RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
Building resilient coastal forests through enhancing biocultural research and career pathways
PI: Leah Bremer, Associate Specialist and Conservation Scientist, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Sebastian Church, NREM, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Tamara Ticktin, Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa; Kiana Frank, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, UH Mānoa; Zoe Hastings Silao, Postdoctoral Researcher, Water Resources Research Center
Funded: FY2024
Graduate Scholar: Sebastian Church, NREM, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Tamara Ticktin, Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa; Kiana Frank, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, UH Mānoa; Zoe Hastings Silao, Postdoctoral Researcher, Water Resources Research Center
Funded: FY2024
Using eDNA to predict impacts of climate change within loko iʻa
PI: John Burns , Associate Professor of Marine Science and Data, UH Hilo, MEGA Lab
MCC Graduate Scholar: Skyler Chong, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
MCC Graduate Scholar: Skyler Chong, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
A functional trait approach to design and implement resilient landscapes in Guam
PI: Susan Cordell, Research Ecologist, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, USFS
Co-Is: Amanda Uowolo, U.S. Forest Service; Rebecca Ostertag, UH Hilo; Ruddy Estoy, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; Christine Fejeran, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; Romina King, Guam PI-CASC
Funded: FY2024
Co-Is: Amanda Uowolo, U.S. Forest Service; Rebecca Ostertag, UH Hilo; Ruddy Estoy, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; Christine Fejeran, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; Romina King, Guam PI-CASC
Funded: FY2024
Climate change impacts on migratory birds connecting Indigenous Pacific Island and Alaskan communities
PI: Judith Drexler, Research Hydrologist, USGS California Water Science Center
Co-Is: Helen Raine, Pacific Bird Habitat Joint Venture; Laura Farwell, PBHJV; Pūlama Lima, Ka Ipu Makani; Nahulu Maioho, Ka Ipu Makani; Willow Hetrick-Price, Chugach Regional Resources Commission
Funded: FY2024
Co-Is: Helen Raine, Pacific Bird Habitat Joint Venture; Laura Farwell, PBHJV; Pūlama Lima, Ka Ipu Makani; Nahulu Maioho, Ka Ipu Makani; Willow Hetrick-Price, Chugach Regional Resources Commission
Funded: FY2024
Landscape prioritization for climate-resilient conservation of over 400 T&E species in Maui Nui
PI: Lucas Fortini, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Co-Is: Christina Leopold, Conservation Ecologist, Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit, UH Hilo; Chad Wilhite, Quantitative Spatial/Research Analyst, HCSU, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
Co-Is: Christina Leopold, Conservation Ecologist, Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit, UH Hilo; Chad Wilhite, Quantitative Spatial/Research Analyst, HCSU, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
Kāhuli Conservationists: Caring for the small things to care for the larger honua
PI: Lucas Fortini , Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lilly Thomey, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lilly Thomey, TCBES, UH Hilo
Co-I: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2024
Restoring Hawai‘i’s Wetlands
PI: Kelly Goodale, Biologist, USFWS, Oʻahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Funded: FY2024
Funded: FY2024
Transforming community climate adaptation through Indigenous place-based connection
PI: Steven Johnson, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources, Cornell University
Co-Is: Aric Arakaki, National Park Service; Joseph Genz, UH Hilo; Scott Laursen, PI-CASC; Shane Akoni Nelsen, Kealakekua ‘Ohana Advisory Council; Tanya Souza, National Park Service
Funded: FY2024
Co-Is: Aric Arakaki, National Park Service; Joseph Genz, UH Hilo; Scott Laursen, PI-CASC; Shane Akoni Nelsen, Kealakekua ‘Ohana Advisory Council; Tanya Souza, National Park Service
Funded: FY2024
2024 SURF Projects
Four students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2024 SURF program, investigating the effects of ocean warming on cleaner wrasse behavior, finding the best soil amendments for encouraging native Hawaiian plant regeneration, modeling the optimal pathway for using the RAD framework on Hawaiʻi biomes, and using non-intrusive methods to investigate climate effects of coral growth rates.
Evaluating the resilience of productive rocky intertidal ecosystems to SLR using a community-based approach
PI: Haunani Kane, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Makoa Pascoe, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Atsuko Fukunaga, Assistant Researcher, CIMAR, UH Mānoa; John Burns, Associate Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Kainalu Steward, Dept of Earth Sciences, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2024
Graduate Scholar: Makoa Pascoe, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Atsuko Fukunaga, Assistant Researcher, CIMAR, UH Mānoa; John Burns, Associate Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Kainalu Steward, Dept of Earth Sciences, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2024
Assessing the sensitivity of coral reef accretion and bioerosion to acidification and eutrophication
PI: Andrea Kealoha, Asst. Professor of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Raffi Isah, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Katie Shamberger, Assoc. Professor of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
Funded: FY2024
Graduate Scholar: Raffi Isah, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Katie Shamberger, Assoc. Professor of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
Funded: FY2024
Effects of climate-driven increases in sediment delivery on coral reef ecosystem productivity and accretion
PI: Andrea Kealoha, Asst. Professor of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Sean Swift, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Craig Nelson, Assoc. Researcher of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2024
Graduate Scholar: Sean Swift, Dept of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Craig Nelson, Assoc. Researcher of Oceanography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2024
Developing methods to manage Trichomyrmex destructor at Midway Atoll
PI: Jonathan Plissner, Supervisory Biologist, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial, USFWS
Co-I: Helen Sofaer, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Funded: FY2024
Co-I: Helen Sofaer, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Funded: FY2024
Post-release monitoring of the ʻekupuʻu on Eastern Island
PI: Sheldon Plentovich, Coastal Program Coordinator, USFWS, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Service Office
Funded: FY2024
Funded: FY2024