rise on wastewater infrastructures and water quality along the Kailua-Kona shoreline. This project was initiated based on the community’s concern of sewage pollution in the area and they reached out to us to see if we could help. The Kailua-Kona shoreline is frequently used for marathon and canoe paddling events and is a cultural hotspot due to all of the historical sites in this region. However, the impacts of sea level rise pose a serious threat to coastal wastewater infrastructures that ultimately will impact coastal water quality. My research aimed to determine sewage pollution hotspots, create a sea level rise model to determine areas at risk of inundation and use all of the data collected to predict future water quality. The county and community will hopefully use the results of this study to create better management plans in order to adapt to future sea level rise.
Why do you think climate adaptation is important?
Climate adaptation is very important, especially here in Hawaiʻi. We are already seeing the impacts of sea level rise, and it will only worsen if we don’t get ahead of the problem. In my project, a major plan that addresses climate adaptation was to use the results to identify priority areas for cesspool conversions and sewer line setbacks. Implementing these findings into management plans can help protect future water quality, ultimately protecting human health as well as the ecosystem’s health in the future.
How did the Manager Climate Corps (MCC) program help your academic journey?
The MCC and graduate scholars program was very helpful in my academic journey. This program allowed me to network with other scientists and professionals in my field, which helped guide me and gave me feedback on certain things in my project. It also allowed me to attend conferences to experience a different environment with people from multiple fields and explore all of the different options that the science field offers.
What was the most memorable experience as a MCC graduate scholar?
As an MCC student, my most memorable experiences would probably be the presentations I gave about my project. I enjoy socializing with others, but presenting my research on a stage in front of a room full of people is a memorable experience. I was always nervous before presenting, but as time went on throughout the graduate program, I did more presentations and became more confident. By the time it came to my master’s thesis defense in November 2024, even with sixty people on Zoom and a room full of my family, friends, and mentors, I could take a step back and see how much I had grown. The conferences and symposiums led up to my master’s thesis defense. At that moment, I could share all of my experiences and everything I have learned over the past couple of years with all of the people who made this project possible.
The best part of graduation was…
Getting hooded during graduation!
When I graduated from UH Hilo with my bachelor’s, it was the first time I graduated with a cap and gown because we only used a kīhei at my high school graduation. However, when I got my cap and gown and saw the graduate students with their hoods, I knew that was where I was going next with my educational career. Being hooded on stage with my family and friends watching was definitely a full-circle moment and one of the best parts of graduation.
What do you plan on doing next?
Currently, I am still doing research for a few communities that showed interest in what I was doing for my project. However, after that, I hope to give back to my own community on the east side of Hawaiʻi island in Hilo and continue to protect our oceans and care for the ʻāina. I am not sure exactly what this entails, but I know that all of the skills and knowledge that I have learned from this program will help me excel in whatever that next step may be.
Give a shoutout
Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the strength and knowledge to get my master’s!
I would also like to thank my advisors and committee members, Dr. Tracy Wiegner, Dr. Steven Colbert, and Dr. Lisa Marrack, for providing me with this opportunity and guiding me along the way.
I want to thank my family for supporting me throughout this whole process.
Thank you to my friends in my cohort who have also helped me along the way. A big thank you to PI-CASC for funding this project and giving me the opportunity to make a difference in my community. Mahalo nui loa!